Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra
2024-09-06 19:00 - 21:00, 2025-01-03 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Los_Angeles) | Providence Academy Chapel, 400 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
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.

Grant House 175th Birthday Party presented by Columbia Credit Union
2024-09-14 13:00 - 16:00 | Grant House, 1101 Officers Row, Vancouver, 98661, United States
It’s time to celebrate the 175th birthday of the first home built on Officers Row with an afternoon open house and outdoor bash featuring entertainment, fun family activities, and cake, of course! Built in 1849, the house is named in honor of General Ulysses S. Grant, and careful restoration and preservation by The Historic Trust has been important to its reaching this exciting milestone.
Learn more about the home and its place in Vancouver history by browsing interpretive exhibits, and attend a history talk in the East Parlor at 1:30 pm and 2:45 pm. Free family activities are happening all afternoon, including lawn games, arts & crafts, and a performance “Ants Ants Ants” at 3pm. Enjoy a free birthday cupcake and refreshments – EVERYONE is invited to join in the celebration!
Also, Willful Wine at the Grant House will be open for business during the event, with seating and a full menu available for all ages.
For guests with limited mobility, there is an accessible entrance and parking at the rear of the Grant House. Please park behind the building by following the access road from E. Evergreen Blvd (entry to access road is located between 1201 Officers Row and 1251 Officers Row). Please call 360-992-1800 with any questions.

Fall Play Day with the Columbia Play Project
2024-09-28 13:00 - 16:00 | WA
Join the Columbia Play Project and The Historic Trust for a free event! Lots of games and fun for the whole family!
Plus, free glow-in-the-dark giveaways!

That Ribbon of Highway: Woody Guthrie in the Pacific Northwest
2024-09-30 18:00 - 20:00 | Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Street, Vancouver, 98661, United States
The Historic Trust and Humanities Washington partner to present a discussion with Joel Underwood.

Folksinger and activist Woody 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.
Historian, teacher, folksinger, and actor Joel Underwood performs an hour that is part concert, part theatrical drama, and part lecture. Sing along to “Roll on Columbia,” “Pastures of Plenty,” and of course, “This Land is Your Land,” and learn the—sometimes hilarious, sometimes tragic—stories behind the songs.
Joel Underwood (he/him) is an actor, teacher, musician, and historian. After 25 years teaching high school history, Underwood got his master’s degree in American History with a focus on folk and protest music. A recipient of the Woody Guthrie Fellowship, Underwood was granted access to the Woody Guthrie Archives in Tulsa, Oklahoma, to research Woody’s time in the World War II Merchant Marines. Underwood continues to tour as a musician, both solo and with his daughter.
Underwood lives in Olympia.

Click HERE for details and registration information. This program is offered free of charge but seating is limited so register soon!

Thank you to Humanities WA for their support in bringing this event to Vancouver.
Special thanks to Umpqua Bank for their sponsorship support, and to the NAACP Vancouver for joining us as our promotional partner for our 2024 series of speaker events.

Trees of Officers Row Walking Tour
2024-10-11 12:00 - 13:00 | WA
Enjoy seeing the leaves turn along Officers Row and learn about the trees at a walking tour on October 11 at noon. City of Vancouver Urban Forestry staff will lead the tour and talk about the tree species at the Vancouver National Historic Reserve. Along the way, Historic Trust staff will offer information about the architecture of the late 19th century Army residences and the people who lived in them.
Participants will meet at the Howard House at 750 Anderson St., and walk down the Row to the east. Dress for the weather! The route is flat and follows city sidewalks, but comfortable shoes are recommended. Register for this free program HERE.

Hey Neighbor: Person-to-Person Conversation
2024-10-23 18:00 - 20:00 | Artillery Barracks, 600 E Hatheway, Vancouver, Washington, 98661
Join The Historic Trust for the popular person-to-person conversation event “Hey Neighbor” modeled on “36 Questions for Civic Love”
In Spring 2023 and 2024, The Historic Trust hosted “Hey Neighbor,” conversation events featuring The 36 Questions for Civic Love. This October, join us for another round! Using the same format with some new questions sprinkled in, you and a partner will ask each other a series of questions, listen to each other’s answers, and explore common ground.
What is civic love? It’s love for this place we call home, expressed by looking out for each other, connecting with our neighbors, volunteering for causes we care about, and honoring our differences as we celebrate our common bonds.
In 1997, psychologist Arthur Aron explored whether love between two perfect strangers could be accelerated by asking each other a set of 36 questions. The 36 Questions for Civic Love were adapted from those questions for a new kind of experiment—aimed at helping us all fall in civic love, to reconnect with our home and our neighbors.
Whether you’ve joined us for one or both of the past events, or this is your first visit, one of the wonderful things about “Hey Neighbor” is that it’s a new conversation every single time. We hope you’ll join us to learn more about your community, yourself, and our connection to this wonderful place we call home.
Space is limited. REGISTER HERE!

Coming Home: How the Nez Perce Tribe Regained Their Cultural Heritage
2024-10-24 18:00 - 19:30 | Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Street, Vancouver, 98661, United States
The Historic Trust and Humanities Washington partner to present a discussion with Trevor James Bond.

Belongings deeply important to tribal communities are often housed in museums far away from those communities. In this talk, hear the remarkable story of how the Nez Perce Tribe and their allies purchased the largest and oldest collection of Nez Perce material culture—including dresses, shirts, and other regalia—from a museum over 2,000 miles away from their homeland.
In this hopeful story of cultural resiliency and making amends for past injustices, explore issues surrounding collection and curation, and the changing relationships between museums and Native communities. It’s a story that transcends the efforts of one Northwest tribe to show how many indigenous communities are reuniting with their heritage.
Trevor James Bond (he/him) is the director of the David G. Pollart Center for Arts and Humanities and the associate dean for digital initiatives and special collections at the Washington State University Libraries. He is the author of Coming Home to Nez Perce Country: The Niimiipuu Campaign to Repatriate Their Exploited Heritage, a finalist for the 2022 Washington State Book Award for non-fiction.
Bond lives in Pullman.
This talk is presented in partnership with The Thomas S. Foley Institute for Public Policy and Public Service, which educates citizens across the state about democratic institutions and public affairs, and is based at Washington State University. For more information, visit The Foley Institute’s website.

Click HERE for details and registration information. This program is offered free of charge but seating is limited so register soon!

Thank you to Humanities WA for their support in bringing this event to Vancouver. Special thanks to Umpqua Bank for their sponsorship support, and to the NAACP Vancouver for joining us as our promotional partner for our 2024 series of speaker events.

36th Annual Lough Legacy Veterans Day Parade
2024-11-11 11:00 - 13:00 | WA
36TH ANNUAL LOUGH LEGACY VETERANS DAY PARADE!
Monday, November 11th, 2024
Fort Vancouver National Site
Parade Starts at 11:00 am

Make plans to join us as a parade participant or come enjoy the parade and honor our military history!
Ample public parking available. Please click the link below for a map indicating parking locations and parade route information. Accessible parking is located in the staff lot on the west side of the General O.O. Howard House at 750 Anderson St.
**Please note that the parade route will close to all vehicles at 10:30 am, November 11th with no entry or exit to and from any of the parking located along the route. If you plan on parking in any of these areas, please make plans to arrive before 10:30 am. Please be aware that you will not be able to leave until the parade has ended.
Please contact Mindy Wilkins at mindy.wilkins@thehistorictrust.org if you have any questions or need assistance.
Parking and Route Information Here:
https://www.thehistorictrust.org/lough-legacy-veterans-parade/

Be sure and stop by the Community Military Appreciation Committee (CMAC) Open House at Pearson Hangar, 11 am – 3 pm. Enjoy hot coffee, hot cocoa, and hot dogs!
https://cmac11.com/event/cmacs-veterans-day-reception/

Vancouver, Washington has a long-established tradition of honoring our military history. Now in its 36th year, the Lough Legacy Veterans Parade celebrates the service and sacrifice area veterans have made for our freedom. Along with our partnership with the City of Vancouver, these events are made possibly through a generous donation from Frank and JoAnne Lough, who dedicated resources to support Veterans Day Services.
Thank you to our sponsors! With Thanks To
Flag and Parade Entry Sponsor

Supporting Sponsor

Stomp and Shout: The Untold Story of Northwest Rock & Roll
2024-11-14 18:00 - 20:00 | Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Street, Vancouver, 98661, United States
Northwest Rock & Roll’s historical highpoints are well documented—in the late 20th century, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, and other grunge gods took the world by storm. Previously, Seattle’s Queensrÿche and Heart had ruled the heavy metal realm. And prior to that, The Wailers, The Kingsmen, Paul Revere and The Raiders, and The Sonics had all fueled local teen dances with garage-rock versions of the region’s signature song, “Louie Louie.”
Yet these iconic bands are only half the story. In this talk, join author Peter Blecha to discover the lesser-known but vitally important bands and scenes that laid the foundation for what was to come—finally connecting all the dots between the fabled Northwest era of Ray Charles, Quincy Jones, and Jimmy Hendrix, and the R&B-spiked roots of a distinct regional artform: the “Original Northwest Sound.”
Peter Blecha (he/him) is the director of the Northwest Music Archives, an award-winning author, a founding curator at MoPop, and a longtime staff historian at HistoryLink.org. Blecha’s newest book, Stomp and Shout: R&B and the Origins of Northwest Rock and Roll, draws on his deep knowledge as a leading expert on Pacific Northwest music history to chronicle both well-known and overlooked icons of the early Northwest Sound.
Blecha lives in Seattle.
Click HERE for details and registration information. This program is offered free of charge but seating is limited so register soon!
Thank you to Humanities WA for their support in bringing this event to Vancouver. Special thanks to Umpqua Bank for their sponsorship support, and to the NAACP Vancouver for joining us as our promotional partner for our 2024 series of speaker events.

Santa at the Marshall House presented by Columbia Credit Union
2024-12-07 09:00 - 15:00 | The Marshall House, 1301 Officers Row, Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
We are excited to have Santa return to the Marshall House for the holidays on Saturday, December 7! Reservations are FREE and will be available starting Monday, November 18. The Marshall House will be beautifully decorated and ready for your holiday photos. Santa will be here receiving hand-delivered letters and wish lists from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm. Guests can make holiday crafts, write a letter to Santa, listen to a holiday story, and simply enjoy some quality family time. All children will receive goodie bags with hot chocolate and a treat to enjoy at home.
The first hour of Santa’s visit, 9:00 am to 10:00 am, will be reserved for individuals and groups with neurodiverse members who require less stimulating environments. Fewer reservations will be taken, and sounds and stimuli will be restrained. Please help us share holiday magic with our entire community by only reserving spots during this time if a member of your party has sensory issues. The Marshall House is located at 1301 Officers Row, Vancouver, WA

Thank you to Columbia Credit Union for sponsoring this event!
Santa at the Marshall House Reservations – Sensory and Neurodiverse Hour Santa at the Marshall House Reservations

SOLD OUT! Holiday Tea at the Marshall House
2024-12-14 11:00 - 12:30 | WA
The holiday tea will take place on Saturday, December 14th! Two seatings, 11:00 am and 2:00 pm
Find out all the details and register HERE
Thank you to our generous sponsor!

They Want Our Rhythm, but Not Our Blues: African American Innovation through Pop Culture
2025-02-06 18:00 - 20:00 | O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
The freedom often denied to African Americans to move and express themselves has meant that they have had to be especially creative in building their culture. The innovations created under oppression are often appropriated by the oppressor—they want our rhythm. And such culture and creativity has been forged from their everyday struggles—but they do not want our blues.
Reflecting on music, sports, language, food, and even hair, this talk calls audiences in beyond the rhythm to recognize the blues that made African American popular culture. It serves as a guide to appreciating the art of Black pop culture by understanding how and why African American culture was created, and when and where it appears across multiple platforms of popular culture—never without a unique artisan style.
Speaker Bio
LaToya Brackett (she/her) is an associate professor of African American studies at the University of Puget Sound, where she also serves as a member of the leadership team for the Race & Pedagogy Institute. A scholar with two degrees in Black studies, one from Cornell University and the other from Michigan State, she is an interdisciplinarian who centers the Black experience.
Brackett lives in Tacoma.
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. We appreciate you!

Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra at Providence Academy
2025-02-07 19:00 - 21:00 | WA
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 $15. Tickets are available at the door or on line at The Historic Music Preservation Project.

O.O. Howard and the Freedmen's Bureau
2025-02-27 18:30 - 20:00 | O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
The Vancouver Barracks Military Association presents author and former journalist Aaron C. Jones for a program on “O.O. Howard and the Freedmen’s Bureau.” General Oliver Otis Howard (1830-1909) commanded U.S. Army forces in the Pacific Northwest in the 1870s. Prior to his time in the Northwest, however, Howard served in the Union Army during the Civil War and after as head of the Freedmen’s Bureau in Washington, D.C. Jones (nwresearchandwriting.com) will share research findings about Howard’s tenure at the Bureau collected for his upcoming biography, Oliver Otis Howard and the Great Task. The Freedmen’s Bureau was created by Congress to assist formerly enslaved people transitioning to freedom.
Thank you to the Vancouver Barracks Military Association (https://www.vbma.us/) for their partnership in program presentation.
This program is offered free of charge but seating is limited. Please reserve your seat by emailing VBMA at jddavis@rocketmail.com.
Photo caption: Major Gen. Oliver O. Howard, 8/13/1864, Harper’s Weekly

And It Has Pockets! The Battle for Women's Clothing Equality
2025-03-06 18:00 - 20:00 | Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Street, Vancouver, 98661, United States
How many times have you heard someone wearing women’s clothing exclaim, “And it has pockets!” Comparisons have shown that modern garments designed for women have about half the storage space of clothing designed for men. From their invention, pockets in women’s fashion have represented independence—so much so that in the 18th century, laws were enacted to strip women of their personal liberty by making the contents of their pockets the property of their husband. The right to have pockets went hand-in-hand with the right to vote. And people today are still speaking out about the inequality between men’s and women’s clothing based on this simple storage system.
Join costume designer Diane Johnston to dig into the pockets of the past, tracing the history of the humble pocket to determine if the battle for equality may still be decided by a few inches of extremely influential fabric.
Diane Johnston (she/her) is a theatrical costume designer who has spent the past 33 years creating costumes for productions large and small throughout the region. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in Costume Design and is a member of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees. Johnston has always been fascinated with fashion history and the historic trends that find their way into our modern closets. She is currently designing costumes for Edmonds Driftwood Players.
Johnston lives in Stanwood.
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. We appreciate you!

Ne Plus Ultra Jass Orchestra at Providence Academy
2025-03-21 19:00 - 21:00 | WA

Founding of the Vancouver Barracks
2025-03-27 18:30 - 20:00 | O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
Join the Vancouver Barracks Military Association for an exploration of the personalities of the first officers who founded and commanded the Vancouver Barracks. These include John S. Hatheway, Theodore Talbot, William Wing Loring, and Rufus Ingalls. The talk will also feature early drawings of the original barracks buildings, dating to the early 1850s.
Register for this free program at jddavis@rocketmail.com
Photo Credit: National Archives

Blowin' In the Wind: Songs and Stories of Bob Dylan: A Musical History Performance
2025-04-03 18:00 - 19:30 | Providence Academy Chapel, 400 E. Evergreen Blvd., Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
Musician and historian Joel Underwood brings a special performance to the acoustically and visually stunning Providence Academy Chapel, featuring the music and history of America’s most influential songwriter: Bob Dylan. Come sing along with Dylan favorites, such as “The Times, They Are A’Changin’,” and yell out the eternal question, “How does it feel?” and hear stories of the Nobel Prize‐winner’s early years in Minnesota and New York, including what really happened the fateful night he “went electric” in Newport.
General Admission Tickets are $12 each in advance (includes all taxes & fees).
PURCHASE TICKETS HERE
Please note, 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).
If available, tickets will be sold at the door for $15 each.

UFO Northwest: How Washington State Spawned the Men In Black
2025-04-10 18:00 - 19:30 | Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Street, Vancouver, 98661, United States
On August 1, 1947, the tragic crash of a B-25 bomber in Washington State triggered an FBI investigation of “The Maury Island Incident”—an infamous Northwest UFO sighting, and history’s first alleged encounter with the so-called “Men in Black.”
The FBI’s records from 1947, which were sealed for decades, reveal Cold War fears, jurisdictional disputes, cover-ups, false confessions, a courageous FBI Special Agent, and the hands-on involvement of FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover.
Relying on the FBI records, this talk exposes a Washington story that shapes our current UFO narratives, from 1950’s pulp magazines to the ubiquitous X-Files and Men in Black film franchises. Also examined: how the Northwest’s unique position in UFO history is challenged by others that assert contradictory narratives.
Steve Edmiston (he/him) is a business and entertainment lawyer with Bracepoint Law, and an indie film screenwriter and producer. Edmiston has keynoted for the Pacific Northwest History Conference, Washington State Historical Museum, McMenamins History Pubs, film festivals, conferences, and business groups. He was the screenwriter and co-producer of “The Maury Island Incident,” a short film chronicling the true story of Harold Dahl and his alleged 1947 sighting of a UFO over Puget Sound.
Edmiston lives in Des Moines.
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 the 2025 series of speaker events. We appreciate you!

Driving to Victory: The U.S. Army Jeep
2025-04-24 18:30 - 20:00 | O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
During World War II, the United States and its allies fought over all kinds of terrain. The Willys-Overland 1/4-ton cargo vehicle, commonly known as the Jeep, transported the troops over all kinds of difficult terrain, from frozen mountains, to open plains, to swollen rivers. Jason Samples of the Vancouver Barracks Military Association will display his historic Jeep and other World War II artifacts on April 24 at the Howard House. Samples, who spent several years in U.S. Army as a tanker, owns a number of historic vehicles, and he and his family are active in early twentieth century military reenactments.
To register for this FREE event, email to: jddavis@rocketmail.com .

Secret Spaces Three-House Tour: Marshall House, Grant House, and O.O. Howard House
2025-05-03 10:00 - 13:00 | WA
SOLD OUT! Tickets will NOT be sold at the door
The Historic Trust’s Secret Spaces Tour will give participants a unique peek into typically unseen parts of three Officers Row homes: the Marshall House, Grant House, and O. O. Howard House.
Your tour stop at each house begins at the top of the hour with a 10 to 15 minute seated educational session, providing historical and architectural background information about the spaces you are about to see. Highlights in each location include:
Marshall House

The Historic Trust’s Director of Historic Preservation, Holly Chamberlain, will provide the historical and architectural overview
Access the turret via the attic for a beautiful view and photo opportunity
Visit private offices on the second floor

Grant House

Local historian Jeff Davis will be in character as President Ulysses S. Grant circa 1879 with a living history presentation about Grant’s life and time at Vancouver Barracks, and points of interest about the house
Enjoy the view and get a special close-up look at the exterior portion of this log cabin from the 2nd floor balcony
Browse the entire 2nd floor including the large over-kitchen banquet room

O. O. Howard House

Julie Garver, who was project manager for the City of Vancouver’s rehabilitation of the house in the late 1990s, will give a presentation about the house and the unique challenges tackled during its restoration
Check out the ornate fireplaces and architectural details that adorn what are currently private offices
Learn more about General Howard’s life & time at Vancouver Barracks, and get a great view when visiting the attic

IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE: many of these spaces are only accessible by stairs. Please read the “Building Accessibility” information below to determine if this tour is right for you and your companions, if you are purchasing multiple tickets. All participants must be at least 12 years of age.
Ticket price includes all taxes and fees. Tickets are available in advance only.
To purchase tickets, select the house for the start of your three-house tour below. Every tour will be the same, the only difference is your starting point. Ticket sales will end at 5pm PDT Friday, May 2, 2025. Tickets will NOT be sold at the door.
BUY TICKETS: Start At Marshall House
BUY TICKETS: Start At Grant House
BUY TICKETS: Start At O.O. Howard House
SECRET SPACES TOUR – BUILDING ACCESSIBLITY
These “Secret Spaces” tours are providing access to areas that are generally off-limits to the public, and are not fully accessible. Please use the following building descriptions to determine whether these tours are right for you. Please let us know ahead of time if you have specific questions about accessibility.
Marshall House (MH):
South side (Main) entrance is accessible by stairs. North (rear) entrance (with wheelchair accessible signage) is accessible via ramp. There is one accessible bathroom on the main floor. There is a chair lift available that provides access to the second floor. This tour includes a visit to the turret, which is only accessible by a narrow set of stairs to the attic from the second floor. No ASL provided.
Guests are welcome to remain on the main floor after the opening presentation to explore the rooms and additional resources about General Marshall. Volunteers and staff will be available to provide verbal interpretation of spaces on second floor and attic.
Grant House (GH):
South side (Main) entrance is accessible by stairs. North (rear entrance) is accessible via a ramp to the back door. There is one accessible bathroom on the main floor. The second floor is only accessible by stairs. No ASL provided.
Guests are welcome to remain on the main floor after the opening presentation to explore additional resources about President Grant and visit the downstairs rooms. Volunteers and staff will be available to provide verbal interpretation of spaces on second floor.
O.O. Howard House (OOHH):
South side (Main) entrance is accessible by stairs. West entrance by employee parking lot is accessible without stairs. There is an elevator in the Howard House that provides access to the second floor. The attic is accessed via stairs only. The main floor has ADA accessible restrooms. No ASL provided.
Guests are welcome to explore the main floor and second floor via elevator. Volunteers and staff will be available to provide verbal interpretation of the attic space.
We are grateful to Halbert Construction Services and Umpqua Bank for their support of The Historic Trust’s Preservation Month programming.

What Style is It? The Historic Architecture of Washington State
2025-05-15 18:30 - 20:00 | Red Cross Building, 605 Barnes Street, Vancouver, 98661, United States
May is National Historic Preservation Month! Join long-time State Architectural Historian Michael Houser for an engaging presentation on the rich architectural history of Vancouver and surrounding communities in a statewide context. Learn from this Vancouver native about architectural styles and residential designs from the 1870s to the 1970s, with a particular emphasis on Officers Row.
Houser holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Idaho and an MS in Historic Preservation from Eastern Michigan University. We are grateful to him for traveling from Olympia for this program.
This program is presented in partnership with the Vancouver Barracks Military Association (VBMA).
Photo caption: The Queen Anne-style Marshall House built in 1886 on Officers Row
Photo credit: Robert Holcomb
Register for this free program HERE.
Seating is limited, so make your reservation today!
We are grateful to Halbert Construction Services and Umpqua Bank for their support of The Historic Trust’s Preservation Month programming.

Secret Spaces Tour: Post Hospital
2025-05-31 10:00 - 11:00 | WA
SOLD OUT! Tickets will NOT be sold at the door

Have you seen the large brick building situated right next to the freeway as you were driving through downtown Vancouver on I-5, and wondered what’s inside? Now is your chance to see for yourself!
The Historic Trust is pleased to offer this unique tour in honor of Preservation Month!
The Secret Spaces Post Hospital Tour will give participants a chance to step back in time and imagine the rooms of this historic building in action. Built in 1903-1904, the Post Hospital was considered cutting-edge for its time, including being one of the first in the nation to have space purpose-built for taking and developing x-ray images.
Today, many of the building’s original structural features remain:

Tin ceiling tiles
Coved ceilings
Woodwork
Sun porches to support recovery of tuberculosis patients

With access to explore spaces on all four floors, you’ll get an exclusive peek inside this structure that has been off-limits to the public for decades.
Your one-hour experience begins across the street from the Post Hospital at the Red Cross Building with a brief 10 to 15 minute seated educational session by The Historic Trust’s Director of Historic Preservation, Holly Chamberlain, sharing historical and architectural background information about changes the building has seen over time, and about the spaces you’ll get to explore.
This building is not open to the public! Your time in the hospital will not be guided. Most spaces will be open for you to walk through or look into, so you can see the building at your own pace within the allotted time frame (10:00 a.m.-11:00 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.). Notable spaces include the large open wards for enlisted men and officers, sections of the first and second floor porches, the attic, and the basement.

IMPORTANT – PLEASE NOTE: The Post Hospital is only accessible by stairs, and movement between floors inside the building is via stairs only. Please read the “Building Accessibility” information below to determine if this tour is right for you and your companions, if you are purchasing multiple tickets. All participants must be at least 12 years of age. All participants must wear closed-toe flat shoes.
Ticket price includes all taxes and fees. Tickets are available in advance only.
To purchase tickets, click the BUY TICKETS link below. When on the ticket sales page, select your tour start time (10:00 a.m. or 11:30 a.m.) by clicking the drop-down menu under “Choose a Date.”

SECRET SPACES TOUR – BUILDING ACCESSIBLITY
This “Secret Spaces” tour includes areas that are generally off-limits to the public and are not fully accessible. Please use the following building description to determine whether this tour is right for you. Please let us know ahead of time if you have specific questions about accessibility.
Post Hospital Tour
The Post Hospital is currently only utilized by The Historic Trust staff and is not open to the public. It is being opened for this special “Secret Spaces” tour only. The building is only accessible by stairs, and movement between floors within the building is via stairs only. There are no accessibility accommodations in place. No ASL provided.
Guests are welcome to purchase tickets to enjoy the brief (10-15 minute) opening presentation about the Post Hospital, which will be held in the Red Cross Building (RCB) and forego exploration of the Post Hospital building requiring mobility. The Red Cross Building is accessible via a ramp on the east side of the building with access from the north. There are accessible restrooms on the main floor.
We are grateful to Halbert Construction Services and Umpqua Bank for their support of The Historic Trust’s Preservation Month programming.

Ne Plus Ultra Jass at Providence Academy
2025-06-06 19:00 - 21:00 | WA

Culture & Heritage Series: Summer Solstice Celebration
2025-06-20 17:30 - 20:30 | O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
Join us as we welcome the longest day of the year with connection and celebration! Enjoy solstice-themed poetry and spoken word, gentle yoga, sound meditation and a fun craft activity, as we usher in the summer season. FREE event. Open to all. Bring along a mat if you plan on joining yoga.
Rain or shine, the celebration goes on! If the weather doesn’t cooperate, we’ll move the festivities indoors—same great energy, just under a roof.
Celebration Schedule:
5:30 pm – informal gathering together; work on craft activity
6:00 pm 6:45 pm – poetry reading
7:00 pm – 8:00 pm- yoga on the lawn closing with a sound meditation
8:00 pm – 8:30 pm – craft activity
Poetry presented by:
Christopher Luna

Featured Poets:
Eric Fair-Layman
Brittany Mishra
Jennifer Pratt-Walter
Yoga with:

Thank you to our sponsors!
Quantum Fiber
Waste Connections
Port of Vancouver
The Columbian
Oregonian Media Group/Here is Oregon
City of Vancouver

Culture & Heritage Series: Craft Day
2025-06-21 10:00 - 13:00 | Artillery Barracks, 600 E Hatheway, Vancouver, Washington, 98661
Bring the whole family for a fun-filled day of creativity!
Join us for a FREE INDOOR community craft day designed for kids, parents, and caregivers of all ages. No experience necessary—just bring your imagination! Take home something you’ve created.
Try your hand at a variety of craft activities including:

origami (well-suited for children 8+) with Holly Williams
puppet making with Dragon Theater

Drop in and get creative with us!
Thank you to our sponsors
Quantum Fiber
Waste Connections
Port of Vancouver
The Columbian
Oregonian Media Group/Here is Oregon
City of Vancouver

SOLD OUT! Officers Row Trees Walking Tour
2025-06-25 12:00 - 13:00 | O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
Start at: Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver, 98661
Join City of Vancouver Urban Forestry staff for a walking tour to learn more about the many species of trees along Officers Row. Historic Trust Director of Historic Preservation Holly Chamberlain will share information about the history and architecture of the late 19th century Army residences at the former Vancouver Barracks and stories about the people who lived in them. You will learn about the role trees play in the environment and meet a Vancouver Heritage Tree in person!
The 20 tourgoers will meet at the Howard House at 750 Anderson St. and walk east down Evergreen. Dress for the weather, and don’t forget those comfortable shoes. Register for this free program HERE.

See the Historic Vancouver Barracks in 3D!
2025-06-26 18:30 - 20:00 | O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
Major Jeff Davis (US Army, retired) will be discussing and sharing stereoscopic images taken at Vancouver Barracks in the 1870s and 1880s by visiting photographers documenting the people and places where they lived. The technique of combining photographs to create a 3-dimensional effect, or stereoscopy, dates to 1838. In the decades before moving pictures and television, people spent many evenings looking at large collections of stereoscopic images in their own homes. These collections frequently focused on architecture and events in faraway lands.
Major Davis grew up around the Vancouver Barracks, where both he and his father served. He also served in Italy, Japan, Korea, and at Ft. Lewis, Washington. He deployed to Bosnia and twice to southwest Asia for Operation Enduring Freedom. A credentialed military historian, he has written several books and papers on World War II, the Global War on Terrorism, and life at the Vancouver Barracks.
The program is free, but seating is limited. Please register at jddavis@rocketmail.com.
Photo: Grant House, courtesy of Major Davis

Summer Concert Series: The Big Bossa Quartet
2025-06-27 17:30 - 20:30 | O.O. Howard House, 750 Anderson St., Vancouver, WA, 98661, United States
Free music concert! Enjoy an evening of great music with Big Bossa Quartet! Big Bossa brings cool jazz with a flavor of Latin and blues thrown in creating an amazing musical experience. It’s the perfect opportunity to unwind after a long week under the shady trees of the O.O. Howard House lawn located on Officers Row.
Grab a bite to eat from one of our vendors, including local favorites Razo’s Tacos, Kali Kantina and Smashed Cheese. Cool off with treats from Kona Ice and A Cherry on Top. Be sure and visit our 21 and over beer garden and enjoy an ice-cold hard citrus from Ruzzo!
What to Bring:
Picnic blanket or low-backed chair
Valid ID for 21+ beverage purchases
Friends and family for a fun evening
Visit www.thehistorictrust.org/calendar for information on all our summer events!

Thank you to our sponsors!
Quantum Fiber
Waste Connections
The Columbian
Oregonian Media Group/Here is Oregon
Ruzzo
City of Vancouver
