Clark County Historical Museum

Wander Clark County - Washougal Memorial Cemetery
2025-08-09 11:00 - 12:30 (America/Los_Angeles) | Washougal Memorial Cemetery, 3329 Q Street, Washougal, WA, United States
Discover the stories of Washougal’s pioneers on the Washougal Memorial Cemetery Walking Tour. This journey takes visitors through the historic Pioneer Sections A and B, where the town’s earliest settlers rest. Learn about the influential families who shaped Washougal, from homesteaders and war veterans to entrepreneurs and civic leaders. Uncover the origins of Washougal’s founding through the lives of figures like Richard Ough, a Hudson’s Bay Company trader who married Chinook princess White Wing, and Joseph Gibbons, an early pioneer who helped establish the town. Walk among the gravestones of soldiers, business owners, and trailblazers whose legacies live on in the fabric of the community. This tour offers a moving glimpse into the past, connecting you with the people who built Washougal.
Tickets are $10.00 for non-members. CCHM members are free but RSVP is required.
For questions, contact the museum at 360-993-5679 or outreach@cchmuseum.org.
Thank you to our Program Sponsor, X Dog Adventures!

Wander Clark County - Historic Old Town Ridgefield
2025-08-23 09:00 - 10:30, 2025-08-23 11:00 - 12:30 | Overlook Park, 113-131 S Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA, 98642, United States
Step into Ridgefield’s past on this walking tour through its historic downtown, where early pioneers, industrious mill owners, and enterprising merchants shaped the city we know today. From the Chinook village of Cathlapotle to the arrival of settlers like the Carty and Shobert families, Ridgefield’s history is one of resilience and transformation. Explore landmarks such as the Ridgefield Hardware Store, Union Ridge Presbyterian Church, and the historic Liberty Theater, each with its own story to tell. Discover how this once-bustling hub of timber, agriculture, and commerce evolved into the charming community it is today.
Tickets are $10.00 for non-members. CCHM members are free but RSVP is required.
For questions, contact the museum at 360-993-5679 or outreach@cchmuseum.org.
Thank you to our Program Sponsor, X Dog Adventures!

Clark County Historical Museum Super Fun Sale of Books!
2025-08-30 11:00 - 15:00 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
Join us once again this year on Saturday, August 30th, from 11 AM to 3 PM for a special book sale at the Clark County Historical Museum! This sale features a diverse selection of vintage books, journals, posters, and texts. From Pacific Northwest history to novels, magazines, and academic non-fiction, there’s something for every interest. All books are available on a “pay what you will” donation basis, with a suggested donation of $2 per book and just 25 cents for journals.
Proceeds from the sale will benefit the museum’s Collections Department, helping fund the purchase of preservation materials like boxes, folders, and other essential supplies to safeguard our local history. The museum will be open to the public for free, so come browse the collection, support a great cause, and take home a piece of history.
The museum will be free and open to the public all day!
Saturday, August 30
11 AM – 3 PM
1511 Main Street, Vancouver WA 98660

Museum Closed
2025-09-02 08:00 - 2025-09-06 17:00 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States

CCHM Speaker Series: Fort Vancouver’s First Centennial & Its Coin with Martin Middlewood
2025-09-11 19:00 - 20:00 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
Fort Vancouver’s First Centennial & Its CoinDate: Thursday, September 11, 2025Time: Doors open at 6 PM | Talk begins at 7 PMLocation: Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660Cost: Free for CCHM Members | $5 for Non-Member
Join historian and award-winning writer Martin Middlewood for a fascinating journey into the chaotic, ambitious, and little-known story of Fort Vancouver’s 1925 Centennial celebration—a commemoration powered by community pride, political wrangling, and a special 50-cent commemorative coin.
Learn how forgotten history was revived, coins were flown in on a daring one-day trip to San Francisco, and last-minute challenges reshaped the celebration. Middlewood will place the event in its national context and reveal what happened after the fanfare faded.

Haunted Walking Tours
2025-09-12 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-09-13 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-09-19 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-09-20 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-09-26 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-09-27 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-10-03 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-10-04 19:00 - 20:30 and 6 more dates | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
Are you curious to hear tales of what haunts the buildings and streets of Downtown Vancouver? Interested in the strange and peculiar side of our local history? Then join us as we take an excursion through Clark County’s haunted history. Every Friday and Saturday night in October, guides from the Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) will lead inquiring minds to the answers. Join them on walking tours along Main Street and beyond to uncover the unexplained in this historic city.
CCHM Downtown Vancouver Haunted Tours
Fridays and Saturdays in September 12 thru October 25 at 7:00 PM
Clark County Historical Museum – 1511 Main St, Vancouver, WA 98661
A mix of stories, memories, research, and personal experiences, these tours are a fascinating glimpse through the darker side of history. Many of our tales of history and terror are drawn from the book Darkness Next Door, penned by Clark County historian, Pat Jollota. They begin at 7:00 PM most nights, and guides will lead up to 25 people for approximately a mile, while making frequent stops along the way. General admission tickets are $20.00 per person and CCHM Members are $15.00.
All are welcome on the tours, though they are best suited for those 10 years and older. Tickets are required for all persons attending over the age of six. In addition, tours happen rain or shine, so CCHM encourages guests to bring a flashlight and dress for the weather. (Costumes appreciated.)
Tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/cc/historic-haunted-walking-tours-2025-4491843?
CCHM’s Haunted Walking Tours is an annual and popular series that supports the museum’s mission to gather, save, and share Clark County history.
For more information, contact the museum at 360-993-5679 or outreach@cchmuseum.org.

Historic Monuments in Washington State: Follow-Up Conversation
2025-09-24 18:00 - 20:00 | Vancouver Arts Hub, 1007 E Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA, 98663, United States
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
Doors open at 5:15pm | Discussion starts at 6:00pm
Vancouver Arts Hub (former FVRL building) 1007 E Mill Plain Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98663
FREE (Registration strongly encouraged)
The Clark County Historical Museum is proud to once again partner with the Washington State Historical Society to host Historic Monuments in Washington State: Community Conversation. This important follow-up event builds on last year’s dialogue and will take place at the Clark County Historical Museum on Wednesday, September 24, at 6 PM.
Continuing the ConversationIn fall 2024, our community gathered to discuss the “Firsts” monument located along Officers Row in the Vancouver Historic Reserve. Together, we explored how this monument reflects local history and the ways monuments can shape our understanding of the past.
This year’s session will dig deeper into the issues raised in that first conversation. Attendees will engage in dialogue about the monument’s role in representing our community’s history and consider how monuments like this can—or should—help us learn about the past.
The Importance of Contextualizing HistoryBetween 1900 and 1950, the Washington State Historical Society installed over 40 monuments to commemorate white settlers. Many of these markers lack historical context, contain outdated or harmful language, and often ignore Indigenous perspectives.
In 2020, WSHS committed to addressing these legacies. With guidance from public historians, Indigenous historians, and Tribal representatives, the Society continues to evaluate these monuments and create opportunities for inclusive, community-driven dialogue.
Your Voice MattersThe insights gathered during these community conversations will help guide future actions regarding the “Firsts” monument and others across Washington State. Options under consideration include removal, redesign, or the addition of new interpretive signage.
By participating, you help ensure that the stories we tell in public spaces reflect the full breadth of our shared history.
About the ProjectThis initiative is part of the Dialogue in Place project, funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Services. The project seeks to reassess 42 historical monuments across Washington State through community conversations and government-to-government consultation with Tribal Nations. The goal is to develop new tools for understanding and engaging with our state’s complex history.
Join UsWe invite community members to attend and lend their voices to this vital conversation. Together, we can shape how our region remembers the past and imagines the future.
This program is part of the Washington State Historical Society’s Dialogue in Place project, presented in partnership with the Clark County Historical Museum.
Register here: https://forms.office.com/Pages/ResponsePage.aspx?id=r5nFoiwDuUqxPukepzmCw3mG4k2YG85FgBIHGPibE-FUN0Y3ODBXQUdRN1MxUFJOTThSWEs0UE1MTCQlQCN0PWcu

Speaker Series: The Murder of JoAnn Dewey, presented by Pat Jolotta
2025-10-02 19:00 - 20:00 | Historic Covington House, 4201 Main St, Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
Before midnight on March 19, 1950, startled bystanders outside Saint Joseph’s Hospital in Vancouver, Washington, witnessed a horrifying scene: two men forcing a screaming young woman into a car. That woman, JoAnn Dewey, was never seen alive again.
Dewey had recently moved to Portland to work and share an apartment with a friend. On this fateful night, she missed her bus home and walked to the hospital, planning to spend the night with another friend. By the next morning, a massive search for her was underway.
The case culminated in the longest trial in Clark County history at the time and ended with a death sentence for the Wilson brothers. Yet the story did not end there—appeals, escapes, and shocking courtroom testimony kept the case in the headlines until their execution in 1953.
Local historian and author Pat Jollota will lead us through the twists, turns, and dark truths of this remarkable case, shedding new light on one of the region’s most disturbing chapters.
Please Note: Due to ongoing upgrades to the Clark County Historical Museum’s roof, this month’s Speaker Series will be hosted at the Historic Covington House. Seating is extremely limited. Registration is required. This event is free and open to the public.
About Pat Jollota
Pat Jollota is a beloved historian, author, and former Vancouver City Council member whose work has shaped how Clark County remembers its past. Over two decades on the council, she championed historic preservation and community initiatives, including helping establish the Arthur D. Curtis Children’s Justice Center. As curator of the Clark County Historical Museum, she inspired countless residents with her deep love of local history. Jollota is the author of numerous books, including Naming Clark County, The Murder of JoAnn Dewey in Vancouver, Washington, and Haunted Vancouver. Recognized as Clark County’s First Citizen in 2012, she continues to be celebrated for preserving the stories that define our community.

CCHM After Hours - Columbia Springs
2025-10-03 17:00 - 20:00 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
Join us for First Friday at the Clark County Historical Museum!Celebrate Vancouver’s vibrant community with a special evening of nature, science, and connection during the First Friday Art Walk.
On Friday, October 3, enjoy free museum admission from 5:00 to 8:00 PM. Explore our exhibits after hours and engage with local environmental leaders during a special After Hours Takeover in partnership with Columbia Springs—a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring stewardship through hands-on science education and outdoor experiences.
Come discover how Columbia Springs is helping thousands of students and families connect with the natural world through programs like Salmon in the Classroom, Repair Clark County, and guided nature walks—all while enjoying a unique evening at the museum!

History on Tap: UFO Northwest — How Washington State Spawned the Men in Black
2025-10-16 19:00 - 21:00 | Kiggins Theatre, 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
History on Tap: UFO Northwest — How Washington State Spawned the Men in Black
Thursday, October 16, 2025Kiggins Theatre | 1011 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660Doors open at 6:00 PM | Program begins at 7:00 PM
Join us at the historic Kiggins Theatre for the next installment of History on Tap as we dive into one of the Pacific Northwest’s most fascinating and eerie tales of government secrecy, UFOs, and the origin of the “Men in Black.”
On August 1, 1947, the crash of a B-25 bomber in Washington State triggered a federal investigation into “The Maury Island Incident”—an event widely considered the first reported UFO encounter involving the so-called Men in Black. Declassified FBI files from the time reveal a story shaped by Cold War paranoia, interagency conflict, cover-ups, false confessions, and the direct involvement of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.
In UFO Northwest: How Washington State Spawned the Men in Black, guest speaker Steve Edmiston unravels this true Washington State mystery and explores its lasting influence on UFO lore in popular culture—from 1950s pulp magazines to The X-Files and the Men in Black films. He’ll also explore how the Northwest’s claim to UFO history has been challenged by other narratives across the country.
Admission:
Free for Clark County Historical Museum members
$5 in advance | $10 at the door for non-members

About the Speaker
Steve Edmiston (he/him) is a business and entertainment attorney with Bracepoint Law, as well as a screenwriter and producer. He has spoken at the Pacific Northwest History Conference, Washington State Historical Museum, McMenamins History Pubs, and film festivals and conferences across the region. He is the screenwriter and co-producer of The Maury Island Incident, a short film based on the 1947 UFO sighting reported by Harold Dahl over Puget Sound.

Sponsored By
This program is made possible with generous support from:Vancouver’s Downtown Association, Heritage Bank, Humanities Washington, Silver Keys Media, and NW Legacy Law.
Tickets available here: https://www.kigginstheatre.com/movie/history-on-tap—ufo-northwest

Speaker Series: “What Is a Chief? How Native Values Can Teach Resilience”
2025-11-06 19:00 - 20:00 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
The Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) concludes its 2025 Speaker Series with “What Is a Chief? How Native Values Can Teach Resilience,” featuring Native artist and former tribal leader John Halliday. The event will take place Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Clark County Historical Museum (1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660).
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but registration is required. Visit cchmuseum.org for tickets.
At age 55, John Halliday became legally blind. A Muckleshoot Tribal member of Duwamish ancestry, Halliday credits his Native American worldview, cultural traditions, and values—practices that have sustained Native tribes long before colonization—with helping him overcome the challenges of losing his sight.
Too often, our understanding of American history begins with the arrival of European powers, overlooking the thriving Indigenous communities that already existed. Through his personal story, Halliday offers audiences a deeper understanding of Washington State history from a Native perspective, and how these enduring cultural values can teach us about resilience and leadership today.
About the Speaker
John Halliday (he/him) is a legally blind Native American artist of Muckleshoot, Duwamish, Yakama, and Warm Springs descent. He recently retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where he served as Deputy Regional Director for the Navajo Region, and has also held leadership roles as CEO for the Muckleshoot and Snoqualmie Tribes.
As an artist known by the name Coyote, Halliday’s work has been featured at Lakewold Gardens, ANT Gallery, and the Sacred Circle Galleries of American Indian Art. He currently resides in Steilacoom, Washington.
This program is sponsored by Humanities Washington and the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission.
Register here

MEMBERS ONLY - Headstone and Memorial Cleaning and Care Workshop
2025-11-08 16:00 - 17:30 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
November is Members Month at the Clark County Historical Museum!
Join us on Saturday, November 8, as longtime CCHM volunteer and local historian Peri Muhich leads a hands-on workshop on memorial cleaning and care. Learn what supplies to bring to the cemetery and the proper techniques for cleaning and preserving headstones with respect and care. Space is limited to 25 participants, and registration is required to reserve your spot.
Register here.

Museum Closed For Veterans Day
2025-11-11 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
The Clark County Historical Museum will be closed in observance of Veterans Day.

MEMBERS ONLY - The Story of the Old Apple Tree
2025-11-15 16:00 - 17:30 | Historic Covington House, 4201 Main St, Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
Join us on Saturday, November 15, for an exclusive evening with Executive Director Brad Richardson as he explores the remarkable story of Washington State’s very first apple tree. Planted by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1826, this humble tree took root in more ways than one—its legacy and descendants have become symbols of Clark County’s heritage and Washington’s enduring identity.
This special event will be held at the historic Covington House (4201 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98663). Enjoy a selection of wine and hard cider as you take in this fascinating journey through local history.
Space is limited—reserve your spot today!
Register here.

2025 Annual Members Meeting
2025-11-20 18:00 - 19:00 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
Current members, join the Clark County Historical Museum at 6 pm Thursday, Nov. 20, for our annual membership meeting and awards ceremony. Brad Richardson, Executive Director of the Clark County Historical Museum, will share our accomplishments of 2025, and highlight the exciting programs, events, and exhibits of 2026.
During the event, awards will also be presented to community members for their service in support of gathering, saving, and sharing Clark County history.
Register here.

MEMBERS ONLY - Horrible Homicides Vs. Early Churches + Revival Grounds Walking Tour
2025-11-22 16:00 - 17:30 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
The area around Vancouver’s Courthouse is a study in opposites: at the same crossroads were Saints + Sinners. See where the early churches in Vancouver were located, and hear about the famous Tabernacle and church revival grounds. Just across the street walk around where all three of Vancouver’s Courthouses were erected learn about the numerous jail escapes – as well as some horrific criminals brought to justice!
Register here.
