David Douglas Exhibition at the Museum of Arts and Culture, Spokane, Washington

**Blupiper** · 3rd October 12, 10:30 PM

Last weekend, the Museum of Arts and Culture (MAC) here in Spokane opened a new exhibit about David Douglas, the Scottish naturalist (if you've heard of the Douglas Fir, he's that guy.) Douglas came to this area in the early 1800's, barely after the Lewis and Clark Voyage of Discovery. He explored, described plants and animals then unknown to European science and let his mark on local botany and biology. Some of his original specimens from the London Museum were on loan to the MAC for this show. The MAC, in honor of this Scottish explorer, wanted something Scottish at the opening. So we supplied the bagpiping and Highland dancing. We played in front of the Campbell House, a mansion owned by an early mining baron in the area. The Mansion is right next to the MAC:

Piping and dancing:

Here is the Carriage House (basically, the garage). It's bigger than my house:

Here we are, the motley pipe band. We are from different bands and organizations and no two kilts the same. Left to right, we have: Spirit of Scotland, Earl of St. Andrews, Graham of Menteith, Henderson, Cameron of Erracht, Scott Red and two dance tartans.

The bass drummer is from the local high school, who has a pipe band: Shadle Park High School. Dan, the instuctor and Pipe Major, is third from the left. We had a lot of fun and the crowd enjoyed the show.

JMB

**David Thorpe** · 4th October 12, 03:54 AM

Very nice. I really like the dancers' fetching green outfits. Very smart.

**M. A. C. Newsome** · 4th October 12, 04:26 AM

Thanks for the photos. We visited Te David Douglas trail at Scone Palace when we were in Scotland last May. We got to see the "original" Douglas Fir he brought over from the US.