Fort Vancouver National Historic Site [WA]
The Fort Vancouver National Historic Site commemorates the history of For Vancouver, the main supply depot of the British Hudson Bay Company's "Columbia Department" between 1824 and 1860. As such, the fort was central to a 700,000 mile fur trading network, which reached from Alaska to California and from the Rocky Mountains to Hawaii. The fort has also been used as the early end of the Oregon Trail and a U.S. Army Post. The community living in Fort Vancouver consisted of 35 distinct ethnicities. The site also operates the home of John McLoughlin, Chief Factor of Fort Vancouver between 18251845.
The site offers introductory talks at Fort Vancouver; audio tours, including a tour designed for children; self-guided tours; guided house tours; period rooms; an overnight living history program; hands-on exhibits; a children's hands-on archaeological program; Victorian handcraft, artillery, blacksmithing, carpentry, cooking, baking, and gardening demonstrations; Junior Ranger activities; and lantern tours. Reservations are required at both sites for school groups.