The Historic Trust

SOLD OUT! Woody Guthrie: A Musical History Performance by Joel Underwood
2025-10-29 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Providence Academy Chapel, 400 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
**This event is sold out! No waiting list and no standby ticket sales at door
Musician, historian, and storyteller Joel Underwood returns to Vancouver for a very special two-act performance (with intermission) about the life and music of folksinger and activist Woodie Guthrie.
Guthrie composed 26 songs in 30 days while riding along the Columbia River and touring the Grand Coulee Dam Project in 1941. With his unique, authentic voice, he chronicled both the grandeur and the perils of what he called “The Greatest Thing That Man Has Ever Done” as an employee of the Bonneville Power Administration. His time here in the Pacific Northwest inspired a swell of patriotism that led Guthrie to enlist in the U.S. Merchant Marine in World War II, after which he returned home to fame and notoriety, but also to tragedy and tremendous personal loss.
This interactive musical history performance will have you singing along to “Roll on Columbia,” “Pastures of Plenty,” and of course, “This Land is Your Land,” and learning the—sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic—stories behind the songs.
Tickets are $18 in advance and include any applicable taxes and fees. Space is limited and tickets may sell out prior to the event. If available, tickets will be sold at the door for $25 each.
General admission seating in Providence Academy Chapel pews will be available on a first-come first-served basis. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. (30 minutes prior to performance start time). Free parking is available in the Providence Academy lot (the Aeon Apartments parking lot is NOT available for event parking).
This event is a fundraiser for The Historic Trust, a 501(c)3 nonprofit. Proceeds from ticket sales support its mission to inspire civic pride and economic vitality through education, preservation, and celebration of our community’s history.

Lough Legacy Veterans Day Parade
2025-11-11 11:00 - 13:00
37th Annual Lough Legacy Veterans Day ParadeTuesday, November 11, 2025 • 11:00 a.m.Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, Vancouver, Washington
Join us in honoring our nation’s heroes at the 37th Annual Lough Legacy Veterans Day Parade—a cherished community tradition held rain or shine at the historic Fort Vancouver National Site. This event pays tribute to veterans from all branches of service and celebrates the spirit of community and gratitude that defines the day.
This free public event features more than 75 entries, including veterans’ organizations, military vehicles, marching bands, ROTC units, equestrian groups, and youth organizations.
The parade route begins at Evergreen Blvd. & E. Reserve Street (east end of Officers Row) and winds through the Fort Vancouver National Site, ending near Pearson Air Museum.
While you’re here, be sure to stop by the Community Military Appreciation Committee (CMAC) Veterans Day Open House, happening 11 a.m.– 3 p.m. at Pearson Air Museum.
What to Expect:
Patriotic displays, music, and tributes
A family-friendly atmosphere filled with community pride
Parking:
Free parking, multiple locations – see map below. Accessible parking located on the west side of the O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson Street – see map below.

Flag Sponsor

Salmon Creek Post 176

Supporting Sponsor

With Thanks To

When Your Grandpa Is a Bot: AI, Death, and Digital Doppelgangers
2025-11-13 18:00 - 20:00 | Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Street, Vancouver, 98661, United States
After his father passed away, Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad brought him back—digitally. To give his young children the experience of knowing their grandfather, he created an artificial intelligence (AI) simulation he called “Grandpa Bot” that could act like his father. As his kids grow up interacting with Grandpa Bot, Ahmad has had to confront firsthand the increasingly blurred lines between what is human and what is code.
In this talk, Ahmad uses his experience to explore how artificial intelligence will transform our society, culture, and relationships. How might AI change what it means to be human? What does it mean to remember a loved one? What is personal identity? Join him for a talk about how technology is shaking up the foundational questions of life.
Thursday, November 13, 2025
6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
Red Cross Building
605 Barnes St., Vancouver
Part of the Humanities WA Speakers Series presented by Hawthorn Senior Living

Muhammad Aurangzeb Ahmad (he/him) is a research scientist at the University of Washington’s Harborview Medical Center and an affiliate assistant professor in the department of Computer Science at the University of Washington, Bothell. He earned his PhD in computer science from the University of Minnesota. His research focuses on artificial intelligence, algorithmic nudging (using algorithms to change human behavior), and personality emulation (software that can act like humans). He thinks extensively about the social, cultural, and ethical impact of AI and machine learning.
Ahmad lives in Bothell.
This program is offered free of charge, but space is limited. Please reserve your spot HERE.
Thank you to Humanities WA for their support in bringing this event to Vancouver. Special thanks to the NAACP Vancouver for joining us as our promotional partner for our 2025 series of speaker events.

Ne Plus Ultra Jass at Providence Academy
2025-11-14 19:00 - 21:00
Come to dance or just to listen at the historic Academy Ballroom!
Since 2016, The Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra has been delighting audiences with the music of the roaring 20s and Depression era 30s.
Under the leadership of master showman Sammuel Murry-Hawkins, the ensemble transports audiences to the golden age of Hot Jazz and Sweet Dance Music, specializing in the tunes of Cab Calloway, Irving Berlin, Duke Ellington, and George Gershwin.
Guaranteed to delight and put a pep in your step!
To make the event accessible to all, ticket prices are set at $16. Tickets are available at the door or on line at The Historic Music Preservation Project.

Party on the Plaza presented by Columbia Credit Union
2025-12-05 16:00 - 20:00 | Providence Academy, 400 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
The Historic Trust is excited to welcome the entire community to Providence Academy for a party to celebrate the completion of the new Sacred Heart Plaza at Ed Lynch Square! Watch a live ice sculpture carving demonstration and enjoy a free hot cocoa outdoors while exploring elements of the plaza and the historic Sacred Heart path. Step inside to visit the stunning Providence Academy Chapel, and learn more from our volunteer docents about this incredible landmark designed by Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart in 1873. While on the first floor, stop in for a free visit with Santa Claus, with a fun free craft project for kids and a “Snowman Soup” takeaway, while supplies last. Free reservations for Santa visits are full, but walk-ins to see Santa will be welcomed as space is available.
SANTA RESERVATIONS – FULL
This celebration honors a great community treasure – Providence Academy – as it continues to evolve through adaptive reuse to remain a vibrant hub of downtown activity for generations to come!

SOLD OUT! Holiday Tea at the Marshall House
2025-12-13 14:00 - 15:30 | The Marshall House, 1301 Officers Row, Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
The Marshall House will be beautifully decked out for the holidays, and we want to share it with you! Join us at the beautiful Marshall House for our Holiday Tea, Saturday, December 13th. With a delicious menu and delightful teas, this is a special holiday event that you do not want to miss!
Choose from one of two seatings, 11 am or 2 pm. Space is limited.
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Thank you to our sponsor, Waste Connections!

Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra at Providence Academy
2026-01-02 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-03-06 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-01 19:00 - 21:00

Vancouver Venues & Vendors Open House
2026-02-01 12:00 - 15:00 | Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Street, Vancouver, 98661, United States
✨ Planning a wedding or special event? Start here! ✨
Hosted by The Historic Trust, the Vancouver Venues & Vendors Open House takes place on Sunday, February 1st at the historic Red Cross Building. This free, come-and-go event is your chance to tour a stunning downtown venue, virtually preview four additional Historic Trust venues, and connect with trusted local vendors all in one afternoon.
Whether you’re newly engaged, planning a big bash, or still gathering ideas, you’ll leave inspired, informed, and one step closer to your dream event.
Guests who attend, sign in, and book their event by February 28th will receive 10% off the venue rental rate at any Historic Trust venue.
Meet and connect with an incredible group of local event professionals, including:
📸 Missy Fant Photography @missyfantphoto
💐 Floral Sunshine @floralsunshinepdx
🍽️ Say Ciao! @sayciao1
🥂 Tipsy Chicks @tipsychicksbartending
📋 Elle & Co. Events + Bar @ellebeautyandevents
🤵 The WaitStaff Team, Inc. @thewaitstaffteam2014
☕ Bluum Coffee @bluumcoffee
🏨 Homewood Suites by Hilton Vancouver–Portland @hwsvancouver
📍 The Red Cross Building | 605 Barnes St., Vancouver, WA 98661
🕛 12–3 PM
🎟 Free entry
Bonus: The first 15 attendees receive a wedding survival bag!
For more information, please contact Mary McCammon, Event Facilities Manager at The Historic Trust, at mary.mccammon@thehistorictrust.org or 360-992-1839.
Please see map below for parking information.

SOLD OUT! All Over The Map: Stories Behind the Names of Washington Places and Things
2026-02-12 18:00 - 19:30 | Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Street, Vancouver, 98661, United States
How did your town get its name? What about your neighborhood school? Or that locally made candy bar? In this talk, get the big picture of how names were given to geographic places in Washington, as well as to iconic local brands, and how those names can reflect deeper, and sometimes challenging, meanings. Explore how names often evolve to better connect us to place and to our neighbors.
Speaker Feliks Banel has worked in history and media since the 1990s. He served as deputy director of MOHAI; and has produced Edward R. Murrow Award-winning radio and podcasts and Emmy-winning TV about local history. Feliks lives in Seattle.
This program is offered free of charge, but space is limited. Please reserve your spot HERE.
Thank you to Humanities WA for their support in bringing this event to Vancouver!

Paul Hayden Kirk and Midcentury Modern NW Architecture
2026-03-12 18:00 - 20:00
Discover one of the key figures in Pacific Northwest modernism, who overcame polio as a child and reputational damage during the Red Scare to become the most influential architect our region has yet to produce.
In the mid-20th Century, our state was slow to adopt the modern architectural trends flooding Europe, the East Coast, and California. But smartly, Paul Hayden Kirk blended the clean look of modernism with our region’s tradition of building with wood, and crisp lines with Japanese and Native American influences. This talk explores Kirk’s life, along with examples of his work, to paint a portrait of a true Northwest innovator.
Speaker Dale Kutzera is the author of Paul Hayden Kirk and the Rise of Northwest Modern, the first monograph on the father of mid-century design in the Pacific Northwest. Kutzera has spent his life largely in the arts sector and entertainment industry.
Dale lives in Seattle.
This program is offered free of charge, but space is limited. Please reserve your spot HERE.
Thank you to Humanities WA for their support in bringing this event to Vancouver!
