Editing Monroe, Washington (section)

===Historical preservation===
[[File:Monroe, WA - Old City Hall.jpg|thumb|right|Monroe's former [[city hall]], now used as a historical museum]]

Monroe's local [[historical society]] was established in 1976 and maintains a [[museum]] that opened in 1982 at the former [[city hall]] in downtown Monroe, built in 1908.<ref>{{cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.monroehistoricalsociety.org/sample-page-2/ |publisher=Monroe Historical Society |access-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref> The museum has pieces of local memorabilia, including a carved [[canoe]] and equipment from closed businesses, and a large collection of historical photographs.<ref>{{cite news |last=Cohen |first=Aubrey |date=September 25, 2008 |title=Step back into Monroe's past or get wrapped up in the Serpentarium's reptiles |page=4 |url=https://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Step-back-into-Monroe-s-past-or-get-wrapped-up-in-1286029.php |work=Seattle Post-Intelligencer |access-date=October 4, 2019}}</ref> The historical society also hosts an exhibit during the Evergreen State Fair at the Shannahan Cabin, a historic home built in the 1880s and moved to the fairgrounds in the 1960s; the cabin is also listed on the county's register of historic places.<ref>{{cite news |last=Davey |first=Stephanie |date=August 23, 2019 |title=Shannahan Cabin becomes first historic site on county list |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/shannahan-cabin-becomes-first-historic-site-on-county-list/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref> The fairgrounds are also home to the [[Western Heritage Center]], a county-owned museum that has a collection of agricultural and industrial artifacts that were donated for display.<ref>{{cite news |last=Bray |first=Kari |date=August 28, 2017 |title=Western Heritage Center changes hands, stays at fairgrounds |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/western-heritage-center-changes-hands-stays-at-fairgrounds/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=September 28, 2019}}</ref>

The downtown area has several historic buildings that were constructed in the early 20th century and preserved by local owners and groups.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fiege |first=Gale |date=March 13, 2014 |title=Monroe offers more than a fair amount to do |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/life/monroe-offers-more-than-a-fair-amount-to-do/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Nohara |first=Yoshiaki |date=September 21, 2007 |title=Protect historic buildings, Monroe urged |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/protect-historic-buildings-monroe-urged/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref> At the northeast end of downtown is a {{convert|150|ft|m|adj=mid}} landmark [[smokestack|steam stack]], the last remnant of a [[Carnation Company|Carnation]] milk [[Condensed milk|condensery]] plant that was built in 1908 and burned down in 1944.<ref name="Herald-Missing"/><ref>{{cite news |last=Nile |first=Amy |date=August 15, 2014 |title=Monroe steam stack will be decoratively painted |url=https://www.heraldnet.com/news/monroe-steam-stack-will-be-decoratively-painted/ |work=The Everett Herald |access-date=September 29, 2019}}</ref>