Fort Vancouver Visitor Center — Attraction in Vancouver

Fort Vancouver NHS is a duo-park. Nearby is a visitor center (not within the fort). And the historic Pearson Field and Museum is a short drive away, also run by the NPS.

Built by the Hudson's Bay Company in 1825, Fort Vancouver (named after Captain George Vancouver) sat the the north bank of the Columbia River. Its first manager was Dr John McLoughlin, a position he held for 22 years (1824-1845). He retired nearby in Oregon, his house now a McLaughlin House National Historic Site.

The first Fort Vancouver was built northeast of its current location. The present location was established in 1829. The fort served as the center of HBC's western operations, controlling fur trade from Alaska to Mexico.

The current Fort Vancouver is a replica. The fort had completely burned in 1866. From 1947-1952, the NPS began excavations of the present site. Reconstruction began in the 1960's. The present fort was based on historic written descriptions and excavation-based archeology.

If you are interested in the history of the Hudson's Bay Company and its impacts on the PNW, a visit here is worthwhile. If you're lucky, you'll catch the blacksmiths working their forges or woodworkers in their shop. There's lots to learn...

I live close by to this site, and it really is just beautiful! It's great for many reasons, and I usually incorporate it into my daily walk just for the beauty of the park.

There is a trail that will take you downtown, or even to the waterfront, and it's always well-kept. There is a place for great Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner along officer's row. There are many learning opportunities in the visitor center, or just by walking the same land as the settlers from long ago and seeing the incredible reconstructed fort, or the many tours and events hosted here by the park service. If you want to picnic, this is your area. If you want to sit under a big, beautiful tree and read, this is your area. Vancouver has an incredible treasure in this park!

The only issue would be the amount of people playing Pokemon Go along the walking paths and just standing in the way, but at least they have a beautiful park to do it in - and if that's your jam, then this park is also your area to be.

Just be sure to pick up after yourself so we can keep this place just...

September 2025 - This is a fort used by the Hudson Bay company for dealing with natives and others that brought animal pelts to it for processing and bailing, then shipping on the Columbia River to other locations.

The 'fort' is part of the National Park Service (NPS) and you can use your NPS pass for entry. The visitor center has very helpful employees and should be the first place you stop.

The fort itself is a goodly walk from the visitor center, and if you do not want to do the walk, there is parking at the fort itself. After parking there, you will find a path that leads through a garden area to the main entry where you purchase or show your entry tickets.

Once in, you can walk to several buildings and peek in, some are open, some not. The far wall area has the fur bailing area and someone may be there to show you how it was done.

Plan on about 2 hours to see each area, and then go to the air museum on the left side of the field,...