History on Tap: The Campbells and The Columbian
Join us for the next installment of History on Tap as fourth-generation newspaper owner Will Campbell shares the story of his family’s remarkable newspaper legacy and the history of The Columbian.
Learn about Will’s great-grandfather, Herbert J. Campbell, who purchased The Columbian in 1921 and helped shape one of the Pacific Northwest’s longest-running family-owned newspapers. Discover how The Columbian has evolved alongside Vancouver over the past century, the role it continues to play in our community, and what the future holds for both the newspaper and the Campbell family.
Will Campbell serves as Innovation Editor at The Columbian, where he leads special projects including Community Funded Journalism and the newspaper’s growing slate of community events. After earning his journalism degree from the University of Oregon in 2017, he worked as a crime, courts, and public safety reporter for The Spokesman-Review before joining The Columbian in 2019 as an Assistant Metro Editor and Business Reporter.
Location Update
Please note that this installment of History on Tap will be held at the Clark County Historical Museum in Vancouver.
History on Tap is typically hosted at the Old Liberty Theater in Ridgefield. Because the historic theater is not equipped with air conditioning, this August program has been relocated to the museum to ensure the comfort and safety of our guests.
Registration
Seating is limited, and advance registration is required.
Admission is free for Clark County Historical Museum members and $5 for non-members.
Thank You to Our Sponsors
This installment of History on Tap is produced through the generous support of our season sponsors, the Old Liberty Theater and Ridgefield Main Street; our program sponsors, Johnson Bixby and Riverview Bank; and our media sponsor, The Columbian. We are grateful for their continued support of local history programming and community engagement.
Thursday, August 20, 2026
Doors Open: 6:00 PM | Presentation: 7:00 PM
Location:
Clark County Historical Museum
1511 Main Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
Admission:
Free for Clark County Historical Museum members | $5 for non-members