WASHOUGAL — The Two Rivers Heritage Museum has a paid worker for the primary time in its historical past.
The Camas-Washougal Historic Society has chosen Julianne Lawrence, a Camas native and former Camas Faculty District elementary college instructor, to fill the newly created position of director for the downtown Washougal museum.
“I was absolutely thrilled,” Lawrence stated.
She stated her purpose is to make sure the museum is “preserved for generations of kids to come.”
The Camas-Washougal Historic Society shaped in 1978 and first opened a museum within the basement of the Camas Library in 1981.
The historic society’s board of administrators initiated a long-term planning effort in 2023 that included exploring the feasibility of hiring a museum director. A volunteer committee — Richard and Karen Johnson, Joshua Stahly, Dick Lindstrom, Marilyn Brown and Rene Carroll — led the trouble, assisted by Clark County Historic Museum Government Director Brad Richardson. The group assessed funding, outlined the place’s obligations and developed an employment contract.
Lawrence stated the truth that the historic society, which receives its funding via grants and donations, was in a position to rent a paid worker “is a huge positive symbol for the future and the outlook of the museum.”
Lawrence holds a bachelor’s diploma in historical past from Portland State College and a grasp’s diploma in instructing from Metropolis College in Tacoma. After instructing in Ridgefield for one 12 months, she spent 11 years at Woodburn Elementary Faculty in Camas.
“A big piece of being a teacher is building strong relationships with the families of your kids and within your classroom,” Lawrence stated. “Outreach, communication, nourishing positive feelings and joyful learning were pillars for me as a teacher.”
She stated she plans to convey that strategy into her new position.
Lawrence’s grandmother, retired Washougal educator Carol Phillips, volunteered on the museum for a few years, and her mom, retired Camas educator Lee Elaine Gilronan, is a present volunteer.
“This museum has been really closely connected to my family,” Lawrence stated. “I have a lot of vivid memories of coming to the museum for things like Heritage Days when I was a kid. There’s so many amazing artifacts here, and it’s been really neat to watch it grow over the years and always have something new and exciting.”
Lawrence, who started work in her new place Might 1, stated that she want to enhance membership, broaden volunteer involvement to probably broaden museum hours, safe new funding sources, and lift the museum’s visibility throughout the group and past.
“The biggest thing I’d like to accomplish is building awareness, making sure that we are something that our community is proud to show off when they have friends visiting out of town or looking for something to do on a rainy day with their kids,” she stated.
The Two Rivers Heritage Museum is open to the general public Saturdays from midday to 4 p.m. via October. Group excursions for eight individuals or extra may be organized by calling the museum at 360-835-8742. Admission is $5 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for college kids, and free for youngsters 5 and youthful and Camas-Washougal Historic Society members. For extra info, go to 2rhm.com.
