Bits ‘n’ Pieces: County historical museum honored

The Clark County Historical Museum earlier this month became the first organization to win two State Historic Preservation Awards in one year.

“It feels great,” said Susan Tissot, the museum’s executive director, who accepted the awards on May 3 in Olympia. “It’s really nice to have statewide recognition, because there are so many people who worked really hard on these projects.”

One award was for the museum’s Artifact Detectives program, which gives local students the chance to get their hands on archaeological finds and clean them up. “We have this unique and cool opportunity to put real artifacts in the hands of schoolchildren,” Tissot said.

The second award recognized the museum’s initiative to bring together all 28 Carnegie libraries — of which the museum is one — under the umbrella of the Carnegie Library Consortium of Washington. The museum is currently one of 20 museums in the partnership. As part of the program, the museum prepared booklets in 2009 that included information about the Carnegie libraries and created a contest that gave visitors the chance to win prizes for visiting three or more Carnegie libraries.

Tissot appreciates the recognition the awards bring. “We rarely get tangible results to show people why this all connects and why it all matters,” she said.

Mapmaker’s artistry put on display

Phil Arnold Sr. of Vancouver has been drawing maps by hand for 60 years, but to his knowledge, his work’s inclusion in an exhibit that runs through the end of the month at Vancouver’s Sixth Street Gallery is the first time it has been recognized as art.

“Most maps now are done by computer,” said Arnold, 94. He likes his way better.

He uses India ink in rapidograph pens on coated mylar sheets. Each and every line, including all lettering, is done by hand with straight edges, templates, and engraved lettering guides.

“As long as the Lord lets me live on this earth and have sight, I’ll be doing this,” he said.

;Bits ’n’ Pieces appears Mondays and Fridays. If you have a story you’d like to share, call Features Editor Elisa Williams, 360-735-4561, or e-mail elisa.williams@columbian.com.