Featured Exhibit

The Hoh River valley is home to one of Earth’s last intact temperate rainforests — the Hoh Rain Forest in Olympic National Park — where annual rainfall can exceed 200 inches. In Fast Moving Water: The Hoh River Story, acclaimed Washington State nature photographer Keith Lazelle uses his artistic eye to capture the dramatic beauty of the Hoh River, one of only a few virtually intact and pristine rivers in the contiguous United States.

High from its source in the Olympic mountain range, the Hoh River flows naturally, as it has for thousands of years, over 50 miles into its estuary at the Pacific Ocean. The Hoh River valley supports an inspiring array of wildlife such as bald eagle, northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet, Roosevelt elk, bull trout, and salmon.

Accompanying the lush visuals and informative text are nature sounds by Emmy-award winning sound recordist Gordon Hempton that will immerse visitors in a unique audio experience of one of America’s last great rivers.

Organized by the Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture, Seattle, and the Hoh River Trust, Fast Moving Water: The Hoh River Story presents 14 framed color photographs of the Hoh River ecosystem. Follow the story of the Hoh River, from its rich history and cultural significance, to the remarkable tale of cooperation among environmentalists, local communities, tribes, and government to protect and preserve the river.

After the exhibition at the History Museum, Fast Moving Water: The Hoh River Story will be on display Jan 1 through Feb 28, 2010 at the Museum of Arts and Crafts in Sequim.