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
