John Patrick Pullen

A wooden lookout tower at Fort Vancouver A wooden lookout tower at Fort Vancouver
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The bastion at Fort Vancouver

Fort Vancouver

This historic site includes a 19th-century fur-trading post, a military museum and the restored houses of Officer's Row.

1 min read

John Patrick Pullen

Know Before You Go

Visitor details and admission prices are subject to change; please check the Fort Vancouver website for current information.

Once home to both fur traders and fighter pilots, Fort Vancouver offers an authentic look at life in the Pacific Northwest through the past 200 years. Located just across the Columbia River from Portland in Vancouver, Wash., the region’s only national historic site is centered around a complete replica of Fort Vancouver, the fur-trading camp founded by the Hudson’s Bay Company in 1825.

The fort served as the company’s headquarters west of the Rockies and housed the Northwest’s first hospital, school, sawmill, shipyard and more. Today, visitors can see authentic demonstrations of period blacksmithing, carpentry, gardening, cooking and baking.

Visiting Fort Vancouver

What are the operating hours?

The park’s various attractions have different operating hours. Check the website for the most up-to-date information.

The Fort Vancouver Gardens, the park’s trails and grounds are all open from dawn to dusk.

The Visitor Center and Reconstructed Fort Vancouver are open from Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Pearson Air Museum is open Tuesday to Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

How much will a visit cost?

Most of the attractions at Fort Vancouver are free to visit.

The Reconstructed Fort site costs $10 per person, and the receipt is valid for seven days.

Visitors ages 15 years and under are free. All Interagency Passes honored.

Details are subject to change; please check the Fort Vancouver’s website for current information

What is there to do at Fort Vancouver?

The Reconstructed Fort site is the park’s most popular attraction, but there are lots of things to see and do at Fort Vancouver. Stop by the Visitor Center for a chat with a park ranger, and check out the Pearson Air Museum to learn more about the site’s military history. There are more attractions listed on the Fort Vancouver website.

Can I bring my pet to Fort Vancouver?

Fort Vancouver is a great place to bring your dog, with nearby walking trails along the Columbia River and in downtown Vancouver. Pets must be kept on a leash at all times. Guests are asked to help keep Fort Vancouver clean by collecting and disposing of all pet waste before they leave the park.

Begin your visit to the 366-acre (148 ha) campus with a stop at the visitor center, where National Park Service staff launch group tours and offer tips on exploring the site on your own. The center’s short introductory film, “One Place Across Time,” also provides great context for enjoying the area’s rich history.

Round out your trip with a stroll along Officer’s Row, a stretch of 21 fully restored 19th-century homes.

The site includes the Pearson Air Museum, dedicated to the location’s military history, from the establishment of the Vancouver Barracks in 1849 to the shipyards of WWII. Round out your trip with a stroll along Officer’s Row, a stretch of 21 fully restored 19th-century homes or a stroll through Dr. John McLoughlin’s 8-acre (3 ha) garden that fed the fur traders and residents of the Fort.

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