Fort Vancouver, Washington
In 1825 Hudson’s Bay Company established a huge fur trading network throughout the Pacific Northwest. Fort Vancouver was the administrative center and main supply depot. Today, the fort has been reconstructed to about the 1840 era.
The entire park includes:
1. Officers Row – including 22 fully restored homes built for the army officers who served at Vancouver Barracks. Today these homes are used as offices and residences. The home shown here is now a real estate office.
2, Land Bridge – connecting the park to the Vancouver Renaissance Trail. The bridge features native plants an artwork highlighting the Native American’s connection to the land and water.
3. Pearson Air Museum – find a variety of aircraft showing off the lives of barnstorners, experimental aricraft and aces of World War one and two. There is an exhibit of Russian memorabilia from the first trans-polar flight, a movie theater and a replica of a 1913 Voisin Type-3 French Bomber.
4.Pearson Field – one of the oldest operating airfields in the U.S. serving as a landing field for many firsts. Today Pearson operates as a general aviation airport that offers scenic flights and airplane rentals.
5.Vancouver Barracks. – established in 1949 by the U.S. Army who wanted to check on the settlement of the Oregon Territory. This was an active military base for 150 years, closing in 2000. Some of the barracks house Army Reserves and National Guard. Others are in various stages of restoration.
6. The Village represents the home to workers and families who supported the operations of Fort Vancouver. You could find trappers, blacksmiths, carpenters and other laborers. At it’s peak, the village housed over 600 people including Hawaiians, French-Canadians, English, Scottish and more than 30 Indian tribes. A few of the buildings have been restored today.
The Village was where I spent most of my visit. We visited the blacksmith shop where retirees get to demonstrate the trade. The bakehouse where 2-300 biscuits were prepared every day. The chief’ Factor’s house is impressive with it’s beautiful porch and fine antiques inside. Out front is this set of cannons. We also saw a jail, carpenter shop and bastion (built to protect the fort). The funny looking catapult thing is how they drew water from their well.
When you first enter the fort, it seems like there is a lot of empty space until you read that 600 people were all crammed inside these walls. Many school groups pass through these gates every year. The blacksmith’s put on a good show as well as other volunteers who appear in period costume.
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