WASHOUGAL – Two Rivers Heritage Museum opened for the 2024 season on March 2 after its annual winter maintenance closure.
“Our goals this year are for more members and volunteers, and to spread the word about why people should visit our museum,” said 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 shutdown, 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,” explained volunteer Richard Johnson. “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 cleanup 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 1930s style kitchen, woodworking tools, early mining, military uniforms and artifacts, teddy bears, Camas and Washougal high schools, Depression-era glass bowls and vases, musical instruments and more.
