Troutdale Historical Society

06/11/2026

Happy International Yarn Bombing Day!

Did you know that yarn bombing, sometimes called "guerrilla knitting", is a form of public art where colorful knitted and crocheted creations are used to brighten parks, streets, buildings, and public spaces? What began as a small artistic movement has grown into a worldwide celebration of creativity, community, and handmade craftsmanship.

And here in Troutdale, we're bringing that spirit to life at Summerfest 2026!

Join the Troutdale Historical Society on Saturday, June 20, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the Barn Exhibit Hall and Harlow House Museums for our Yarn Bomb! A dedicated group of talented volunteers has spent countless hours creating beautiful handmade pieces that will be displayed throughout our museum properties for the day. From colorful yarn art to whimsical surprises, you'll discover creativity around every corner.

Our fiber artists will also have handmade gifts available for purchase, with proceeds helping support the Troutdale Historical Society's mission of preserving and sharing our community's history.

We're also excited to unveil a brand-new exhibit upstairs at the Harlow House Museum celebrating the rich history of handcrafted fiber arts in our community. Explore beautiful quilts, shawls, tapestries, tablecloths, and other handmade treasures, including some pieces that are now more than 200 years old. These remarkable works tell the stories of the skilled hands, families, and traditions that helped shape our region.

Make a full day of it! The City of Troutdale's Summerfest kicks off at 10:00 AM at the brand-new Sharon Nesbit Heritage Park and along the Ch'ak Ch'ak Trail, featuring live music, a walking parade, llamas, family activities, and much more. Then continue the celebration with us from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM at the museums.

🦙 Summerfest at Sharon Nesbit Heritage Park & Ch'ak Ch'ak Trail: 10 AM – 1 PM
🧶 Yarn Bomb & Summerfest Museum Activities: 1 PM – 4 PM
🏛️ Free admission to all three museums
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Open to all ages

06/11/2026

An excerpt from the personal journal of Clara Latourell Larsson

On October 7, 1937, I boarded the Streamliner in Portland and began one of the longest journeys of my life. I was headed to Williamsburg, Ontario, where I hoped to find relief through treatments offered by Dr. Locke. I had never traveled so far from home alone.

The day was beautiful. Oregon's hills and valleys were dressed in autumn colors. As the train rolled through Troutdale, I looked eagerly from the window. My sister Alice stood near the tracks in her red plaid dress, smiling and waving goodbye. At The Dalles, my cousin Marie Powell and her twin daughters, Caroline and Catherine, were waiting to wave as well. Those familiar faces stayed with me as the miles passed.

Life aboard the train was an adventure. Passengers laughed, visited, and shared stories. I carefully counted my pennies. Tea and toast cost twenty cents, breakfast twenty-five. Every dollar mattered because I would need it for my treatments.

Crossing Wyoming, I watched endless miles of open country pass by. In Chicago I changed trains and continued toward Canada. Kind strangers helped me along the way, including an English gentleman who assisted me in Toronto.

When I finally arrived in Williamsburg, I rented a small room with kitchen privileges and reported for my first treatment. It was severe, but I was encouraged. Dr. Locke was kind, helpful, and confident, which gave me hope.

My days soon settled into a routine of treatments, walks, letter writing, and simple meals of coffee, bread, and honey. Along the way I met wonderful people, including Mrs. Bateson and her daughter Ruth, who suffered from arthritis but remained cheerful and inspiring.

As the weeks passed, I began taking two treatments a day. The schedule was demanding, but I was determined to improve. Dr. Locke assured me that change was coming, and I believed him.

Looking back, this journey was about more than medical treatment. It was about courage, friendship, and the kindness of strangers. Most of all, it was about hope—a companion that traveled beside me from Oregon to Ontario and carried me through every mile.

05/29/2026

📸 A Big Thank You to a Talented Local Student! 📸

We would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Kate Noelani, a student at Mt. Hood Community College, for stopping by the Barn Exhibit Hall Museum and capturing these beautiful photographs of our museum and exhibits.

Kate's photos highlight so many of the things we love about the Barn, from the warm wood interior and fascinating Historic Columbia River Highway exhibits to the unique character of the building itself. Seeing our museum through a fresh set of eyes reminds us just how special these spaces are and why preserving them matters.

These photos also highlight something important: museums are more than artifacts and exhibits. They are places where students can learn new skills, build experience, meet people, and make a real difference in their community.

Did you know that students age 16 and older are eligible to volunteer with the Troutdale Historical Society?

Whether you're interested in:
📚 History and museums
📸 Photography and media
🎨 Exhibits and creative projects
👋 Greeting visitors and sharing local stories
🛠 Behind-the-scenes museum work

We are always working on fun projects and would love to welcome new volunteers to our team across all three Troutdale museums.

Interested in learning more?

📧 [email protected]
📞 503-661-2164

Thank you again, Kate, for sharing your talent with our community and helping showcase the Barn Exhibit Hall Museum in such a wonderful way! ❤️

05/27/2026

🚶‍♂️ DISCOVER HISTORIC TROUTDALE ON FOOT! 🚶‍♀️

There’s no better way to experience Troutdale than by walking through the stories that built it.

The Troutdale Historical Society is excited to offer TWO guided walking tours that bring local history, scenery, museums, and hidden stories to life in a fun and engaging way!

🌟 The Centennial Tour
Explore historic downtown Troutdale beginning at the Centennial Arch before enjoying guided stories about the people, buildings, and businesses that shaped the “Gateway to the Gorge.” Guests will also receive guided tours through all THREE Troutdale museums!

🏛 Barn Exhibit Hall Museum
🏡 Harlow House Museum
🚂 Depot Rail Museum

✔ Approx. 0.5 miles
✔ Flat sidewalks and paved surfaces
✔ Perfect for families, visitors, and history lovers

🌲 Sharon Nesbit Heritage Park Tour
Take a scenic walk along the Ch’ak Ch’ak Trail and discover the rich natural and cultural history of the Sandy River corridor. Learn about Indigenous Peoples, commerce, fishing traditions, geology, transportation, and the growth of Troutdale through the decades.

✔ Approx. 1 mile
✔ Flat paved trail
✔ Beautiful scenery and fascinating stories

👥 Group Information
• Minimum of 5 guests
• Up to 25 guests per tour
• Larger groups can be split into multiple guided groups

Whether you’re a local resident, school group, social club, corporate team, or visitor to the Gorge, these tours offer a unique and memorable way to experience Troutdale.

📅 Book your tour today and walk through history with us!

📍 Troutdale Historical Society
🌐 www.troutdalehistory.org

05/25/2026

The Troutdale Historical Society would like to extend a HUGE and heartfelt thank you to Donovan Construction & Repair LLC for stepping in to help with some much-needed power washing work at the historic Harlow House Museum.

It had been quite a long time since the pathways and sidewalks around the museum grounds had been properly cleaned. Over the years, moss and buildup had made portions of the walkways extremely slippery and dangerous during wet weather.

As we begin developing our new WWII-style Victory Garden living exhibit, we want to ensure that every visitor, volunteer, and family can safely enjoy the outdoor spaces surrounding the museum.

Thanks to Donovan Construction & Repair LLC, the grounds are already looking dramatically cleaner, brighter, safer, and more welcoming. Their generosity and willingness to support local history truly mean the world to us.

As a small nonprofit organization, projects like this simply would not be possible without community-minded businesses stepping up to help preserve and protect the places that tell Troutdale’s story.

From all of us at THS, thank you for your kindness, hard work, and continued support of local history. We appreciate you more than you know. ❤️

📞 Donovan Construction & Repair LLC

🌐 donovanconstructionandrepair.com

Affordable construction and repair services focused on quality work and outstanding customer service.

05/22/2026

We here at the Troutdale Historical Society encourage our community to support the Washington County History Roundtable as they work to help preserve and protect Washington County’s historical collections for future generations.

Historic photographs, artifacts, and archives are more than local treasures, they are part of Oregon’s shared story. Preserving these collections ensures that future generations can continue learning from and connecting with our state’s rich heritage.

The Washington County History Roundtable is gathering public input to help guide decisions about the future care and accessibility of these important collections. The survey takes only about two minutes to complete, and no prior knowledge is needed.

We encourage everyone to participate and help advocate for the preservation of Oregon history.

From Washington County History Roundtable:

Washington County’s historical collections—including photographs, artifacts, and archives—are at a critical turning point. The nonprofit that cared for the collection has closed and the county government does not want to maintain permanent responsibility. The Washington County Board of Commissioners will open a request for Proposals (RFP) Process in 2031, to find a new group to save the collection and make it accessible to the public again. Our local Washington County History Roundtable group is gathering public input to help guide decisions on a path forward to save the collection and continue preserving our community memory. No prior knowledge is needed—the survey takes about 2 minutes. You can take anonymously or include your name/email.

Provide your input on the survey at the following link or scan the QR code:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1s90yU2U50kwdpcAZD53psVSxIiFabhatsrSEaeYUNgk/viewform?edit_requested=true

05/21/2026

Big Congratulations to Our Executive Director, Chris Garza!

The Troutdale Historical Society is incredibly proud to share that our Executive Director, Chris Garza, has been interviewed by Ruralite Magazine for an upcoming feature and cover story focused on his extensive American flag collection and passion for preserving textile history.

What started as a lifelong fascination with historic flags and the stories stitched into them has grown into a collection that is now gaining attention across the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The article will not only highlight Chris’s collection and historical research but will also feature and discuss the work being done here at THS to preserve and share local history with our community.

Even more exciting, the magazine reaches an estimated 500,000 readers across Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Nevada, California, and parts of Utah.

We could not be prouder to see both Chris and the Troutdale Historical Society represented in such a meaningful way. Congratulations, Chris, on this well-deserved recognition, and thank you for continuing to bring history to life for so many people.

05/19/2026

🏛️ Sponsor Spotlight: The City of Troutdale 🏛️

The Troutdale Historical Society would like to give a huge thank you to the City of Troutdale for their continued support and partnership through the years. Their dedication to preserving our community while helping it grow has played an important role in keeping Troutdale’s history alive for future generations.

Did you know? Troutdale was officially incorporated on October 2, 1907! What began as a small railroad and farming community quickly grew into the vibrant town we know today, earning its longtime nickname as the “Gateway to the Gorge.” With its location along the railroad, the Sandy River, and eventually the Historic Columbia River Highway, Troutdale became an important stopping point for travelers, commerce, and tourism in the Pacific Northwest.

Today, the City continues to support local history, community events, museums, parks, and public spaces that help make Troutdale such a unique and welcoming place to live and visit. From preserving historic character to supporting organizations like THS, their efforts help ensure Troutdale’s story continues to be shared for generations to come.

Thank you again to the City of Troutdale for helping us continue our mission of gathering, preserving, and sharing the history of Troutdale and the surrounding area. We truly appreciate your years of support and community partnership! ❤️

🌐 www.troutdaleoregon.gov
📍 219 E Historic Columbia River Hwy, Troutdale, OR 97060
📞 (503) 665-5175