Clark County Historical Museum

The Clark County Historical Museum is located in downtown Vancouver not far from the Vancouver National Historic Reserve. The museum opened in 1909 in Vancouver’s Carnegie Library. The library eventually outgrew the building and found a new home, but the museum has stayed in the building, which was put on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981. The museum exhibits artifacts of Native American life and the history of Vancouver, including the role of the Hudson’s Bay Company and the U.S. military in shaping the region. Revolving exhibits highlight particular aspects of the city’s history. The museum is also home to the Vancouver Heritage Ambassadors, a group of period actors who portray real historical figures in classrooms and at community events to increase the public’s appreciation of the city’s history.