Clark County Historical Museum

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Clark County Historical Museum History matters! Visit CCHM to learn about what makes Clark County, Washington special.
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: Banks, bucks, and the business of building a community. 💰Next week, we’re following the money through Clark County’s ...
10/10/2026

: Banks, bucks, and the business of building a community. 💰

Next week, we’re following the money through Clark County’s history!

CCHM Business Member Johnson Bixby is joining us for Financial Firsts of Clark County, a week exploring the people, businesses, and institutions that helped shape our local financial landscape.

Every growing community has a story about how it earned, saved, borrowed, invested, and built its future. We’ll be digging into some of Clark County’s financial firsts to find the people and ideas behind those stories.

As a featured Business Member, Johnson Bixby employees and clients receive FREE admission to CCHM October 13–17! Just mention "Johnson Bixby" at the front desk when you check in.

Financial Firsts of Clark County starts Tuesday. Let’s see what’s in the books! 📚💵

: As we bring another Highlight Week here at CCHM to a close, we want to once again thank the Port of Camas-Washougal f...
10/10/2026

: As we bring another Highlight Week here at CCHM to a close, we want to once again thank the Port of Camas-Washougal for being a member here at the museum AND for all they do for East Clark County!! Today is the last day for Port C-W staff and clients to get free admission to CCHM for this installment of our initiative. We will see you soon!

Whether you're spreading out a picnic blanket, catching live music, or just soaking in the mountain views, the Port’s parks are where community and landscape come together. From the archives of the Port C-W for the museum's former exhibit, Currents of Progress, this image shows a scene from a past summer event at Parker’s Landing Historical Park that captures exactly what makes these spaces so special - neighbors gathering under open skies, with the mountain watching from a distance.

Here's a look at the different parks and trails that can be found within the Port:
-Parker’s Landing Historical Park (est. 1986): Situated on the original 1845 land claim of David C. Parker, this park commemorates the area's early settler history. Features include the Van Vleet Historical Plaza, Chinook Plaza, and a rose-covered arbor popular for weddings and gatherings.
-Captain William Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach (2006): Marking the 1806 campsite of the Lewis and Clark expedition, this 85-acre park offers walking trails, picnic areas, and interpretive signage, celebrating both natural beauty and historical significance.
-Washougal Waterfront Park and Trail (2016): Adjacent to Marina Park, this scenic area provides a mile-long trail along the Columbia River, offering stunning views and a peaceful setting for walkers and cyclists.
-Natural Play Area (Opened June 7, 2019): Located within the Washougal Waterfront Park, this imaginative play space features a giant Sasquatch sculpture named Eegah, musical instruments, and natural climbing structures, making it a favorite for families.

Photo Description: A crowd gathers on a grassy park lawn dotted with pop-up tents and lawn chairs under a clear blue sky. In the distance, a snow-capped mountain rises above the Columbia River and forested hills. People are relaxing, chatting, and enjoying a sunny outdoor event near the waterfront. Birds can be seen flying in a V-formation. Undated.

10/09/2026

Join us next Thursday for History on Tap at the Old Liberty Theater in Ridgefield! This month, the Clark County Historical Museum presents The Lavender Palette with Cascadia Art Museum Curator David Martin, as he explores the subject of his book and art exhibition of the same title. Join us for this free event which delves into the lives of 13 q***r artists from Washington State and their impact on the cultural development of the Pacific Northwest. Free tickets here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/the-lavender-palette-lgbtq-artists-and-the-art-of-washington-state-tickets-2001704618398
Thursday, Oct 15
7 PM
Old Liberty Theater
115 Main Ave, Ridgefield, WA 98642

: “So we can all enjoy our river...”That was The Columbian’s hope in December 2007. Getting there was a little more com...
10/09/2026

: “So we can all enjoy our river...”

That was The Columbian’s hope in December 2007. Getting there was a little more complicated.

At the time, the Port of Camas-Washougal was dealing with some controversy over a proposed waterfront development deal with RiverWalk on the Columbia LLC.

The Columbian’s editorial argued that what happened at the Port mattered well beyond Camas and Washougal. A newly elected port commissioner, Bill Ward, had campaigned as a critic of the RiverWalk deal, and the editorial called for the Port to slow down, involve the public, and decide what should happen on the 14.7-acre riverfront site before moving ahead with a developer.

There were already plans. There were already negotiations. There were already some strong opinions.

And there was a river.

The editorial’s position was that the Port should either follow Ward’s approach or explain clearly to the public why it shouldn’t—and that the process should happen “in the open, so we can all enjoy our river.”

Nearly 20 years later, this little piece of The Columbian’s editorial page gives us a snapshot of one moment in a much longer conversation about the waterfront.

Who gets to shape it? What belongs there? How much should the public have a say?

Those aren’t exactly new questions.

This week, Tales from the Port is exploring 91 years of the Port of Camas-Washougal’s history. Some stories are about what was built. Others are about what people imagined, debated, and hoped the waterfront could become.

This one is a reminder that sometimes the history of a place is found in the arguments over what comes next. ⚓

Photo Description: A December 5, 2007, Columbian editorial titled “It’s Our River” discusses controversy surrounding a proposed waterfront development deal at the Port of Camas-Washougal and calls for public involvement in decisions about the riverfront.
We want to thank The Columbian for this clipping from their archives.

: Welcome back, Clark County! This week, we set sail with the Port of Camas-Washougal for another installment of our Hi...
10/08/2026

: Welcome back, Clark County! This week, we set sail with the Port of Camas-Washougal for another installment of our Highlighting History Initiative here at the museum! Through this Saturday, we will be exploring their story, so make sure to stay tuned for what's in store!

From the museum's Research Library, these industrial maps from 1936 and 1937, respectively, show the proposed area for the Port of Camas-Washougal, and then where the Port property came to fruition.

We want to thank the Port of Camas-Washougal for being in the spotlight here this week! As a special perk, all Port of Camas-Washougal employees and clients will receive FREE admission to our museum between October 6-10, 2026! (Don't forget to name-drop this amazing Clark County business during check-in at the front desk to claim this benefit) We'll see you soon!!! 🚢

Photo Descriptions:
(Top) From the museum's Research Library, this 1936 industrial map outlines Camas and Washougal along the Columbia River with detailed property lines and proposed industrial zones. On the first image, a labeled “Proposed Port of Camas-Washougal” site appears just west of Washougal. Illustrations highlight local industries such as logging, milling, and shipping. This copy shows wear, including discoloration and a prominent stain near the lower left. The second image is a close up of the Port area.
(Bottom) Also from the museum's Research Library, the finalized 1937 industrial map shows a now-established Port of Camas-Washougal, clearly labeled along the Columbia River shoreline. Expanded industrial and residential grids reflect development after the port’s formation.

: What if Camas had a bridge that went to Troutdale? In 1958, engineers were studying the possibility of a two-lane bri...
10/07/2026

: What if Camas had a bridge that went to Troutdale?

In 1958, engineers were studying the possibility of a two-lane bridge connecting Camas, Washington, to Troutdale, Oregon, via Lady Island. The proposal had the support of the Port of Camas-Washougal and other East County interests.

This artist’s rendering by Moffatt, Nichol, and Taylor shows what that crossing might have looked like.

The plan called for a toll bridge beginning near the proposed Evergreen Highway 830 at the Port, crossing to Lady Island, and continuing on to Troutdale. However, the proposal never became the East County crossing its supporters envisioned. Instead, the I-205 Glenn Jackson Bridge was built farther west between 1977 and 1982.

But the 1958 proposal didn’t disappear into the ether, either. The feasibility study and related materials are preserved in WSDOT’s digital archives, where you can see what planners were considering more than six decades ago. Want to go down this particular rabbit hole? Search the WSDOT Digital Archives for “Troutdale-Camas Bridge” (or item 35859).

This week, is celebrating 91 years of the Port of Camas-Washougal with Tales from the Port: 91 Years of Working the Waterfront. We’ll be digging into the people, places, plans, and industries that have shaped the Port and the communities around it.

Port of Camas-Washougal employees and clients receive FREE admission to CCHM through Saturday, October 10! Just mention the Port of Camas-Washougal at the front desk when you check in.

Photo Description: A 1958 artist’s rendering shows a proposed two-lane bridge connecting the Camas-Washougal waterfront with Troutdale, Oregon, via Lady Island. CCHM Collection.

Thanks to the Port of Camas-Washougal for joining us for this week of , and to WSDOT for making this piece of transportation history available through its digital archives.

: Before there was a Port of Camas-Washougal, there was a vote... and it wasn’t particularly close. On October 4, 1935,...
10/06/2026

: Before there was a Port of Camas-Washougal, there was a vote... and it wasn’t particularly close.

On October 4, 1935, voters across southeastern Clark County went to the polls to decide whether to create a new port district. The answer was a decisive yes: 855 votes in favor and 140 opposed.

The new Port of Camas-Washougal district included 15 voting precincts, including Camas, Washougal, and several surrounding rural communities. Its waterfront stretched from Fishers east to the Skamania County line. Voters also elected the Port’s first three commissioners: Wilmer Swank, Vic Gault, and W. C. Webster.

Then came the work: As The Columbian reported the next day, the newly created district would need to organize and begin planning for the waterfront, including dock and warehouse facilities and improvements to the shipping channel.

Ninety-one years later, the Port of Camas-Washougal is still part of that story.

This week, is heading to the east side of the county for some tales from the Port - a week of stories celebrating the history of the Port of Camas-Washougal, just in time for its birthday! 🎂

We’ll be digging into the archives to explore the people, places, industries, and waterfront stories that helped shape the Port and the communities around it.

To celebrate, all Port employees and clients can enjoy FREE admission to CCHM next week simply by mentioning "Port of C-W" at the front desk during check-in!
Let's get this party started!

Photo Description: A newspaper clipping from The Columbian, published October 5, 1935, carries the headline “Voters Create Port of Camas and Washougal” and reports the results of the special election establishing the new port district.
Thanks to for this piece of Clark County history from their archives.

in Clark County History: Oct. 5, 1954 — A bulldozer broke ground in the Vancouver Barracks area for Vancouver's second...
10/05/2026

in Clark County History: Oct. 5, 1954 — A bulldozer broke ground in the Vancouver Barracks area for Vancouver's second high school, which was later named Hudson's Bay High School by the School Board on April 26, 1955. The cost was expected to be about $2,200,000 (about $27,498,358.21 in 2026 value). HBHS opened its doors to students in 1956.

Photo Description: From the museum's Gary Larson collection, this black and white image circa 1954 shows the construction of Hudson's Bay High School in Vancouver, WA.(cchm18030)

Next week, we’re celebrating a birthday, and we’re bringing the archives along. 🎂⚓For our next week, we’re turning our...
10/03/2026

Next week, we’re celebrating a birthday, and we’re bringing the archives along. 🎂⚓

For our next week, we’re turning our attention east to the for Tales from the Port. From next Tuesday through Saturday, we’ll dig into the port's history, the industries and people connected to it, and stories tucked away in the archives. To celebrate, all Port employees and clients can enjoy FREE admission to CCHM next week simply by mentioning "Port of C-W" at the front desk during check-in!

Let's get this party started!

Address

1511 Main Street
Vancouver, WA
98660

Opening Hours

Tuesday 11am - 4pm
Wednesday 11am - 4pm
Thursday 11am - 4am
Friday 11am - 4pm
Saturday 11am - 4pm

Telephone

+13609935679

Website

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