THE HISTORY OF COWLITZ COUNTY IS A FASCINATING ONE. Though it is one of the smallest counties in Washington state, its past has been richly textured by the six rivers that flow through it: the Columbia, the Kalama, the Lewis, the Coweeman, the Toutle, and the Cowlitz.

Rivers throughout history have given rise to civilizations, so it is not surprising that Cowlitz County's rivers have lured settlers and industries. But each of these rivers had its own appeal, its own convenience or difficulty of settlement, its own methods of logging or fishing, its own vessels and bridges, and even its own scenery; each thus offered its own unique possibilities to the people who came here.

Virginia Urrutia has taken these six strands and deftly woven them together with narratives of families, communities, governments, agriculture, industries, and events, creating a colorful and entertaining tapestry that will reward the attention of any reader, from the most casual tourist to the most knowledgeable citizen of the region.

VIRGINIA URRUTIA, born in Cowlitz County in 1913, has heard stories of its history all of her life. She graduated from Whitman College in Walla Walla, Washington, and received her M.A. degree in education from Stanford University. She taught elementary school in Longview for many years; following her retirement she was editor of the Cowlitz Historical Quarterly for ten years.

A longtime cyclist, she has bicycled on all the continents except Antarctica, and over most of the world's great mountain ranges, including the Andes, the Swiss Alps, and the Rockies, as well as through the foothills of the Himalayas. She is the author of Two Wheels and a Taxi, chronicling her bicycle trip through Ecuador. She presently resides in Kelso.

Long time historical society member and former editor of the Cowlitz Historical Quarterly, Virginia Urrutia has written a book on the history of Cowlitz County titled, They Came to Six Rivers: The story of Cowlitz County. "We are very excited to see this book become a reality," said museum director Dave Freece. "It is just the kind of book we would expect to see from Virginia - fastidiously researched and carefully written. It is accurate and comprehensive, but not a dry-as-dust history text. With her enthusiasm and passion for Cowlitz County history, she has produced a book that will be read with enjoyment and illumination for years to come."

Profusely illustrated with 100 carefully selected photographs, the book will be available in both Softcover and Hardcover editions. The prices are $34.00 for Hardcover and $24.00 for Softcover.