Q&A: How is Cowlitz County Historical Museum celebrating America's 250th anniversary?
The Cowlitz County Historical Museum is celebrating America's 250th anniversary with an exhibit showcasing local connections to important U.S. historical moments.
Learn more about the exhibit, including featured items, below.
View Cowlitz County artifacts that helped shape America's 250 years
Local displays tell the origins of people from afar who made Cowlitz County their home.
What is the "Moments that Made Us" exhibit?
It is an exhibit at the Cowlitz County Historical Museum highlighting how local history connects to major American milestones, from the Revolutionary War to the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes both national themes and Pacific Northwest-specific panels, and will run through the rest of the year.
Why is the exhibit opening now?
The exhibit is timed to mark the lead-up to the United States' 250th anniversary, which is less than three months away. It aims to show how even regions less central to the Revolutionary War still played roles in the broader American story.
What kinds of local stories and artifacts are featured?
Displays include items tied to early settlers and immigrants, such as a German passport from 1877 and photos of Abel Ostrander, who moved to the area in 1852. Other exhibits highlight Native American history, including a map of tribal lands and a profile of Cowlitz Tribe member Henry Cheholtz.
How does the exhibit address Indigenous history?
It includes a map of Native American tribal lands and stories from Indigenous residents, including Cheholtz, who reflected on life before European settlement. He is quoted on an exhibit panel saying, "The Great Spirit put creatures in the forest for food and clothing, not to kill just to be killing as some palefaces did."
Does the exhibit cover social and cultural changes?
Yes. A panel highlights Victoria Freeman's role in integrating Longview schools in the 1920s, decades before a Supreme Court ruling on segregation. Other items include a teacup from a Chinese immigrant-run restaurant and multilingual COVID-19 vaccination cards.
What military history is included?
Artifacts range from an American Revolutionary War-era Brown Bess musket to a World War II-era M1 helmet. The exhibit also includes a British cannonball and musket bullets, showing the evolution of weaponry over time.
How does the exhibit handle difficult parts of history?
It includes materials on the internment of Japanese Americans during World War II, including documents showing confiscated belongings from local residents before they were sent to camps. These displays highlight the impact of wartime policies on the local community.
Editor's note: This article was prepared with the help of AI using information collected and verified by The Daily News staff.
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This story was originally published April 29, 2026 at 12:38 PM.