Over forty Ballard organizations and individuals are putting together displays for a new exhibit at the History House Museum in Fremont. The exhibit, "Ballard Northwest Seattle," runs through July 30.

"History is important to people, their heritage and where they come from," said Paul Nordstrand, executive director of History House.

Syrene Forsman, president of the Swedish Finn Historical Society (SFHS) brought several panels illustrating Finnish immigration to America.

She included a map of Ostrobothnia, an area where 350,000 people immigrated to the U.S. from 1870-1914.

Many Finns came to Ballard and spread out from there. Ballard was the central place and served as a network, with workers moving onto jobs in Everett, Aberdeen, Yakima and throughout the state.

"They just spread to where the work is," said Forsman.

One goal of the SFHS is to teach others about their culture and heritage as well as keeping it alive. Members collect photographs and diaries from the community to preserve them.

Forsman said people have brought in diaries left by family members which have been written in Finnish to be interpreted.

Hilda Thorkildsen, president of the Valkyrien Lodge #1 Daughters of Norway is also preparing a display for her organization. The group turned 100 years old in 2005.

She will highlight photographs of old lodge halls and lodge history. One panel will promote an upcoming Daughters of Norway Convention from July 13-15 at the Embassy Suites in Lynnwood.

"People have shared photos with me. The lodge has served as a glue to celebrate heritage," said Thorkildsen.

Amanda Holm, an administrative assistant at Swedish Medical Center's Ballard Campus put together two panels on the hospital's past.

"It was a huge learning experience for me to gain knowledge of the Ballard Campus." said Holm.

Her exhibit captures the community spirit which helped build the hospital. It includes a picture of the famous "knuckle busters" volunteers who went door to door soliciting donations.

One well known photograph shows doctors pushing golf balls across Market Street with the noses to raise funds in 1952. Another shows Jean Sine riding on a horse as Lady Godiva in that same year.

"The hospital has grown so much over the years. It's more than jobs, equipment and the facility. It's about people and being there to care for them," said Holm.

One display honors Chet and Earl Johnson. The brothers graduated from Ballard High School in the mid-1930s and went on to play professional baseball.

Chet played for the Seattle Rainiers and the St. Louis Browns. His son Dick Johnson put the display together.

Earl pitched in the 1946 World Series for the Boston Red Sox. He was also awarded the Silver and Bronze star in the Battle of the Bulge during World War II.

The Johnson's grandfather Frederik Hjamer is also in the exhibit. He was a famous arctic explorer.

"It's a family story, no story is too big or too small," said History House Project Manager Ron Richardson.

Other exhibits at History House have covered West Seattle, neighborhoods along the I-5 corridor, South Seattle (Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley, Georgetown and Columbia City) and Northeast Seattle's Lake City and Sand Point.

Nordstrand says these types of exhibits are about ordinary people with ordinary stories.

"Every organization has a story, they appreciate the opportunity to display it. We give them a reason to summarize and collect their history," said Richardson.

Other exhibits include: 36th District Politics; Archie McPhee; Ballard Boys and Girls Club; Ballard Brass; Ballard Chamber of Commerce; Ballard Historical Society; Ballard Immigrants and Aliens; Ballard Library; Ballard Locks; Bay Theatre; Deep Sea Fisherman's Union; Divers Institute of Seattle and Epilogue Books.

More exhibitors include: Fisherman's Terminal; Foss Home and Village; Icelandic Club; John Boitano Story; Leif Erikson Lodge; Memories of Ballard Dorthea Nordstrand; Nordic Heritage Museum; Pacific Fishermen; Puget Sound Maritime Historical Society; Ross; Scandinavian Hour; Siacom BHS Club; Sloop Tavern Yacht Club; Sons of Norway; Sunset Bowl; Sustainable Ballard; Swedish Cultural Center; Wiggen and Sons Mortuary; Finnish Lutheran Church; Norwegian Ladies Choir; Pacific Coast School; Norway Park; and the Norwegian Seaman and War Veterans Association.

The History House is at 790 N. 34th Street, located under the Aurora Bridge in Fremont.