Celebrate six decades of community pride, storytelling, and preservation with Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) in Vancouver by visiting the retrospective exhibit “Through the Decades: CCH Museum at 60.” The exhibit offers patrons a chance to reflect on people, events and labors of love in the museum’s flat panel gallery that have shaped the museum into one of Washington States leading cultural institutions.
“Our work in preserving local historic sites and our involvement with state organizations have elevated our work,” says Executive Director Bradley Richardson. Richardson also serves as the President of the Washington Museum Association and is on the board for Humanities Washington.
“We’ve won a number of statewide awards for exhibits and our interpretive services model is gaining interest,” he continues. “We are an incredibly innovative and agile organization and are creating cutting edge work in the state.”
Notable Beginnings: A Celebration of Community, Commitment and Historical Preservation
On May 24, 1964, the Clark County Historical Museum first opened its doors. The dedicated space designed to tell the community’s story was a momentous accomplishment, marked by the enthusiastic participation of about 2,000 people. The attendance was such that parts of Main Street closed. Early exhibits included a 19th Century store and doctor’s office. Now 60 years later, the museum has become much more than a vibrant venue featuring historical artifacts. It has captured a vital role in the life of the community as it continues to evolve.
The current Clark County Historical Museum exhibit celebrating 60 years takes visitors through significant stories and key figures in the historical museum’s journey to date. Such exhibit features include:
- Dr. John Brougher, one of the leading founding members and Board President of the former Clark County Historical Society (previously known as the Fort Vancouver Historical Society), and other donors that made the opening possible with contributions and artifacts.
- Culturally significant stories around preserving Clark County historic sites and landmarks such as the Cedar Creek Grist Mill and the Slocum House.
- Artifacts from the SP&S Railroad Historical Society, which helped raise awareness of the railroad’s importance in Clark County.
Still other exhibit delights include honoring some of our beloved leaders like Pat Jollota, a local historian and former curator of the Clark County Historical Museum for nearly two decades, retired city council member, author, educator, and amazing storyteller of Clark County’s past, and just so much more, including programs that connect the community to the past and advocacy for preserving important stories. After you stroll through the celebration exhibit, you can tour around the rest of the museum and take in the rich history artfully displayed in a manner that flows with ease and pulls you in to learn more.
Richardson says he spent more than 20 hours reading the original letters and writings of the first founders of the museum published in the annual books about Clark County’s local history to help determine what would be featured for the 60-year celebration. “The original founders of the museum set an ideal and a purpose for the community and a culture around that,” shares Richardson of his impressions of his research. “That even though we are part of a different world today, we still have that soul, purpose, and heart of that culture. We are still trying to serve our community with a similar intent.”
Clark County Historical Museum’s Collaborative Efforts, Volunteers, and Partnerships
Richardson sees the museum’s success and history as a testament to the tireless efforts and critical roles of volunteers, staff and community members who have carried forward the vision first set in motion in 1964. The collaboration of the community has helped to shape the direction of the museum and create a pathway to make history accessible and engaging for all.
“We’ve moved our museum beyond the walls of our building,” says Richardson. “In the last five years, we have taken our walking tours to Battle Ground, Camas, Ridgefield, Washougal and Vancouver. And we have added interpretive panels, in partnership with our downtown associations and friends at the cities and county, in Camas, Ridgefield and Vancouver.”
Other notable growth for the museum in the past five years includes working with Riverview Bank to tell their 100th Anniversary story through an exhibit featured in multiple branches. The museum also partnered with C-TRAN to explore their 40 years of service to Clark County.
Clark County Historical Museum’s Future
As Clark County Historical Museum looks to the future, it remains focused on balancing its mission of preserving the past with the need to address contemporary issues. The museum’s approach is rooted in community engagement, allowing local residents to take the lead in sharing their stories. The museum will continue to make history accessible in fresh and innovative ways.
“We do this through stakeholder drive, agency-center work facilitating the community to tell its own story, in its own words, and on its own terms,” says Richardson. “We are merely facilitators for the community to come and share its history.”
The exhibit runs through the spring of 2025. To learn more, visit the Clark County Historical Museum
website.
Clark County Historical Museum
1511 Main Street, Vancouver
360.993.5679
outreach@cchmuseum.org
