In the middle of Downtown Vancouver, surrounded by office buildings, busy streets and modern amenities, sits the oldest graveyard in the city. And it turns out, it’s not the only city in Clark County with a historic graveyard. Walk through history and discover the stories of the people who helped build the cities you love and live in. From criminals turned heroes to the forgotten names of history, Clark County Historical Museum brings the past to life in accessible city tours like their Old City Cemetery Tour in Vancouver.
These are not your typical tourist attractions – they’re treasured community traditions. Each year, the tours sell out quickly. Museum members enjoy early access to tickets, and others have to act fast to join a journey through time, uncovering the histories hidden in plain sight on familiar streets.
Old City Cemetery Walking Tour in Vancouver
The museum’s cemetery tours offer more than a quiet stroll – they provide an immersive look into the lives of Clark County’s earliest residents. Launched in 2020 as part of the museum’s initiative to take history beyond its walls, the program has become a regional favorite across generations, bringing out audiences who’ve sometimes never stepped foot in a museum.
“It’s exciting to see so much engagement and excitement from the community about it,” says Sammuel Hawkins, outreach and public programs manager at the Clark County Historical Museum. Through these walking tours, storytelling becomes an accessible gateway to the past.
Vancouver Walking Tour Showcases History Though Gravestones
You may know some of the more familiar names as you walk through the graveyards – many adorn street signs. But in certain sections, like the northeast area of Vancouver’s oldest cemetery, lie those barely remembered in their own time. These plots belonged to people who lacked the financial means for formal burials, but whose lives remain deeply entwined with the area’s past.
“Their stories are significant in our history,” Hawkins explains, “not just because of what happened, but because they help us connect with the people who lived, struggled, and contributed to this place.” Like the story of the jail fire, where an inmate helped save the rest of the incarcerated trapped there. Sadly, it’s likely he was the same man who was the last person executed by public hanging in Vancouver. It was the late 19th century and change was on the horizon across the country.
Clark County Historical Museum: Preservation of History Through Participation
You’re doing more than walking through the past on these museum-led history walks, you’re bringing life back to these places. When we connect with the stories of long ago, we foster stewardship and civic pride, especially when these places are at risk of being lost. Vancouver’s old city cemetery itself once faced the risk of demolition. But renewed interest keeps it preserved.
You might not see yourself as a historical preservationist, but you can be one with a simple walk through town. “We’ve seen how just one well-attended walking tour can rally support to protect spaces like this from disappearing,” Hawkins explains.
By hosting regular events, historical sites are seen as more than a crumbling infrastructure – they become open-air museums, giving life to local history experiences. A rare chance to see where our towns started and how it has grown and changed through the years.
The museum’s work extends beyond cemetery tours. Community members are encouraged to ask questions, suggest topics, and help shape the narratives shared by the museum.
“We’re not just sharing stories, we’re inviting people to help shape how those stories are told,” Hawkins says. The museum partners with local cultural organizations to perverse local history and interpret historical sites through their original cultural lens. It’s part of a broader effort to help document underrepresented histories, including those from working-class or marginalized communities. The museum seeks to give voice back to these communities by not just learning from them but giving them a platform to share these lessons in their own words.
From small organizations to their partnership with the NAACP Vancouver Branch, such collaborations do more than inform, they bring in new exhibits and guest speaker series. As these relationships deepen, the county is gifted with more revelations from our past.
Walk Through History Each Summer
Too often, history feels removed – trapped in textbooks or kept behind glass. But the Clark County Historical Museum brings it into the streets, where residents can stand in the very places where the region’s stories unfolded. By bringing history to life and engaging the community with local sites, the museum stirs up the emotional pasts of those who came before us.
And clearly, the community is inspired considering how fast tickets sell out each year. Hawkins hot tip? “Become a museum member for early access,” he says. But the great thing about the tours is they’re accessible to everyone, even those who don’t know they’re history lovers yet.
