Providing work relief to unemployed Americans was a primary goal for President Roosevelt during the Great Depression. One of his New Deal programs was the Civilian Conservation Corps, a massive labor force assigned to forest conservation. Drinking was forbidden in the camps, yet archaeological excavations at one CCC camp in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest unearthed a significant number of beer, wine, and whiskey containers. 

Archaeologist Rick McClure uncovers the history of life at CCC Camp Hemlock in Washington, comparing the actual social behavior of the workers to the "official" government records.    

Rick McClure is a retired federal agency archaeologist and alumnus of both Evergreen State College and Washington State University. His professional experience has included cultural resource management positions with the USDA Forest Service, Gifford Pinchot and Mt. Hood National Forests in Washington and Oregon, including the role of Heritage and Tribal Programs Manager. Rick and his wife, Cheryl, also an archaeologist, are the authors of For the Greatest Good: Early History of Gifford Pinchot National Forest. 

Enjoy 15% off your hotel stay on History Pub nights! Show your ticket at check-in.

These events are open to everyone interested in Pacific Northwest history, and beyond! Often co-sponsored by local or state historical and civic organizations, we bring you experts, scholars, first-person experiencers, historians and documentaries expounding on topics from indigenous history to the birth of Portland, early explorers to hop growing, and on and on! It's like being back in the classroom - except this time you get to settle into comfortable seats and enjoy a drink or two with dinner while you listen and learn.

This event is eligible for a History Pub Stamp