Article • Ten Years at Vancouver Barracks

Finishing Touches and the Future of Vancouver Barracks

A black lightpost, tall and with two hooks each holding a light, is shown in an empty parking lot. In the background is a wooden bastion, an octagonal watchtower in the corner of a wooden palisade. — Electrical lines were moved underground in much of Vancouver Barracks, so old electrical poles and lines could be removed to improve the viewshed. Historic looking “shepherd hook” style lights were installed throughout the post, with adjustable LED bulbs for energy efficiency and preservation of the night sky.
NPS Photo

In the foreground is a wooden window, with all the paint stripped off, laying on a large table. In the background, a man in a National Park Service uniform checks measurements on another piece of wood. — An employee of the Historic Preservation Training Center refinished wooden windows from one of the historic barracks buildings.
NPS Photo

With much of the rehabilitation complete – utilities replaced, buildings upgraded, parking and walkways enhanced, and overhead electrical lighting removed – the team at Vancouver Barracks can continue to focus on the details that bring history to life.

One of those details is new site lighting in a style compatible with the landscape. Historic looking, but with modern features: the LED lights are programmable to be night-sky friendly, meaning they are the appropriate Kelvin rating, are directed downward towards the surface of lots and paths, and dim to 25% output overnight. This saves energy, reduces waste, and cuts down on light pollution in the surrounding natural area.

Fort Vancouver NHS is lucky to have some very specialized assistance in their efforts, too. In 2022, the National Park Service’s Historic Preservation Training Center (HPTC) opened a shop on site. This group of skilled wood-crafters and masons travels the country to conduct the highest quality preservation and deliver education to park staff. When time and funding allow, these craftspeople can assist with projects such as fabricating historic wood windows for Barracks buildings.

One exciting project still in the works is Building 405’s conversion to the Northwest Museum Center. The facility will provide secure, climate-controlled space for museum collections from multiple national parks in the region, as well as lab space visible to the public and a classroom for cultural resource trainings and educational programs.

“The rehabilitation is such a long project, and we still have a long way to go,” said Facility Manager Alex Patterson of the decade-plus effort to turn Vancouver Barracks into a public space. “But now we can focus on reuse, and we're excited for the future.”

Part of a series of articles titled Ten Years at Vancouver Barracks.

Previous: The Great American Outdoors Act Revitalizes Barracks Building