Fort Preservation

For an urban bike expedition in D.C., visit the Mount Vernon Trail! Plan ahead for many stops along the way to fully immerse yourself in the nation’s rich history!

Learn About How the Traditional Trades Apprenticeship Program (TTAP) Provides Young Adults with Valuable Experience Working on Masonry Project.

Field research often requires field laboratories. Not surprisingly, those labs are in some of the most interesting ecosystems on the planet. With clear water, diverse habitats, and abundant life, the Dry Tortugas – 70 miles beyond Key West, Florida – hosted America’s first tropical marine laboratory from 1904-1939. The legacy of science continues today as Dry Tortugas National Park and its partners work to understand and protect this special place.

In July 2022, a team of National Park Service (NPS) and university archaeologists and students successfully located evidence of the Hudson's Bay Company's schoolhouses at Fort Vancouver. This excavation was a part of the Public Archaeology Field School, a long-running partnership program between the NPS, Portland State University, and Washington State University Vancouver.

The Fort Vancouver National Historic Site museum collection contains over 120,000 glass beads! Discover the history behind these colorful archaeological artifacts, and the manufacturing methods used by 19th century bead makers.

Archaeologists working at Fort Vancouver often find fragments of beautifully decorated ceramics made by the Spode Company. Learn more about these decorative and functional items!

How did ceramics manufacturers make the beautifully decorated Spode dishes frequently found at Hudson's Bay Company sites, including Fort Vancouver? See step-by-step images from the process, and learn about the artistry behind the fort's dinner plates and teacups!

The Fort Vancouver cultural landscape is a component landscape within Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. Located along the Columbia River, the landscape is associated with the Hudson's Bay Company's occupation and activities in the area. The fort landscape is a reconstruction based largely on archeological resources, suggestive of the historic era between 1824 and 1860.

Preservation efforts at Fort Bowie National Historic Site have been an ongoing and evolving process since the park’s establishment. After years of experimenting with different techniques, the park found a suitable practice for preservation of its old adobe ruins. The NPS has partnered with a non-profit organization to complete stabilization efforts and to educate youth and adults in historic preservation techniques.

Archaeological analysis of ceramic artifacts at Fort Vancouver has revealed fascinating insights about the residents of the Hudson's Bay Company fort.