Two Rivers Heritage Museum Reopens After Winter Maintenance Closure

Washougal, WA – The Two Rivers Heritage Museum will reopen their doors on Saturday, March 2, 2024, after their annual winter maintenance closure.  Open each Saturday through October from 11 am to 3 pm, volunteer guides accompany visitors through the museum to offer interesting extra information and stories as well as answer questions. 

The museum, located at 1 Durgan Street in downtown Washougal, is operated by Camas-Washougal Historical Society volunteers and features a wealth of photos, artifacts and information about the people, places, and businesses prominent in the early years of Camas and Washougal.  

“Our goals this year are for more members and volunteers, and to spread the word about why people should visit our museum,” said CWHS president, Dick Lindstrom.  “We are the ‘best kept secret’ in the area and actually get more visitors from out of town than from our own community. We hope more locals will come in and see all the artifacts we have on display that are sure to stir up some memories!”

During the maintenance shut down volunteers carefully cleaned and cared for the museum’s extensive Native American basket collection.  

“Our objective is to use best practices when working with these precious artifacts,” said Richard Johnson, a volunteer. “This means proper cleaning, updating our display using non-damaging plexiglass stands, and careful storage to give some baskets a resting period. All these steps will help preserve the collection.”

Recently museum leadership prepared for reopening with a volunteer training session and a clean-up day to make sure the space shines.  Popular displays include artifacts and information on Native American baskets and stone tools, early physicians, fishing, lumber and farming industries, a 30s style kitchen, woodworking tools, early mining, military uniforms and artifacts, teddy bears, Camas and Washougal High Schools, beautiful depression era glass bowls and vases, musical instruments and more.

The museum gift shop offers a new selection of postcards featuring historic photos of Camas and Washougal and images of artifacts in the museum, beautiful rugs woven onsite with Pendleton wool fabric trimmings, a variety of surplus antiques as well as many books about local history by local authors.

The Two Rivers Heritage Museum admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for students and free for children under 5 and all CWHS members.  Group tours are available any day of the week (by appointment only).  Leave a message at 360-835-8742 for scheduling.

CWHS is always looking for volunteers and new members to join and help support the preservation of local history. More information about the CWHS and the Two Rivers Heritage Museum can be found on their website at www.2rhm.com.