The Historic Trust

When Your Grandpa Is a Bot: AI, Death, and Digital Doppelgangers
2025-11-13 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | 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

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.

Historic Trust Speakers Series presented by University Village

Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra at Providence Academy
2026-03-06 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-05-01 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.
Some of the public areas in our buildings may not be fully accessible to visitors with limited mobility. Please call in advance for more specific information: 360-992-1800.

SOLD OUT! 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.
Part of the Humanities WA Speakers Series presented by University Village.

TICKETS ON SALE FEB. 17! Move It On Over: Stories and Songs of Hank Williams, a musical history performance by Joel Underwood
2026-03-26 18:00 - 20:00 | Providence Academy, 400 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, WA, 98660, United States
The Historic Trust is excited to welcome music historian, folksinger, and storyteller Joel Underwood to Vancouver for a special performance, Move It on Over: Stories and Songs of Hank Williams, in the stunning Providence Academy Chapel.
By turns hilarious and heartbreaking, Underwood and his guitar vividly bring to life one of America’s most influential musical voices. Set against the backdrop of New Year’s Eve, 1952—when a frail yet determined 29-year-old Hank Williams embarked on a fateful journey from Alabama to Ohio—the performance moves between Williams’ formative years and the mystery surrounding his untimely death. This compelling two-act, one-man show features ten beloved songs while thoughtfully exploring themes of addiction, fame, and generational trauma.
Returning to Vancouver after wowing audiences with his performances celebrating Woody Guthrie and Bob Dylan, Underwood delivers a heartfelt tribute filled with warmth, wit, and authenticity. Along the way, he performs classics such as “Your Cheatin’ Heart,” “Hey Good Lookin’,” and “I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry,” inviting audiences to sing along, reminisce, and reflect. Move It on Over captures both the spirit of Hank Williams and the enduring soul of American country music in a way that is deeply personal and profoundly moving.
Ticket Information:
Ticket price is $18 and includes all applicable taxes and fees. Seating is general admission in Providence Academy Chapel pews and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. (30 minutes prior to performance start time). Free parking is available in the Providence Academy lot; please note that the Aeon Apartments parking lot is not available for event parking.
If available, tickets will be sold at the door for $25 each.
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.
Some of the public areas in our buildings may not be fully accessible to visitors with limited mobility. Please call in advance for more specific information: 360-992-1800.
