Community invited to celebrate public art honoring Camas and Washougal history

WASHOUGAL — History and art come together in a striking new public art installation at the Two Rivers Heritage Museum. The newly installed 24 x 8-foot mural, created by local artist and muralist Travis London, features nearly a dozen historic images depicting early life in the communities of Camas and Washougal.

The artwork will be officially dedicated on Saturday, May 30, at 10 a.m. at the museum, located at 1 Durgan Street in Washougal. Community members are invited to attend the free public ceremony and view the new installation.

Mounted high on the outside of the museum’s carriage house building, the artwork can be enjoyed by anyone passing by. “We love that this incredible piece offers people a glimpse into the rich local history preserved inside the museum,” said Julianne Lawrence, TRHM director. “We hope the mural sparks curiosity and inspires both longtime residents and newcomers to come inside and explore the stories of our communities.”

The mural incorporates historic photographs carefully selected by members of the museum’s display committee from the museum’s extensive photo archives. The images highlight a variety of scenes from daily life in early Camas and Washougal, celebrating the people, industries, transportation, and city views that shaped the area’s history.

London said the project became one of his longest to complete. “There are so many fascinating details in these photographs,” he said. “The longer people spend looking at the mural, the more they’ll discover. While working on the steamship image, I suddenly noticed a set of elk antlers mounted on the ship’s helm. It is details like that which really bring history to life.”

Because the original photos were black and white, London developed a natural color palette to distinguish the scenes while preserving their historic character.

The mural was installed on April 24 by Vancouver Signs and was made possible through generous donations from Bill and Becky Smead and the Beals Foundation.

The dedication ceremony will feature brief remarks from London, Washougal Mayor David Stuebe and Camas Mayor Steve Hogan. There will be some interactive crafts and activities going on, as well as information about all of the public art in Washougal provided by the Washougal Arts and Cultural Alliance. The museum will also be open and guests are encouraged to tour the exhibits while attending the celebration.

For more information about the museum and upcoming events, visit Two Rivers Heritage Museum.