Historic Music Preservation Project Presents “Hot Rhythms: A Sinful Cabaret Burlesque Revue” At Ridgefield’s Historic Old Liberty Theater (Photo) - 09/14/26

RIDGEFIELD, Wash. - The Historic Music Preservation Project and its resident ensemble, the Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra, will present Hot Rhythms: A Sinful Cabaret Burlesque Revue on Friday, October 30, 2026, at the historic Old Liberty Theater in downtown Ridgefield.

The one-night-only performance combines authentic hot jazz of the 1920s and 1930s with classic burlesque in an evening inspired by the glamour, theatricality, and spirit of the golden age of stage performance.

Recognized for its performances of original dance orchestra arrangements from the Jazz Age, the 12-piece Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra will present a program of spirited and Halloween-inspired selections from the early twentieth century. Joining the orchestra are acclaimed Pacific Northwest burlesque performers Natasha Riot, Cruz Daniels, and Wolfgang X, who will bring the storytelling traditions of classic burlesque to life through dance, costume, and theatrical performance.

Founded in 2021, the Historic Music Preservation Project is a Vancouver, Washington-based nonprofit organization dedicated to the collection, preservation, performance, and education of early American jazz and popular music. Through performances, archival work, and educational programs, the organization seeks to preserve and share music that helped shape American cultural history.

The performance begins at 7:30 p.m., with doors opening at 6:45 p.m. General admission tickets are $30. A limited number of VIP tables, which include admission for four guests and a bottle of champagne, are available for $150. Tickets and additional information are available at: www.historicmusic.org.

This event is generously made possible through media sponsorship of the Clark County Historical Museum.

About the Historic Music Preservation Project

The Historic Music Preservation Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization based in Vancouver, Washington, dedicated to preserving, performing, and sharing early American jazz and popular music through archival stewardship, concerts, recordings, and educational programming. The organization serves as steward of the Herman Kenin Library and presents performances through its resident ensemble, the Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra.

Clark County Historical Museum Announces 2026 Haunted History Walking Tours And Fireside Tales Of Horror (Photo) - 08/26/26

VANCOUVER, Wash. - The Clark County Historical Museum is inviting the community to explore the darker side of local history this fall with two programs this fall: Haunted History Walking Tours through downtown Vancouver and a new series, Fireside Tales of Horror at the historic Covington House.

From ghost stories and unexplained occurrences to murder, folklore, and grisly chapters of the region’s past, these programs offer a chilling look at the stories that linger beneath Clark County’s history.

Haunted History Walking Tours

On most Friday and Saturday evenings throughout September and October, museum guides will lead guests through downtown Vancouver on the annual Haunted History Walking Tours.

Beginning at 7 p.m. at the Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main Street, each approximately one-mile tour explores the streets and buildings of downtown Vancouver, with frequent stops for stories of the strange, unexplained, and unsettling.

Drawing from historical research, memories, personal experiences, and stories featured in Clark County historian Pat Jollota’s Darkness Next Door, the tours offer a fascinating glimpse into the darker side of the community’s past.

Tours are limited to approximately 25 participants and take place along downtown sidewalks. The route is accessible to walkers and wheelchairs.

The tours are best suited for guests ages 10 and older. Tickets are required for all attendees over age six. Tours take place rain or shine, and guests are encouraged to dress for the weather and bring a flashlight. Costumes are welcome.

This popular series is made possible through the generosity of Heritage Bank, Vancouver’s Downtown Association, Squires Electric, and media sponsor, The Columbian.

Fireside Tales of Horror

For those looking for a more intimate and macabre experience, the museum will present Fireside Tales of Horror on four Saturdays in October at the historic Covington House.

On October 3, 10, 17, and 24, guests will gather around the fireplace inside Covington House, the oldest residential structure in Washington State, for an evening of bone-chilling stories from the darker corners of Clark County history.

By firelight, museum guides will share stories of crimes, legends, tragedies, and strange occurrences that have left an unsettling imprint on the region. Guests will hear about one of downtown Vancouver’s most crime-riddled corners, where three murders unfolded over the course of 120 years; the story behind a Clark County community whose name is connected to a child-stealing demon from Indigenous mythology; and the bizarre exploits of teenage corpse thieves whose actions left a dark legacy at a Vancouver high school.

These are stories of violence, death, folklore, and the unexplained, offering a different perspective on the history of the places we know today.

Registration is required for Fireside Tales of Horror, and seating is extremely limited. Recommended for guests 13 and older.

Tickets for both programs are available through the Clark County Historical Museum at www.cchmuseum.org.

The Haunted History Walking Tours and Fireside Tales of Horror are part of the Clark County Historical Museum’s ongoing public programming and support the museum’s mission to gather, save, and share the history of Clark County.

Haunted History Walking Tours

Dates: Most Fridays and Saturdays, September through October
Time: 7–8 p.m.
Starting and Ending Location: Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main Street, Vancouver
Distance: Approximately 1 mile
Admission: $20 general admission; $15 for Clark County Historical Museum members

Fireside Tales of Horror

Dates: Saturdays, October 3, 10, 17, and 24
Time: 7–8 p.m.
Location: Historic Covington House, 4201 Main Street, Vancouver
Admission: $30 general admission; $25 for Clark County Historical Museum members

Clark County Historical Museum Explores 200 Years Of Brewing, Temperance And Prohibition (Photo) - 08/19/26

VANCOUVER, Wash. — The Clark County Historical Museum will continue its Speaker Series with “Brewing & Distilling in the Pacific Northwest: Trade, Saloons, Temperance, Prohibition & the Brewing Boom,” a presentation exploring the complicated and fascinating history of alcohol in the Pacific Northwest.

Presented by Dr. Sam Busick, Ed.D., the program will examine how brewing and distilling have shaped the region’s history, from the fur trade and Fort Vancouver to nineteenth-century saloons, the temperance movement, Prohibition, Lucky Lager, and the modern craft brewing boom.

Far more than a story about beer and liquor, the presentation explores the connections between alcohol and trade, immigration, economic development, politics, social reform, and government regulation. Attendees will learn how Vancouver’s brewing industry grew alongside the city, how saloons became important centers of social and political life, and how the temperance movement helped fuel broader debates over women’s suffrage and political power.

The program will also highlight the often colorful history of Prohibition in Clark County, including bootlegging, illegal stills, liquor raids, and the challenges faced by local law enforcement. The presentation will follow the industry through the return of legal brewing after Prohibition, the rise of Lucky Lager in Vancouver, the decline of large-scale local brewing, and the eventual emergence of the region’s modern craft brewing movement.

The presentation also complements the museum’s History A’ Brewin’exhibit, which explores 200 years of beer manufacture in Clark County. The exhibit traces the history of local brewing from its earliest beginnings through the rise of major breweries and the modern revival of craft beer. History A’ Brewin’ will remain on display only into early 2027, providing visitors with a limited opportunity to explore this important chapter of Clark County history.

Dr. Sam Busick, Ed.D., is an educator, community leader, real estate professional, and historian based in Southwest Washington. He spent twelve years teaching social studies at Hudson’s Bay High School and holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership in Neuroeducation from the University of Portland.

Sam previously worked in public service for Congressman Brian Baird and is a licensed real estate broker in Washington and Oregon. He volunteers with the Clark County Historical Museum, contributing historical research and writing to support museum exhibits. He has also spent more than two decades coaching and mentoring youth athletes throughout Southwest Washington.

Thursday, Sep 3, 2026

Doors open at 6 PM, talk begins at 7 PM

Clark County Historical Museum
1511 Main Street
Vancouver, WA 98660

Cost: Free for CCHM Members, $5 for Non-Members (registration required)

For tickets, event details, and additional information, visit www.cchmusuem.org

This installment of the Clark County Historical Museum Speaker Series is presented through the generous support of the Clark County Historic Preservation Commission, with media sponsorship provided by The Columbian.