'Elwha: A River Reborn' on campus Oct. 6 to Dec. 30

Western Libraries and Western Washington University’s Huxley College of the Environment will host Elwha: A River Reborn, a new traveling exhibit from the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, from Oct. 6 through Dec. 30 in Western Libraries Special Collections on the 6th Floor of Wilson Library.

Based on a Mountaineers book of the same name by Seattle Times reporter Lynda Mapes and photographer Steve Ringman, the exhibit takes viewers to the Northwest’s legendary Elwha River Valley to discover the people, places, and history behind a remarkable regional story – and the largest dam removal project ever undertaken. Through first-person accounts, stunning photographs, and informative text printed on free-standing banners, follow the Elwha’s journey from abundant wilderness to economic engine – to an unprecedented experiment in restoration and renewal that has captured global attention.

In conjunction with this exhibit, a variety of events will be offered throughout fall quarter, including two Huxley College Speaker Series events and two screenings of the film “Return of the River” (with director John Gussman in attendance), one on campus and one at Bellingham’s Pickford Film Center (PFC), The PFC screening of this film is being co-sponsored by the Pickford on Saturday, October 4th at 6:30 pm, with a reception scheduled for the film beginning at 5:30 pm and offered as part of their "Doctober" month-long celebration of documentaries showcased throughout the month of October.

Elwha: A River Reborn was developed by the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in collaboration with The Seattle Times, Mountaineers Books, and the Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe. National touring sponsor is The Snoqualmie Tribe. Sponsorship of the local presentation of Elwha is provided by Western Libraries and Huxley College of the Environment at Western Washington University.

For more information about this exhibit or accompanying programming and events, please contact Western Libraries Communications Coordinator Clarissa Mansfield at Clarissa.Mansfield@wwu.edu or (360) 650-3052.

Special Collections is a program of Western Libraries division of Heritage Resources, which also includes the University Archives and the Center for Pacific Northwest Studies. The three programs support teaching, learning, and research by providing responsible stewardship of unique and archival materials, specifically those that document the culture and history of Western, the local community, and Pacific Northwest region.

Western’s Huxley College of the Environment is one of the oldest environmental colleges in the nation and a recognized leader in producing the next generation of environmental stewards. Huxley’s distinctive, interdisciplinary curriculum reflects a broad view of the physical, biological, social, and cultural world, and has earned international recognition for quality.