World United States Washington Vancouver

Mike and Roxanne travel east

Fort Vancouver Nov 7, 2007

Nov 7 54269 8:10

We will head back into Oregon and down the Columbia Gorge. The weather is beautiful. Around one corner Mt. Hood raises above the horizon with it's white snow crusted top.

1:10 We get to Carl's house and find the trees are a little low. After taking the car off and maneuvering around a little we get set up. We all decide to run into Fort Vancouver together.

Fort Vancouver

As the 18th century dawned, Britain and the United States were both fighting for control of the new "Oregon" territory. In 1818 the two nations agreed to share control and the Hudson's Bay Company set up Fort Vancouver to help the settlers in the area.

Dr. John McLoughlin served as Chief Factor during most of the years of the Fort's existence. McLoughlin was an energetic man and a genus at organization. As Chief Factor he was responsible for the Fort, what was grown, division of labor, prices for goods bought and sold and all other aspects of Fort life.

In 1846 the Oregon Territory was divided along the 49th parallel and this left Fort Vancouver on the American side. Trade in furs began to diminish and the company moved out in 1860, in 1866 a fire destroyed the Fort.

In 1966 the National Park System began reconstructing buildings at the Fort. Fifteen building have currently been reconstructed, the blacksmith shop, the bake house, Indian trade shop and dispensary, wash house, chief actors residence, kitchen, fur warehouse, counting house, jail, carpenter shop, the palisade, bastion, and a replica of an early garden.

These buildings give a glimpse into the life of the early settlers and fur traders.

The rest of the evening is spent with the kids and grandkids. It gives us a chance to catch up on family.