Our Mission
What We Stand For
The Clark County Historical Society and Museum is committed to responsible collections stewardship, innovative collaboration and inspiring exhibitions and programs that engage the community in an exploration of Clark County’s past, present and future.
Clark County Historical Society and Museum is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.
Keepers of history
Working together to Gather, Save, & Share the stories of our community.
For 56 years the Clark County Historical Museum has been encouraging an understanding of how local history shapes the character of Clark County and strengthens our sense of place. CCHM has collected and preserved over 60,000 items of local historical significance during this time. We use these treasures to inform people about the region’s heritage and its importance in their daily lives. Our purpose is to share an understanding of the past that will help to build a better future for generations to come.
But our work is about more than a collection of items from our distant past. We believe history is something that happens every day. Beyond the expected museum exhibits, you’ll find an ever growing list of events, workshops, tours, activities, and more designed around the belief that history is something that influences the world around us today.
Our Vision & Values
a Space where all stories are shared
To provide opportunities for meaningful engagement with history that lead to a more educated and connected community.
Stewardship: Provide responsible and thoughtful long-term care for the collections and the community memory
Commitment and Responsibility: Adhere to legal, ethical and fiscal standards; accountability; institutional stability
Service: Benefit the public and our stakeholders
Diversity: Celebrate the richness inherent in differences
Collaboration: Cultivate partnerships with community organizations
Innovation: Incorporate new ideas and methods.
Courage: Challenge boundaries while respecting traditions.
Accessibility: Explore new technologies and techniques to improve the visitor experience.
Say “Hello”
Meet the Team
Bradley Richardson
Executive Director
Hometown: Camas/Washougal, WA
First as a volunteer and now as Executive Director of CCHM, Brad has spent the last 9 years engaging the public in the gathering, saving, and sharing of our community’s history at the museum. During his tenure, he has greatly expanded the Museum’s Walking Tour Program, launched the History on Tap series, spearheaded the creation of the Historic Routes mobile walking tour app, designed exhibits, and managed the Museum’s collection.
Brad holds a Masters in Public History from Portland State University (2015), and Bachelors from WSU Vancouver (2012). He was nominated for the 2017 George C. Marshall Public Leadership Award and recognized as a 2015 Visit Vancouver USA Tourism Ambassador. He also serves on the board of trustees for Humanities Washington.
April Buzby
Outreach & Public Programs Manager
“To create a better future, first we must reconnect to the stories of our past.”
Hometown: Fall River, MA
April spent much of her life in minority and Indigenous communities throughout the US. Inspired by the rich storytelling traditions and struggles of her friends and neighbors, April developed a curiosity for the intersection of history, geography, and policy. This curiosity led her to pursue a BA in Geography from Keene State and a Masters in Community and Regional Planning from the University of Oregon. Today, she helps bring the stories of Clark County to life through our programs and events.
Katie Bush
Public Historian
Hometown: Edmonds, WA
Katie joined CCHM as the museum’s public historian in April 2021. She holds a Masters in Public History from Portland State University (2021) and a Bachelors in History from Western Washington University (2012). In 2020, she received the Oregon Heritage Fellowship from the Oregon State Historic Preservation Office for her work on the policing of impoverished communities in Progressive era Portland.
Katie is passionate about surfacing often overlooked or forgotten historical narratives, and looks forward to bringing this enthusiasm to her work at CCHM.
Alex Reed Wilson
Collections Manager
Hometown: Bozeman, MT
Born in Montana and a lifelong traveler of the Pacific Northwest, Alex joined CCHM in October 2023. His public work experience started as a volunteer for the development of a skatepark in his hometown as a thirteen-year-old, and extended to working in community behavioral health care in Portland.
After earning an MS in Information and Library Science from SUNY Buffalo, NY in 2022, Alex turned his eye for public service to archives and special collections. He’s lived in the Pacific Northwest since 2010 and enjoys music, literature, skateboarding, fly fishing, and odd-ball documentaries.
Leadership
Our Board
Cody Ritter, President
Sarah Laughlin, Vice President
Dan Wyatt, Treasurer
Major W. Harris Jr. , Secretary
Trustees
Jan Bader
Sam Buechler
Sean Denniston
Dr. Steve Fountain
Alexander Gall
Annie Gibson
Caitlin Gill
Garrett Ginter
Major W. Harris Jr.
Marykay Lamoureaux
Charles L. Simmons
Bryan Stebbins
Anne McEnerny-Ogle, City of Vancouver Ex-Officio Trustee
Emeritus Board Members
Joan Dengerink
Karin Ford
Dr. Robert Stepsis