Our Collections

Collections & Item Donations

The Collections

CCHM’s  collection of artifacts, images, archival materials, and oral histories includes a variety of objects, although only a portion are on view at the museum. The collection is a valuable resource for both the community and researchers for engaging people in the exploration and understanding of Clark County.

CCHM cares for the collection through preservation and public access. These efforts include everything from cleaning to properly housing objects to delving into the history of items for research. CCHM’s preservation and conservation efforts are critical activities for stewarding Clark County history and culture

General Collection

CCHM maintains a broad based collection that includes artifacts from the mid-1200s through the present. The collection includes the following types of objects and/or archival materials:

  • Archaeological (both Prehistoric and Historic)
  • Native American basketry and beadwork
  • Territorial history
  • Statehood
  • Clark County settlement
  • Artwork and textiles
  • Industrial, medical, and household objects and tools
  • The Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway (SP&S)

Special Collections

Contemporary Collection

Capture the Moment

History happens every day in the big and small actions each and everyone makes. Capture the Moment is our special collection which invites community members to share with us your story of life in Clark County during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

Share Your Story

Interviews

Know a community member that has an interesting or significant story to tell? We’d love to talk to them! History is about the everyday choices each of us makes. But these stories are often lost in time. The Interviews Collection is about capturing them before they are gone.

Donate an Item

ADD TO OUR GENERAL COLLECTION

CCHM IS CURRENTLY NOT ACCPETING ANY NEW ITEMS INTO THE COLLECTION UNTIL JANUARY 2025. WE ARE CURRENTLY PROCESSING A LARGE NUMBER OF NEW ITEMS RECIEVED IN OUR COLLECTION. WE ARE HONORED WITH THE RESPONBILITY OF CARING FOR CLARK COUNTY HISTORY. AS A RESULT, WE WANT TO ENSURE WE HAVE THE CAPCITY TO CARE FOR ANY NEW ITEMS OFFERED FOR OUR COLLECTON. WE APPRCIATE YOUR UNDERSTANDING.

Donation Process Detail

CCHM accepts item donations on a case by case basis, and collections focus on the development of Clark County from earliest human settlements up to present day.

It is important that we are able to properly care for the items we take in and that we are the correct recipients of those items.  As such, we are unable to take items into our General Collection without prior approval and following our rigorous acceptance process.

Our process for donations involves all potential items be reviewed by our Collections Committee, which meets the 3rd Tuesday of each month. The Committee works to ensure all donations to the museum meet our mission of pertaining to the history of Clark County, as well as the ability to keep and preserve those items coming into our collection.

We appricate your understanding as we are paused for donations until June, while we work to create space and capacity for more collections.

Please complete the form below to have your item considered for our collection.