CogKnoSys

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Physical

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is a U.S. historic site with two units: the old Fort Vancouver in Washington and John McLoughlin's home in Oregon City, Oregon.

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The idea

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is a protected historic site that is split between two states, Washington and Oregon. Its main unit is in Vancouver, Washington, just north of Portland, Oregon. The second unit is the former home of John McLoughlin in Oregon City, Oregon. The National Park Service and the United States Forest Service share its visitor center, which was renovated in 2015.

Fort Vancouver was an important fur trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company. At a trading post, trappers and Native American hunters exchanged animal furs for tools, cloth and other goods, and the furs were then shipped to distant markets. The fort was the headquarters of the company's fur trade on the Pacific coast. Its influence stretched from the Rocky Mountains to Alaska and to the Kingdom of Hawaii.

All of the fort structures that visitors see today are modern replicas. They were carefully placed on the original locations, so the layout matches the real fort. Archaeologists dig carefully at old sites like this one, and the objects they uncover help explain how people actually lived and worked there. The visitor center features rotating archaeological exhibits from the site. The site also includes the Pearson Air Museum, which showcases aviation history in the Vancouver area.

Check yourself

Question 1 of 3

Which company ran Fort Vancouver as a fur trading post?

Pick one. The first pick counts.

Composition

what it's made of

  • Fort Vancouver unit — The rebuilt fur trading post in Vancouver, Washington.
  • McLoughlin House unit — The homes of John McLoughlin and Forbes Barclay in Oregon City, Oregon.
  • Visitor center — A building shared with the Forest Service, with rotating archaeology exhibits.
  • Pearson Air Museum — A museum in a historic hangar about the area's flying history.
  • Vancouver Barracks — Army buildings built beside the old trading post.

Connection

how it relates

Under Lower Columbia Parks and Natural Areas

In place

  1. Vancouver, Washingtonstrength 90 of 100

    The main unit of the site is in Vancouver, Washington.

  2. Willamette Riverstrength 60 of 100

    The McLoughlin House unit stands on a bluff overlooking the Willamette River in Oregon City.

  3. Columbia Riverstrength 50 of 100

    A land bridge connects the site with the Columbia River.

Related

  1. Pearson Fieldstrength 70 of 100

    The site's Pearson Air Museum showcases the history of Pearson Field.

  2. Gifford Pinchot National Foreststrength 50 of 100

    The site's visitor center is also an information center for Gifford Pinchot National Forest.

Change

how and why it evolves

Past
The Hudson's Bay Company built Fort Vancouver in the winter of 1824–1825, and a fire destroyed the company's fort in 1866. The fort unit was combined with the McLoughlin House into one site in 2003. In 2016 the Gifford Pinchot National Forest moved its headquarters into one of the renovated barracks.
Now
Since taking over parts of the Vancouver Barracks in 2012, the National Park Service has been restoring the old buildings.
Next
The barracks area is expected to gain offices, restaurants, shops and a museum space as the work continues.

Knowledge you can walk. Read the idea, then step up, across or down.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is a U.S. historic site with two units: the old Fort Vancouver in Washington and John McLoughlin's home in Oregon City, Oregon.

See it on the map

Learn, discuss, create, buy or invest

The idea

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is a protected historic site that is split between two states, Washington and Oregon. Its main unit is in Vancouver, Washington, just north of Portland, Oregon. The second unit is the former home of John McLoughlin in Oregon City, Oregon. The National Park Service and the United States Forest Service share its visitor center, which was renovated in 2015.

Fort Vancouver was an important fur trading post of the Hudson's Bay Company. At a trading post, trappers and Native American hunters exchanged animal furs for tools, cloth and other goods, and the furs were then shipped to distant markets. The fort was the headquarters of the company's fur trade on the Pacific coast. Its influence stretched from the Rocky Mountains to Alaska and to the Kingdom of Hawaii.

All of the fort structures that visitors see today are modern replicas. They were carefully placed on the original locations, so the layout matches the real fort. Archaeologists dig carefully at old sites like this one, and the objects they uncover help explain how people actually lived and worked there. The visitor center features rotating archaeological exhibits from the site. The site also includes the Pearson Air Museum, which showcases aviation history in the Vancouver area.

Check yourself

3 quick questions, instant feedback.