Vancouver, Wash. – Clark County Historical Museum will hold a public reception for its newest exhibit, “Currents of Progress: Clark County Rivers, Roads, and Ports,” at 5 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 5. The evening will commence with a ceremonial ribbon-cutting, and conclude with a First Thursday presentation at 7 p.m. on the medical practices during the Lewis and Clark expedition.
“Within the body of the community, the ports, rivers, and roads serve as the bloodstream of commerce, culture, and industry,” said Brad Richardson, executive director of the Clark County Historical Museum. “The concept that ports deeply impact every facet of our lives and community is at the core of this new exhibit.”
“Currents of Progress” is a family-friendly and educational exploration of Clark County’s rivers, roads, and ports. By using interpretative panels, historical objects, interactive stations, and county-wide partnerships, visitors will discover and engage with the narrative and living history of these important systems in Clark County and Southwest Washington.
Topics featured in this exhibit include Native American Nations and their relationships with the waterways; Hudson’s Bay Company; early transportation; the establishment of the ports of Vancouver, Camas-Washougal, and Ridgefield; the impact of World War I and World War II; and the state of our ports today.
Objects representing this history will also be on display. Key objects include items from the Standifer and Kaiser shipyards, a large ship’s wheel from a Columbia River ferry, a ceremonial shovel used for the groundbreaking of the 1917 Interstate Bridge, and objects on loan from the Port of Vancouver and Tidewater Transportation and Terminals.
For a hands-on experience, the exhibit also features knot-tying, a telegraph simulator, a semaphore flag station, and a selfie station featuring a tugboat captain’s chair.
“Currents of Progress” will be open through 2023. This exhibit is sponsored by the City of Vancouver, Port of Vancouver, Port of Camas-Washougal, Port of Ridgefield, and Tidewater Transportation and Terminals.
General admission for the opening reception is $5; seniors and students are $4; children under 18 are $3; and the evening is free with a CCHM membership. Refreshments will be available.
For more information, visit cchmuseum.org, or contact the museum at 360-993-5679 or by email at events@cchmuseum.org.
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