(UPDATED) Clark County Historical Museum Unveils New Exhibit: Echoes Of Fort Vancouver: How The Fur Trade Shaped Clark County (Photo) - 11/12/25

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Sammuel Hawkins, Outreach & Public Programs Manager
Clark County Historical Museum
Email: Outreach@cchmuseum.org | Phone: 360-993-5679

Clark County Historical Museum Unveils New Exhibit: Echoes of Fort Vancouver: How the Fur Trade Shaped Clark County

Opening Reception: Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM
Location: Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660
Admission: Free and open to the public

VANCOUVER, WA (November 2025) – The Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) is proud to announce the opening of its newest exhibit, Echoes of Fort Vancouver: How the Fur Trade Shaped Clark County, debuting Saturday, December 13, 2025. The opening reception will take place from 5:00 to 7:00 PM and is free and open to the public.

Timed to coincide with the 200th anniversary of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s (HBC) Fort Vancouver, this exhibit explores how centuries of trade—beginning with Indigenous networks that predate European contact—transformed the region into a vital center of commerce and culture.

Exhibit Highlights

Echoes of Fort Vancouver guides visitors through centuries of exchange and adaptation—beginning with the extensive Indigenous trade networks that crisscrossed the Pacific Northwest, through the maritime fur trade of the 18th century, and into the establishment of Fort Vancouver in 1825. The exhibit also examines the lasting impact of trade on the county’s industries, agriculture, and cultural landscape.

Key exhibit sections include:

• Crossroads and Trade Routes: The Indigenous trade systems of the region before European contact.
   

• The Hudson’s Bay Company: The rise of one of the world’s most powerful trading enterprises and its North American expansion.
   

• Life at Fort Vancouver: A look at the diverse people and communities who lived and worked at the fort.
   

• Growth, Change, and Tension: How increasing American migration transformed the region.
   

• Industry and Agriculture: The roots of Clark County’s economic development.
   

• Asian American and Pacific Islander and Native Nations Today: The continuing contributions of Hawaiian and Native communities in shaping Clark County.
   

The exhibit features historic maps, artwork, and artifacts, including depictions of HBC’s vast territories, reconstructed views of Fort Vancouver, and 17th-century fur trade imagery from the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

A special section, “Impact of the Fur Trade,” highlights how the overharvesting of beaver populations and environmental changes still resonate today—contrasting 19th-century exploitation with modern conservation efforts.

The Clark County Historical Museum gratefully acknowledges the support of our exhibit sponsors, whose partnership has made this exhibition possible:

Clark College Foundation

C-TRAN

Heritage Bank

RealVest

Riverview Bank

WSU Vancouver (WSUV)

About the Clark County Historical Museum

Since 1964, the Clark County Historical Museum has preserved and shared the history, art, and culture of Southwest Washington. Through exhibits, lectures, tours, and community programs, CCHM connects people with the past to build a stronger future for Clark County.

Celebrate The Season At The Winter Native Arts Market (Photo) - 11/05/25

Vancouver, WA - The Clark County Historical Museum invites the community to welcome the winter season and discover one-of-a-kind, last-minute gifts at the Winter Native Arts Market on Saturday, December 20, 2025, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. This free, family-friendly celebration highlights the region’s vibrant Indigenous cultures through art, music, and storytelling.

Guests can explore and shop from 17 Native artists and makers showcasing a stunning variety of handcrafted works—jewelry, textiles, carvings, prints, and more. Each purchase directly supports Indigenous artists and helps sustain their cultural traditions and creative expression.

Adding to the festive spirit, award-winning Native American flute musician Sherrie Davis will perform throughout the day, providing a beautiful and soulful soundtrack for the event.

In addition to the market, museum admission will be free all day, offering visitors the chance to experience exhibitions that share the stories and heritage of Southwest Washington—including those of the region’s first peoples.

For more information, visit cchmuseum.org or call 360-993-5679

Media Contact:

Sammuel Hawkins

Outreach & Public Programs Manager

Clark County Historical Museum

Outreach@cchmuseum.org | 360-993-5679

The Forgotten Catholic Trailblazer: Author Talk With Tyler Bieber At Clark County Historical Museum (Photo) - 10/22/25

New book uncovers the life and legacy of Father Tom Oddo, the groundbreaking priest who
championed LGBTQ+ inclusion in the Church

Vancouver, WA - The Clark County Historical Museum will host author Tyler Bieber for a
special presentation of his new book Against the Current: Father Tom Oddo and the New
American Catholic on Friday, November 14, 2025. Doors will open at 5 p.m. with the talk
beginning at 6 p.m. at the museum, located at 1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660.
Admission is free, though pre-registration is recommended through the museum website,
cchmuseum.org.

Father Thomas Oddo (1944 - 1989), widely known as “Father Tom,” was a pioneering figure
in LGBTQ+ inclusion within the Catholic Church. In the years following the Stonewall
uprising and the Second Vatican Council, Father Tom forged new spaces for those seeking to
reconcile faith and identity. At just 29, he co-founded DignityUSA, becoming a key advocate
for civil rights within the Church. By 38, he was appointed President of the University of
Portland, where he was recognized as a rising star in higher education.

Though his life was tragically cut short at the age of 45, Father Tom’s influence continues to
shape conversations on faith, inclusion, and identity. Bieber’s Against the Current draws on
extensive interviews, personal archives, and previously unseen documents to tell the untold
story of Father Tom’s legacy. The book explores his encounters with celebrities, politicians,
and Pope John Paul II, while also delving into themes of hope, resilience, and the ongoing
struggle for equality.

This program will offer attendees an engaging look at a remarkable but often overlooked
leader whose story remains deeply relevant today.

About the Author

Tyler Bieber is a queer higher education professional based in Portland, Oregon. He has
served in leadership roles at Clark College, National University of Natural Medicine,
Linfield University School of Nursing, and Oregon School of Massage. He is currently the
Assistant Registrar at Willamette University’s Pacific Northwest College of Art. Bieber holds
a B.A. in Liberal Arts and Sciences from The Evergreen State College and an M.A. in Higher
Education and Student Affairs from the University of Portland.

Clark County Historical Museum Speaker Series Presents: “What Is A Chief? How Native Values Can Teach Resilience” (Photo) - 10/18/25

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) concludes its 2025 Speaker Series with “What Is a Chief? How Native Values Can Teach Resilience,” featuring Native artist and former tribal leader John Halliday. The event will take place Thursday, November 6, 2025, at the Clark County Historical Museum (1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660).
Doors open at 6 p.m. and the event begins at 7 p.m. Admission is free, but registration is required. Visit cchmuseum.org for tickets.

At age 55, John Halliday became legally blind. A Muckleshoot Tribal member of Duwamish ancestry, Halliday credits his Native American worldview, cultural traditions, and values—practices that have sustained Native tribes long before colonization—with helping him overcome the challenges of losing his sight.

Too often, our understanding of American history begins with the arrival of European powers, overlooking the thriving Indigenous communities that already existed. Through his personal story, Halliday offers audiences a deeper understanding of Washington State history from a Native perspective, and how these enduring cultural values can teach us about resilience and leadership today.

About the Speaker

John Halliday (he/him) is a legally blind Native American artist of Muckleshoot, Duwamish, Yakama, and Warm Springs descent. He recently retired from the Bureau of Indian Affairs, where he served as Deputy Regional Director for the Navajo Region, and has also held leadership roles as CEO for the Muckleshoot and Snoqualmie Tribes.

As an artist known by the name Coyote, Halliday’s work has been featured at Lakewold Gardens, ANT Gallery, and the Sacred Circle Galleries of American Indian Art. He currently resides in Steilacoom, Washington.

This program is sponsored by Humanities Washington and the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission.