Learn About the Park

Discover the Story of the Pacific Northwest

Chinuk Wawa: ukuk iliʔi miɬayt mayʔmi kʰapa skichutxwa pi hilu-san-iwa kʰapa hayash-imaɬ. yawa ayaq mayka nanich sax̣ali-lamitay pi hayu tʰawn. anqati, tilixam ɬaska huyhuy yaqsu-skin, pi sulchast ɬaska munk hayash-saliks yakwa, pi win-ship qʰawaq yakwa, pi kʰanumakwst ɬaska munk tunus yaʔim pus nsayka iliʔi. kʰapa lakit tunus iliʔi ayaq mayka chaku-kәmtәks kʰanawi ukuk. nsayka yaʔim qʰata anqati ɬaska chaku x̣luyma, munk ɬaska hom, munk hayash-saliks, pi munk ɬaska tilixam.

English: Located on the north bank of the Columbia River, in sight of snowy mountain peaks and a vibrant urban landscape, this park has a rich cultural past. From a frontier fur trading post, to a powerful military legacy, the magic of flight, and the origin of the American Pacific Northwest, history is shared at four unique sites. Discover stories of transition, settlement, conflict, and community.

 

 

From National Monument to National Historic Site

Fort Vancouver National Monument was established on June 19, 1948 "to preserve as a national monument the site of the original Hudson's Bay stockade (of Fort Vancouver) and sufficient surrounding land to preserve the historical features of the area" for "the benefit of the people of the United States." The Department of the Interior report on the legislation further stated that the lands so dedicated should fulfill "two essential requirements—the preservation of the historic stockade…and the preservation of the historic parade ground of the later United States Army Post."

To improve the conditions for achieving the legislative requirements of the park, Congress passed an act June 30, 1961 (75 Stat. 196), enlarging the boundaries of Fort Vancouver and redesignating the national monument as a national historic site.

In September 2011, the U.S. Army ceased its operations at East and South Vancouver Barracks, and on May 22, 2012, the U.S. Army relinquished ownership to the National Park Service, in accordance with the 1961 legislation that expanded the boundaries of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, and with the USDOD 2005 Base Closure and Realignment (BRAC) Commission recommendations.

Purpose of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

As interpreted though enabling legislation, the purpose of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is to preserve and interpret the following:

• The site of the nineteenth century Hudson's Bay Company's activities;
• Settlement of the Oregon Country (became Oregon Territory in 1848);
• The establishment of the U.S. Army's Vancouver Barracks.