Opened Tuesday, April 17th, 2012. Closes May 31st, 2013.
Click here to read an article from The Columbian‘s business editor Gordon Oliver on technology in museums.
Above and Below the Fold interprets Clark County history through the eyes of its reporters. Drawn from abstracts summarizing Clark County newspaper articles from 1850-1958 and compiled by former educator Carl Landerholm, this exhibit is an overview of what Landerholm focused on in his comprehensive publication, the Vancouver Area Chronology. We combine the significant events “above the fold” with the unusual events “below the fold” to provide a glimpse into our local past.
The exhibit features artifacts from the museum’s broad based collection including the 1873 Washington Hand Press which was used to print The Vancouver Independent newspapers (precursor to The Columbian). Visitors can watch a televised demonstration of how our 1873 Washington hand press works courtesy of Arizona State Parks.
After putting on the headphones found by the pair of reclining chairs in the exhibit’s living room (courtesy of Sparks Home Furnishings) visitors can listen to samples from the museum’s oral history collection. A special recording booth is available in the gallery for visitors who want to add their stories to the exhibit.
The Columbian, the Camas/Washougal Post-Record and The Reflector are providing subscriptions to their newspapers for visitors who would like to sit back in the recliners and put their feet up to read the local news.
Tech savvy visitors can use their smartphones (with a QR Code app) to scan QR codes throughout the exhibit to read miniature ‘newspapers.’ Additional media is also available via audio recordings accessible by conventional cell phones using the Guide by Cell program to which the museum subscribes.
The exhibit is sponsored in part by the Landerholm Law Offices and Dovy and Irwin Landerholm. Media sponsors are The Columbian, Vancouver Business Journal and The Daily Insider. The exhibit runs through May 31, 2013. The museum will host a number of workshops related to the exhibit theme during the course of the exhibit run.
Who Was Carl Landerholm?
Carl Landerholm (1885-1961) had a 40-year career in Clark County’s public schools serving as a popular teacher, principal, and superintendent until retiring in 1947. He assembled the Vancouver Area Chronology between 1956 and 1959, working steadily 5-8 hours each day poring over literally millions of words in area newspapers and documents. The Chronology is available in hard copy at the Clark County Historical Museum’s Research Library and electronically via our website under electronic resources.
For kids: click here to download an Above the Fold scavenger hunt!
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