McLoughlin House

Dr. John McLoughlin was a trained physician who served as the chief factor of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s Fort Vancouver from 1825 to 1845. There, he was responsible for overseeing a vast fur trading operation that stretched from Northern California to Alaska. McLoughlin also provided assistance to exhausted, starving American emigrants arriving at Vancouver after crossing the long and difficult Oregon Trail. After his retirement in 1846, he settled into this home by the Willamette Falls in Oregon City.

In Oregon, McLoughlin built a new career for himself and a new life for his family. He became an American citizen in 1851, and served as the mayor of Oregon City. He and his wife Marguerite were known for their hospitality and generous support of those in the community. McLoughlin loaned money to emigrants to help them establish commercial ventures and he owned sawmills, a gristmill, a granary, a general store, and a shipping concern. He also donated land for schools and churches.

McLoughlin's home, saved from demolition by the McLoughlin Memorial Association and moved to its present location in 1909, was added to the National Park System in 2003 as a unit of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The unit includes both the McLoughlin House and the neighboring Barclay House. Park staff and volunteers, including many from the McLoughlin Memorial Association, provide a number of different activities including tours, talks, special events, and Victorian Handcraft Demonstrations.

Visiting the McLoughlin House

The McLoughlin House is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 4 PM. Tours are free, and depart from the Barclay house located nextdoor, at the top of every hour. Tours that wish to begin outside of this schedule will be considered when staffing allows. Tour reservations are not required. Occupancy of the McLoughlin house upstairs landing is limited to 12 individuals. For questions, please call [phone] during McLoughlin House open hours. If you are in need of immediate assistance, please call Fort Vancouver at [phone] during regular business hours. Learn more about tours and programs on our Plan Your Visit site.

Please note: Once approved, the McLoughlin House will close to the public as it undergoes a major rehabilitation. The closure will be announced on our website once it takes place. Learn more about this project here.