NAACP And Clark County Historical Museum Present Where Faith Meets Freedom: Jesus, The Cross, And Liberation (Photo) - 02/03/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Event Date: Sunday, February 15, 2026
Time: Doors open at 6:00 PM; discussion begins at 6:30 PM
Location: Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660
Cost: Free; registration recommended
More information at cchmuseum.org

Produced by: NAACP Vancouver Chapter 1139-B in collaboration with the Clark County Historical Museum

NAACP and Clark County Historical Museum Present

Where Faith Meets Freedom: Jesus, the Cross, and Liberation

VANCOUVER, WA — In observance of Black History Month, the NAACP Vancouver Chapter 1139-B and the Clark County Historical Museum invite the community to a facilitated conversation: Where Faith Meets Freedom: Jesus, the Cross, and Liberation on Sunday, February 15, 2026.

This free public program centers on two foundational works of Black theology: The Cross and the Lynching Tree by the Rev. Dr. James H. Cone and Jesus and the Disinherited by the Rev. Dr. Howard Thurman. Both titles are part of the NAACP and Clark County Historical Museum’s joint reading list and offer powerful frameworks for understanding faith as a force for dignity, resistance, and liberation.

Together, these texts confront the enduring realities of racial violence, oppression, and suffering while affirming the spiritual strength that emerges from struggle. Cone draws a direct connection between the crucifixion of Jesus and the history of lynching in America, urging readers to understand the cross through the lived experiences of Black suffering and survival. Thurman speaks to those pushed to the margins, presenting Jesus as a source of courage, nonviolence, and hope for those whose backs are against the wall.

The conversation will be guided by local faith and community leaders, including Rev. Michael Jones Jr., Vice President of the NAACP Vancouver Chapter; Rev. Dr. Joyce Smith, Pastor of Community AME Zion Church in Vancouver; and Pastor Byron Harris of Vancouver Heights United Methodist Church. Together with attendees, the panel will explore how these works speak to one another, where faith and freedom intersect, and why their messages remain deeply relevant today—personally, spiritually, and socially.

Registration is recommended, as space is limited. This event is free and open to the public. More information at www.cchmuseum.org.

Organizer:
Rev. Michael Jones Jr.
Vice President, NAACP Vancouver Chapter
vicepresident@naacpvancouverwa.org

Clark County Historical Museum Welcomes Peter Marsh For History On Tap: “Liberty Factory: A Look At The Kaiser Shipyards” (Photo) - 01/13/26

Vancouver, WA — The Clark County Historical Museum (CCHM) is pleased to welcome back author and maritime journalist Peter Marsh for the next installment of its popular History on Tap series. Marsh will present “Liberty Factory: A Look at the Kaiser Shipyards” on Thursday, February 19, 2026, at 7:00 PM at the Old Liberty Theater in Ridgefield.

In this engaging presentation, Marsh will explore the remarkable story of Henry Kaiser’s World War II shipyards in the Pacific Northwest and their profound impact on the ports and communities of the lower Columbia River between 1940 and 1945. Drawing from rare photographs, personal diaries, and firsthand accounts, Marsh brings to life the region’s vital—yet often overlooked—role in what President Franklin D. Roosevelt famously called the “Arsenal of Democracy.”

Born in 1947 in Greenwich, England, Peter Marsh developed an early passion for boats and maritime history. After emigrating to the United States in 1972, he settled in Portland and built a 20-foot sailboat by hand, exploring much of the Pacific Northwest. These adventures launched a successful career in marine journalism, where Marsh covered regional maritime life from fishing and recreation to commercial shipping.

In 1996, Marsh inherited an extensive archive of papers and photographs from Larry Barber, the late marine editor of The Oregonian. A visit to the D-Day beaches in Normandy inspired Marsh to take a closer look at Barber’s wartime materials, uncovering a rich and detailed record of Oregon and Southwest Washington’s shipbuilding efforts during World War II. Over the past several years, Marsh has shared this research with audiences throughout the lower Columbia River region, helping to revive interest in the area’s critical contribution to the war effort.

History on Tap is presented through the generous support of Old Liberty Theater, Ridgefield Main Street, and Building Industry Association of Clark County. Admission is $5 for the general public and free for CCHM members, veterans, and active-duty military personnel. Registration is required and available at www.cchmuseum.org.

For more information about the Clark County Historical Museum or the History on Tap Speaker Series, please contact outreach@cchmuseum.org, visit www.cchmuseum.org, or call 360-993-5679.

About the Clark County Historical Society and Museum

The Clark County Historical Society and Museum is committed to responsible collections stewardship, innovative collaboration, and inspiring exhibitions and programs that engage the community in exploring Clark County’s past, present, and future. Our purpose is to share an understanding of the past that helps build a better future for generations to come.

CCHM Speaker Series Presents: How America Talks (Differently) About Slavery (Photo) - 01/06/26

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Sammuel Hawkins
Outreach & Public Programs Manager
Clark County Historical Museum
outreach@cchmuseum.org
360-605-1126

Date: Thursday, February 5, 2026
Time: Doors open at 6:00 PM | Presentation begins at 7:00 PM
Location: Clark County Historical Museum, 1511 Main Street, Vancouver, WA 98660
Sponsors: Humanities Washington, Vancouver NAACP, Historic Preservation Commission

CCHM Speaker Series Presents: How America Talks (Differently) About Slavery

The Clark County Historical Museum is proud to present the next installment of its Speaker Series, How America Talks (Differently) About Slavery, on Thursday, February 5, 2026, at the Clark County Historical Museum.

Since colonial times, religious and political divides have shaped how Americans discuss and interpret the history of slavery. From The New York Times’ 1619 Project to the Trump administration’s 1776 Report, competing visions of race and slavery reflect long-standing tensions between critiquing and celebrating America’s past.

In this timely and thought-provoking talk, attendees will explore the ongoing debates surrounding the history of slavery and how these conversations continue to influence education, politics, religion, and culture. The presentation will examine how struggles over historical memory extend beyond the classroom into the public sphere, revealing the central role these debates play in America’s fractured civic life and national identity.

The evening will feature guest speaker R. Charles Weller, PhD, Associate Professor of History (Career) at Washington State University and Senior Research Fellow at Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. Dr. Weller’s work focuses on religious-cultural identity and relations in Western-Asian and world history. He has published extensively in both English and Kazakh and is currently working on a multi-volume study examining how Jewish, Christian, and Islamic sacred law traditions have shaped American legal heritage. Dr. Weller resides in Redmond, Washington.

Admission to this program is free and open to the public. However, space is limited, and advance registration is required to ensure a seat. Registration is available at cchmuseum.org.

This program is made possible with generous support from Humanities Washington, the Vancouver NAACP Branch 1139 - B, and the Historic Preservation Commission.

About the Clark County Historical Society & Museum

The Clark County Historical Society and Museum is committed to responsible collections stewardship, innovative collaboration, and inspiring exhibitions and programs that engage the community in an exploration of Clark County’s past, present, and future. Our purpose is to share an understanding of the past that will help build a better future for generations to come.