Sites representing more than 160 years of American military history will be highlighted when a heritage group holds its national conference in Vancouver.
The Council on America’s Military Past, or CAMP, conference includes several activities and tours in Vancouver Barracks and Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
The group usually schedules its annual gatherings in locations that reflect one chapter of history, said Bridget Hart, conference coordinator. One recent conference had a Civil War focus, she said.
The selling point for Vancouver — and the group’s other tour stops in Washington and Oregon — was the overlay of historical eras.
“Vancouver Barracks was the Pacific Northwest’s most important military installation for decades,” said Vancouver author Jeff Davis, the planning committee’s local coordinator.
Compared to Revolutionary War sites, “There aren’t as many old places in the Pacific Northwest,” Hart said. “We liked that it represents a range from the Civil War through the Cold War.”
“The Vancouver Barracks military history stretches from the 1840s, beginning with the work of guarding the Oregon Trail, to the Global War on Terrorism,” said Davis, president of the Vancouver Barracks Military Association.
Davis also will be the keynote speaker at Saturday’s banquet, discussing military leaders who came through Fort Vancouver and Vancouver Barracks.
“In the mid-1800s, many junior officers became generals in the Civil War” after serving in Vancouver.
The Fort Vancouver National Trust is the host sponsor of the conference.
A lecture Wednesday at the Marshall House, 1301 Officers Row, will be part of the conference schedule. Jack Giesen will discuss how the Vancouver Barracks Military Association is building a replica World War I Army ambulance. The 6:30 p.m. lecture is free and open to the public.
The ambulance will be part of a military vehicle display from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Thursday at the Artillery Barracks, 600 Hathaway Road.
The CAMP conference has scheduled several history presentations from 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. in the Artillery Barracks. Topics with local significance include the World War II Kaiser shipyards, African-American Buffalo Soldiers and the restoration of PT Boat 658.
There will be tours of several spots in and around Vancouver Barracks and Fort Vancouver National Historic Site on Thursday afternoon.
People who aren’t CAMP members can pay a $20 admission to hear the Thursday morning presentations and participate in the afternoon tour; register at CAMPconference@hotmail.com. The complete schedule is at campjamp.org.
