Columbia Gorge Genealogical Society: August 2025

September

Join us for a private tour - Our docent will be Etta Hepner

New exhibits and a new look!

September 13, 2025

12:00pm

202 Humbolt St.

Bingen, Washington

"The Gorge Heritage Museum is housed in the former Bingen Congregational Church, which was dedicated in May, 1912. The Museum was established as a 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation in 1984 by the West Klickitat County Historical Society to promote interest in the legacy passed to us by the native people and the immigrants who settled and traded in the mountainous river valleys and along the Columbia River.

We invite you to come see the many fine exhibits of tools, furnishings, clothes, photos, etc. the Gorge Heritage Museum has from the past. The Museum exhibits will acquaint you with pioneer clothing, house-hold items, logging and farming tools, medical and surgical equipment. Also included are historical documents, newspapers, and Native American artifacts and crafts. The displays and exhibits have been donated by the families of the pioneers and collectors of history. Donations of historic materials are always welcome at the Gorge Heritage Museum." ~ GHM

October

National Family History Month

The major trails from the Midwest to the west will be covered in this session. The principal routes will include the Oregon and California Trails, the Mormon migration, the Santa Fe Trail, and more. These were the OVERLAND RIVERS which helped populate the West

Steven Waltz Morrison, MPA was an adjunct faculty for seven years, & the pastpresident of both the Puget Sound APG Chapter, and the Olympia Genealogical Society.

He’s presented to all the genealogical societies across Western Washington. In 2022 he spoke at the NGS conference, and has presented to international audiences in Canada and Ireland - three times.

In 2026, Steven will co-coordinate the first genealogical institute course focusing on the five Northwest States: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, & Wyoming. It will be presented by the Salt Lake Institute of Genealogy in February to May of 2026, as an online course. Twenty-three topics, with twelve instructors – Research in the US Northwest. Plan to attend.

Registration will begin in September

November

National American Native Heritage Month

Presenter is Georga Foster

Edward S. Curtis, a renowned American photographer and ethnologist, dedicated over three decades of his life to documenting the cultures, traditions, and daily lives of Native American tribes through his monumental work, The North American Indian. Beginning in the late 19th century, Curtis captured over 40,000 photographs and extensive ethnographic records of more than 80 tribes, creating an unparalleled visual and cultural archive that preserves the heritage of Indigenous peoples facing rapid cultural change. His work, characterized by its artistic sensitivity and anthropological depth, remains a vital resource for understanding Native American history and identity. The Curtis Legacy Foundation, established to honor and extend Curtis’s mission, promotes the preservation, study, and appreciation of his photographic and ethnographic contributions, ensuring that his legacy continues to educate and inspire future generations about the rich diversity of Native American cultures.

This presentation covers stories of Curtis's life including his travels to the Columbia Gorge and The Dalles area.

Registration will begin in October

Pioneers of The West

Header Photo: Helen Lundeberg created this painting while employed by the Works Progress Administration (WPA), a New Deal program that employed artists during the Great Depression. Like other WPA artists, Lundeberg depicted a hopeful view of the United States during a time of turmoil and uncertainty by showing a dreamlike image of western expansion. The group of pioneers, with their backs to the viewer, follows an ox-drawn wagon into a valley. The monumental figures appear strong and assured in their forward progress. Rising mountains melt into the sun. Lundeberg's style of mixing fantastic images with reality is evident in the background: The pink, rolling mountains blend into the orange, pink, and bluish haze of the sky; it is difficult to determine where the mountains end and the sky begins. The careful use of space and dreamlike elements in Pioneers of the West is representative of Lundeberg's postsurrealist style. This movement, derived from surrealism, purposely combined fantasy with reality and was predominantly found on the West Coast. (Helen Lundeberg, Pioneers of the West, 1934, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the General Services Administration, 1985.8.27) GSA: Information and images created or owned by the GSA unless otherwise indicated, are considered in the public domain. They may be distributed or copied as permitted by applicable law.

UPCOMING FALL PROGRAMS AND EVENTS 2025