History is on an enormous growth curve in Vancouver. That means significant national prominence for the city and the region.
It centers on the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The site now hosts more than 1 million visitors annually. Within the next three to five years that tally could rise to 3-5 million visitors.
That prediction comes from Tracy Fortmann, superintendent of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. “I see this (Vancouver) as the colonial capital of the Pacific Northwest,” she said recently.
Visitors to the site during Fourth of July activities this week will have a chance to look over the historic displays for themselves.
This month marks a new chapter of history at the fort. It also represents the cultural diversity of Vancouver in the past.
Fort Vancouver was the most culturally diverse community on the West Coast in the 1840s. Two houses of a restored village for employees of the Hudson’s Bay Company were opened to the public in a ceremony June 19. A third structure is expected next year after archaeological work is finished.
The village was the most densely populated, multi-cultural settlement in the Pacific Northwest from 1829 to 1845, according to The Fort Vancouver Times, a publication of the Fort Vancouver National Trust. Employees from the Village helped process furs for shipment to London. The workers were known as “engagés.”
Tools and carpentry techniques of the 1830s were used in building the first two village houses.
Activities during the opening ceremony for the houses included cultural learning programs for young “engagés,” local youngsters.
The village could be claimed as the Northwest’s first neighborhood.
Wide array of activities
Another program of the village is “trade talk,” with students learning to barter in the Chinook language. This was a common language in the original village.
There is time for the fun at the site, too. Baseball as it was played in the 1860s will be reenacted July 17 and August 21 at the Fort.
At the Grant House — the oldest building on Officers Row — there will be wine tastings on Tuesdays, whiskey tastings on Wednesdays and tea time on Fridays during the summer.
A look at the summer schedule for the fort site shows scores of events. Many are learning events, and some are entertaining. There are field trips in archaeology and summer aviation camp, to name two.
The big day — next Sunday — is the return of fireworks to the fort site after a year’s absence. “Independence Day at Fort Vancouver” activities will include live musical acts and games and historical displays for children. A “history tent” is planned. Modest ticket charges will help offset the $365,000 estimated cost of the fireworks display.
The best view of the fireworks show will be from the Fort Vancouver site.
This is Fort Vancouver — a place of growing opportunity for the city. Despite its many attractions, there are some who do not comprehend the value of the Fort.
“Often people who live closest to a site such as Fort Vancouver don’t recognize the asset we have,” said Elson Strahan, president of the Fort Vancouver National Trust. Strahan points out the Trust’s programs of private-public partnerships is considered a model by the National Park Service.
“I recommend the Fort to everybody,” said U.S. Rep. Brian Baird, D-Vancouver. “I find many people are unaware of Northwest History,” he added.
As the Fort’s stature grows, so do the prestige, prominence and identity of Vancouver. Benefits are multiple and the future bright for this city of history on the lower Columbia River.
Tom Koenninger is editor emeritus of The Columbian. His column of personal opinion appears on Wednesdays. Reach him at koenninger@comcast.net.
