Wander Clark County: Historic Arnada Neighborhood - Early Tour (9:00 AM)
2026-07-25 09:00 - 10:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
Step into one of Vancouver’s most charming and historic neighborhoods on this guided walking tour through Arnada. Nestled just north of downtown, Arnada offers a fascinating glimpse into the city’s growth during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, with tree lined streets, beautifully preserved homes, and stories that connect local families, architecture, and community life across generations. Along the way, participants will explore how the neighborhood evolved alongside Vancouver’s expanding industries, transportation networks, and civic development.
From elegant Craftsman residences to hidden historical details tucked into everyday streetscapes, this tour reveals the people and events that shaped Arnada into the neighborhood it is today.

Wander Clark County: Historic Arnada Neighborhood - Late Tour (11:00 AM)
2026-07-25 11:00 - 12:00 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States

Speaker Series - The Second Mrs. Hidden: Exploring the Life of Grace Hulin Hidden
2026-08-06 19:00 - 21:00 | Hidden House Event Space, 100 West 13th Street, Vancouver, 98660, United States
Join the Clark County Historical Museum for a special evening at the historic Hidden House as local historian Peri Muhich explores the life and legacy of Grace Hulin Hidden.
While often remembered as the second wife of Lowell Hidden, Grace Hulin Hidden made significant contributions to the Vancouver community through her dedication to civic and service organizations. This presentation will examine her life, her family’s legacy of skilled stone masonry that connected the Hulin and Hidden families, and her lasting impact on Clark County.
The program will be held outdoors on the grounds of the Hidden House, built in 1885 by Lowell Hidden. This historic setting offers a unique opportunity to experience local history where it happened. Light appetizers prepared by the Hidden House Event Space are included with admission.
This program is part of the Clark County Historical Museum Speaker Series and is presented with generous support from the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission, the Hidden Family, and The Columbian, the event’s media sponsor.

Lunchtime Walking Tour: THE BIG FIRE & HOW DOWNTOWN CHANGED
2026-08-07 12:00 - 13:00 | Fountain at Esther Short Park
Join historian Tracy Reilly-Kelly as she explores the hidden stories of Clark County!

Meet at Esther Short Park Waterfall Fountain
In 1910 a large fire damaged the Lower Main St area. Fire has threatened Vancouver over and over and in its history. Learn how fires shaped Downtown – and what it took to modernize it after 1910. Bonus – walk through Esther Short Park to learn its history and the backstory of the Pioneer Mother Statue.
Join historian and Clark County Historical Museum volunteer Tracy Reilly-Kelly for these one hour long walks exploring the hidden history of Clark County! Free and open to the public. Registration required!

Exhibit Opening: Moments That Made Us
2026-08-08 11:00 - 16:00 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
-The Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) will host a community celebration on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., featuring the opening of its new Moments That Made Us exhibit alongside the grand opening of the new Vancouver Visitor Center, located in the museum lobby. The free event will take place at the Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660.
The celebration begins at 11 a.m. with a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by the Blue Crew, officially dedicating the Vancouver Visitor Center. Developed in partnership with Visit Vancouver USA and the Vancouver Downtown Association, the new visitor center addresses the longstanding need for a dedicated visitor information hub in Clark County.
Following a multi-month renovation, the museum’s lobby now features a centralized welcome desk and a dedicated space highlighting businesses and attractions throughout Downtown Vancouver and Uptown Village. Staff and volunteers will provide visitors with personalized recommendations, maps, and information about local dining, shopping, and unique regional experiences.
The visitor center is organized around three key themes:
– Sips & Bites – Showcasing local restaurants, cafés, breweries, bars, and eateries. – Makers, Merchants & More – Highlighting boutiques, artisans, craftspeople, mercantiles, cooperatives, and locally owned businesses. – Play & Discover – Featuring entertainment, festivals, workshops, outdoor recreation, fitness opportunities, and other experiences throughout the region.
The renovation was made possible through the generous support of the Courtney Irvin Foundation, whose investment helped create a welcoming space for both residents and visitors.
The event also marks the opening of Moments That Made Us, CCHM’s contribution to a multistate initiative commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026. The exhibition invites communities across the country to reflect not only on the people and events that shaped the nation, but also on the local stories that brought America’s founding ideals to life.
Working with local organizations and community partners, the Clark County Historical Museum has incorporated stories from throughout Clark County, ensuring the region’s history is represented within the broader American narrative.
Community members, visitors, and members of the media are invited to attend this day of celebration, history, and discovery.
Event Details
Exhibit Opening & Vancouver Visitor Center Grand OpeningDate: Saturday, August 8, 2026Time: 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Location: Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660 Admission: Free

Wander Clark County: HerStory - Early Tour (9:00 AM)
2026-08-15 09:00 - 10:00 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
Travel back on this engaging walking tour celebrating the remarkable women who shaped Vancouver and Clark County; this tour brings to life the stories of Indigenous women, Oregon Trail pioneers, business leaders, physicians, educators, activists, artists, and wartime workers whose courage and determination transformed the community. From Esther Short’s fight to secure her family’s land claim to Mother Joseph’s architectural legacy and the trailblazing women who led businesses, libraries, schools, and city government, discover the powerful and often overlooked stories of Vancouver’s founding mothers and changemakers.

Wander Clark County: HerStory - Late Tour (11:00 AM)
2026-08-15 11:00 - 12:00 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States

Lunchtime Walking Tour: WOMEN’S HERSTORY: LIBRARIANS, POETS, YWCA & CLUBS
2026-08-21 12:00 - 13:00 | Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main St., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
Join historian Tracy Reilly-Kelly as she explores the hidden stories of Clark County!

Explore the homes and buildings where women in Vancouver first germinated their paths to suffrage, to public office and professional acumen. See where the YWCA, the League of Women Voters and other clubs first set up shop. Hear about women from society dames to literary lionesses.
Join historian and Clark County Historical Museum volunteer Tracy Reilly-Kelly for these one hour long walks exploring the hidden history of Clark County! Free and open to the public. Registration required!

Wander Clark County: Historic Old Town Ridgefield - Early Tour (9:00 AM)
2026-08-22 09:00 - 10:00 | 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.

Wander Clark County: Historic Old Town Ridgefield - Late Tour (11:00 AM)
2026-08-22 11:00 - 12:00 | Overlook Park, 113-131 S Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA, 98642, United States

Wander Clark County: Washougal Memorial Cemetery - Early Tour (9:00 AM)
2026-08-29 09:00 - 10:00 | 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.

Wander Clark County: Washougal Memorial Cemetery - Late Tour (11:00 AM)
2026-08-29 11:00 - 12:00 | Washougal Memorial Cemetery, 3329 Q Street, Washougal, WA, United States

2026 CCHM Fundraising Dinner and Auction
2026-09-26 17:00 - 20:30 | Summit Grove Lodge
🎃 Spooky Soirée: An Evening of Eerie Elegance & Clark County History
Presented by the Clark County Historical Museum & Society🗓️ Saturday, September 26, 2026🕰️ 5:00 PM – 8:30 PM📍 Historic Summit Grove Lodge | La Center, WA
The veil is thin… and the past is calling.
Join the Clark County Historical Museum & Society for our 2026 Spooky Soirée, an evening steeped in eerie elegance, macabre amusements, and the company of those who appreciate the exquisite charm of the past.
Set within the hauntingly beautiful Historic Summit Grove Lodge, this unforgettable fundraising event brings together community members, history lovers, and local leaders for a night that is as meaningful as it is delightfully chilling.
Your evening will include:
🔹 A hauntingly curated program rooted in local history🔹 A sinfully sumptuous dinner🔹 Silent and live auctions featuring unique and exciting packages🔹 The chance to connect with fellow supporters, dignitaries, and lovers of the past🔹 A touch of mystery… and a great deal of fun
At the Clark County Historical Museum, we are the custodians of memory—preserving the stories that define our community. Thanks to supporters like you, more than 85% of our annual operating budget is sustained through events like this, ensuring that Clark County’s history remains vivid and alive for generations to come.
Whether you come for the atmosphere, the cause, or the company, this is your invitation to step into the past and help protect its future.
👻 Costumes encouraged, but not required.
Can’t attend but still wish to support the museum?Visit cchmuseum.org/2026cchmfund to make a contribution.
Let us make 2026 a year to remember—as together we haunt the corridors of the past and protect the future of history.
#CCHMSpookySoiree #SaveHistory #ClarkCoHistory #MuseumFundraiser2026
Our event is currently sold out, but please fill out the form below to join our waiting list.

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