An exhibit ribbon cutting held by the Blue Crew will occur at Clark County Historical Museum on Friday, May 24

Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) staff members are excited to unveil the museum’s newest exhibit, Through the Decades: CCHMuseum at 60, which highlights the first 60 years of the museum’s work for Clark County. 

An exhibit ribbon cutting held by the Blue Crew will occur at Clark County Historical Museum (1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660) on Friday, May 24, at 11 a.m. after which visitors will be able to explore the new exhibit. Area residents are invited to attend the ribbon cutting and be part of those helping to recreate the museum’s 1964 opening day photo.

On May 24, 1964, the Clark County Historical Museum opened its doors. Nearly 2,000 people gathered for the celebration — requiring parts of Main Street to close for the day. On that day, for the first time Clark County had a space solely dedicated to telling the community’s story. The exhibit takes the story from there exploring important figures and events over the last six decades of the museum’s operation. From Dr. John Brougher to Pat Jollota to the museum’s advocacy for preserving our local historic sites to bringing important stories to the stage of the Kiggins Theatre through History on Tap and much more, this retrospective exhibit will ground visitors in the numerous efforts CCHM has undertaken. 

CCHM Executive Director Brad Richardson noted “In 1964, community leaders created a space for residents of our county to explore their stories. For six decades, passionate individuals continued to lay the foundation for the success we see today. I have found the words of former CCHS Board President Dr. John Brougher encapsulated this moment and our culture well. As the museum’s opening day neared, Dr. Brougher wrote, ‘A number of other volunteer[s]…worked every Thursday…in order to have the museum presentable for the opening date…we all appreciate and thank them heartily for their labor of love.’ I can clearly see the through line of our story to this day. Today, our volunteers, staff, and board passionately continue to demonstrate that same ‘labor of love’ for our museum.”

The Through the Decades: CCHMuseum at 60 event will include the 11 a.m. Blue Crew ribbon cutting, remarks from CCHS Board President Cody Ritter and CCHM Executive Director Brad Richardson and a recreation of the 1964 opening day photo. 

Organizers will also be holding programs celebrating the museum on Saturday, May 25. These programs will include a scavenger hunt event, a talk highlighting BIPOC women aviators, story sharing, and much more.

The exhibit will be installed in the museum’s flat panel gallery and open through Spring of 2025. In celebration of our anniversary, all admission fees will be waived for Friday, May 24 and Saturday, May 25.

CCHM has also partnered with Vancouver’s own Loowit Brewing Company to brew up a limited edition beer commemorating CCHM’s 60^th Anniversary. Limited supplies of this special edition can and brew will be available starting Friday, May 17 at Loowit’s home base (507 Columbia St, Vancouver, WA 98660) in downtown Vancouver.

For more information, contact the museum at (360) 993-5679 or outreach@cchmuseum.org.