Fort Vancouver

Learn the history behind fur trading at this reconstructed historic fort.

Located in Southwestern Washington, Fort Vancouver was first established in the 1820s. Fort Vancouver was the headquarters and supply depot for the fur trade. This was known as the Columbia Department and covered the following states: Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Northern California, and Southern Alaska. Back in its heyday, about 30 people lived inside the fort, and it was a regular stop for people traveling the Oregon trail during the gold rush years. The original site of the fort was built on a nearby bluff and was burned down in 1866. 

In the 1970s, Fort Vancouver was reconstructed and provides visitors with an inkling of what the fort must have looked like in 1845. It is open year-round, but summer and winter hours do vary. There is a visitor center, a good place to start if you are unfamiliar with Fort Vancouver. You will be able to see several sites like a British trade fort and other historical places so plan on spending at least 2 hours here during your visit. Most of the time, the weather here is pretty temperate, but emergency closures may occur if there is severe weather.