Fort Vancouver was the administrative headquarters and main supply depot
for the Hudson's Bay Company's fur trading operations in the immense Columbia
Department. Under the leadership of John McLoughlin, the fort became the
center of political, cultural, and commercial activities in the Pacific
Northwest. When American immigrants arrived in the Oregon Country during
the 1830s and 1840s, Fort Vancouver provided them with essential supplies
to begin their new settlements.
In 1996, the 366-acre Vancouver National Historic Reserve was established
to protect adjacent, historically significant historical areas. It includes
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, as well as Vancouver Barracks,
Officers' Row, Pearson Field, The Water Resources Education Center, and
portions of the Columbia River waterfront.
Communities
Surrounding Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
Note: The times listed below are approximate driving times to the park.
Fort Vancouver was the administrative headquarters and main supply depot
for the Hudson's Bay Company's fur trading operations in the immense Columbia
Department. Under the leadership of John McLoughlin, the fort became the
center of political, cultural, and commercial activities in the Pacific
Northwest. When American immigrants arrived in the Oregon Country during
the 1830s and 1840s, Fort Vancouver provided them with essential supplies
to begin their new settlements.