The Clark County Historical Museum is a 501(C)3 non-profit organization. The Clark County Historical Society operates the Museum in partnership with Clark County and the City of Vancouver. Additional funding helps sustain the operation of the museum and comes in many forms including: Clark County Historical Society membership dues, private and foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, in-kind gifts, and donations.
Mission Statement
The Clark County Historical Society is dedicated to the collection, preservation, and interpretation of the cultural history of Clark County and the Pacific Northwest, and to sponsoring educational programs and exhibits for the enrichment of all members of the public. The Clark County Historical Society is the governing body for the Clark County Historical Museum which is located in Vancouver Washington’s 1909 Carnegie Library on 1511 Main Street.
Museum History
The Clark County Historical Society (CCHS) originated in 1917 and was legally incorporated on March 29, 1940. The CCHS is a non-profit 501 c (3) corporation. The organization has undergone several legal name changes during its 90-year history of community service (originally known as the Fort Vancouver Restoration and Historical Society). The original charge of the organization was to assist in the preservation of historic sites (i.e. Fort Vancouver, Covington House, Cedar Creek Grist Mill) and the collection of historical artifacts of significance to the people of Clark County.
The CCHS opened the Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) on May 24, 1964 inside Vancouver’s 1909 Carnegie Library. The building was previously occupied by the Fort Vancouver Regional Library System. The museum building, listed on the National Historic Register of Places, is owned and maintained by the City of Vancouver. The CCHS works in partnership with the City of Vancouver and Clark County to provide museum services to the people of Clark County. Daily operations, program development and planning for the CCHS are overseen by an Executive Director who is professionally trained in accepted preservation and interpretive standards.
On January 12, 2007, after three years of hard work and planning, the CCHS, officials from the City of Vancouver, Clark County and the State of Washington cut the ribbon on the museum’s new accessible entrance, parking spaces, elevator, and remodeled restrooms. This very important improvement to the museum building was made possible with the financial support from the following: Clark County General Fund, Clark County Community Development Block Grant Program (CDBG), City of Vancouver, City of Vancouver CDBG Program and the taxpayers of Washington State.
Collections
In addition to our public programs, the CCHM maintains a broad based collection that includes artifacts from the mid-1200s through the late 20th century. The CCHM 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
- Contemporary
- Research Library collection comprising approximately 2,000 books; 5,000 documents, manuscripts, maps, aerial photo maps and pieces of ephemera (everyday printed material such as pamphlets, newspaper cuttings, advertising brochures); 5,200 historical photographs; 700 copy negatives; oral history transcripts
- Artwork and textiles
- Industrial, medical, and household objects and tools
- The Spokane, Portland, and Seattle Railway (SP&S)
Overview of Services
The primary function of the CCHS/CCHM is to acquire, store, preserve, exhibit, publish and interpret documents and artifacts relating to the history of the people of Clark County and their significance to Pacific Northwest and U.S. history. CCHS is directly responsible for the operation, maintenance, staffing and improvements of the museum and its research library.
To achieve the above functions, the museum produces changing interpretive exhibits utilizing the tangible historic objects stored in the museum collection and supplemented with temporary loans of additional related items from the community and/or other heritage organizations. The museum also hosts traveling exhibits from larger institutions and regularly provides lectures, classes, special events, student internships, teacher training opportunities and other related education programs to further the appreciation of the history and culture of Clark County. The CCHS also publishes an annual publication entitled Clark County History.
The CCHM research library provides photo reproduction and research services.
The CCHM operates a museum store that features books and items related to museum programs.
CCHS Awards Programs
Margaret Colf Hepola Heritage Award
In 2006 the CCHS created the Margaret Colf Hepola Heritage Award. This annual award (named after its first recipient) recognizes an individual for excellence and significant contributions to preserving history and/or historic preservation in Clark County. The recipient must be a resident of Clark County or the unincorporated areas. The recipient must be living, although the CCHS board reserves the right to honor someone posthumously if appropriate circumstances merit the decision. Past awards have been given to:
2006 Margaret Colf Hepola, Woodland, WA
2007 Rudy & Betty Mae Podhora, Vancouver, WA
History Day Scholarship
In 2007 the CCHS awarded their first Richard A. Anderson Memorial History Day Scholarship. The award is given to a Clark County student who demonstrates the highest academic scholarship, understands the connection between the past and the present, and most clearly expresses the National History Day theme for that year. The award is given to help offset the student’s expenses when attending the state level competition.
The Richard A. Anderson Memorial History Day Scholarship has been awarded to:
2009 Nicole Stohr, 8th grade, King’s Way Middle School, Vancouver, WA
2008 Kim Lum, 7th grade, Wy’east Middle School, Vancouver, WA
2007 Yekaterina Drokin, 8th grade, Pleasant Valley Middle School, Vancouver, WA
In 2008 the Richard A. Anderson Memorial History Day Scholarship program was expanded to also recognize a Clark County educator who best exemplifies the highest level of National History Day Leadership.
2009 Jim Sheppard, King’s Way Middle School, Vancouver, WA
2008 Michelle Annette, Wy’east Middle School, Vancouver, WA
Volunteer of the Year
Each year the CCHM is given a large donation of personal time by individuals from our greater community. In 2011, dedicated citizens donated a total of 5,500 hours to the museum! We can not achieve our mission without these valuable unpaid staff hours. In recognition of this great commitment the CCHS presents a Volunteer of the Year Award at our annual meeting in November. Award recipients are acknowledged on a special plaque (made and donated by a volunteer metal artist) proudly displayed in the museum lobby.
2011 Volunteer of the Year
At our November 17, 2011 Annual Membership Meeting CCHS Executive Director Susan Tissot announced that museum volunteer John Kimbrough was our 2011 volunteer of the year. John is a retired engineer who helps the museum with the installation of exhibits and museum programs by lending a hand with his custom building skills. “I love working with John Kimbrough because he sends me CAD drawings to make sure we are both on the same page, making sure we are clearly communicating while working on projects. It is fantastic!” says Executive Director Tissot.
Stop by the museum to check out the two new exhibit cases and fixtures he built for the Bridging the Gap exhibit that just closed. The cases and fixtures are now being used in the Working with Tradition: Folk Artists of Washington State exhibit that is currently in the northwest gallery.
Recent past recipients of the Volunteer of the Year Award are:
2011 – John Kimbrough, Vancouver, WA
2010 – Pepper Kim, Vancouver, WA
2009 – Jane Leonard, Vancouver, WA
2008 – Larry Sickles, Vancouver, WA
2007 – Mary Grgich, Ridgefield, WA
2006 – Gail Becker, Vancouver, WA
2005 – Richard Reay, Vancouver, WA