Clark County Historical Museum reopens, sets fundraiser

You don’t want to miss spooky historical dolls, the iconic bit of a beloved local landmark, the artifact handled by Mother Joseph herself.

A Clark County Historical Museum virtual fundraiser and auction, set to stream 7 p.m. May 6 on YouTube, will offer a behind-the-scenes tour of the museum collection, highlighting rarely seen treasures and a few real oddities.

“When I started work at the museum … I didn’t have even the slightest idea of how much stuff is in the museum’s collection,” said executive director Brad Richardson. “From pieces of history related to our national story to a wealth of rare and odd items, like a collection of very creepy dolls, the museum cares for so much more than what we see in exhibits.”

Tickets to stream the event on your own TV or device are $25 for museum nonmembers and $10 for members. A private link will be sent to ticket holders before the show. Tickets for a screening of the event at downtown Vancouver’s Kiggins Theatre are $40 for nonmembers and $20 for members.

Now open

The “Virtual Night at the Museum” event comes on the heels of today’s limited museum reopening. Temporary hours of operation are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, and gallery attendance is limited to 50 percent capacity in accordance with COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Masks, social distancing and a one-way path through the galleries are still mandatory, and staggered entry may become necessary. Most interactive exhibits have been made touchless. Private group tours are available on Wednesdays. All museum events are still virtual.

“Though the museum has its bumps and bruises,” Richardson said, “we’re overjoyed to welcome the public back into our historic building to hear Clark County’s story.”