Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Step Back in Time at Fort Vancouver!   Join us on Saturday, February 28 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. for a hands-on Candle Making Living History Program at the reconstructed Hudson’s Bay Company Fort!   Learn how people at Fort Vancouver lit their homes and workplaces in the 1800s while you participate in making traditional candles using historic techniques. Interpreters will share stories about the daily lives of the kitchen staff and labors. This interactive experience is great for families and those interested in the fur trade era.   When: February 28 Time: 10:00 a.m.–2:00 p.m. Fee: Standard park entrance applies (America the Beautiful Passes accepted)

Saturday, March 14, 2026, join Fort Vancouver National Historic Site and Friends of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center as we commemorate K-9 Veterans Day with a special program honoring the service of military working dogs and the many roles dogs have played in our shared history.

From 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM, visitors can enjoy ongoing demonstrations, learn how their pets can become Fort Vancouver BARK Rangers, and discover the fascinating life of a Skamania County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue K-9. We are also pleased to welcome Sassafras Patterdale, CPDT-KA, author and professional dog trainer, who will share positive, on-leash training techniques throughout the event.

At 2:00 PM, the Friends of Fort Vancouver will present a special talk highlighting some of the canine heroes connected to Fort Vancouver and the Vancouver Barracks.

This is a free, family-friendly program. Dogs are welcome on leash in outdoor areas of the park; only service animals are permitted inside the Visitor Center. Learn more about this event by visiting the Friends of the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

Discover the remarkable story of Vancouver poet Mary Barnard during a special Speaker Series presentation with local literary historian Betty Bell, presented in partnership with the Clark County Historical Museum. This program will take place Thursday, April 2, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center.

Mary Barnard developed a distinctive voice in 20th-century modernist poetry. From her early years exploring the forests and beaches of the Pacific Northwest to her studies at Reed College and later involvement in New York City’s literary circles, Barnard built lasting connections with prominent literary figures, including Ezra Pound. During this program, Betty Bell—Barnard’s personal friend and literary executor—will guide visitors through Barnard’s life, her literary influences, and her lasting contributions to American poetry, including her celebrated translation of Sappho, which remains widely admired today.

Attendees will also enjoy readings from Barnard’s work, highlighting the vivid imagery and precise language that made her a treasured figure in American poetry. Through Bell’s engaging storytelling, visitors will gain insight into the personal and professional journey of a writer whose quiet brilliance left a lasting legacy in Vancouver and beyond.

This installment of the Clark County Historical Museum Speaker Series will be presented at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center with generous media sponsorship from The Columbian.

Reserve your seat now by visiting Clark County Historical Museum. 

Friends of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site host a one-hour presentation by author Aaron Jones based on his book The Great Task of Oliver Otis Howard. This program will explore the life and legacy of Major General Oliver Otis Howard, a prominent and often debated figure in 19th-century United States history, including his service during the Civil War, his leadership of the Freedmen’s Bureau during Reconstruction, and his later role in the U.S. Army in the Pacific Northwest and connection to Vancouver Barracks.

The program will take place on April 11, 2026, from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center Theater.  Learn more about this portion of Vancouver Barracks history and deepen your understanding of the people that shaped the Pacific Northwest.  

Reserve your seat for this fascinating talk about the life of a prominent Vancouver Barracks Army officer.  

Step back into the 1840s and discover how children and adults creatively used natural materials from gardens and farm fields to make toys. Join Fort Vancouver volunteer Patience for a hands-on workshop where you’ll learn to craft your own traditional corn husk doll—and take it home with you!

This step-by-step guided class will teach you how to tie, fold, and shape natural corn husks into a simple doll form. Then, let your creativity shine as you add personal touches like shawls, aprons, and other accessories.

Class will be held in the visitor center annex adjacent to Fort Vancouver's visitor center. 

All materials are provided, along with a take-home instruction sheet so you can continue crafting on your own.

Ages 10 and up.

The annual Chief Redheart Memorial Ceremony at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site honors Chief Redheart’s band of Nimíipuu (Nez Perce), who were held at Vancouver Barracks for eight months in 1877–1878 following the Nez Perce War. 

Each year, members of the Nez Perce Tribe travel to important historical sites to conduct memorials and honor their ancestors. This ceremony brings together tribal members, descendants, and community partners in remembrance and reflection. 

The Clark County Historical Society presents Humanities Washington speaker Lawrence B. A. Hatter for the May installment of its Speaker Series.

Could the American Revolution have been both a fight for human liberty—and a pursuit of empire and dominance?

In this thought-provoking program, historian Lawrence Hatter explores the complex duality at the heart of the Revolutionary era. Audiences will examine how a generation that advanced ideals of liberty and universal rights also engaged in expansion and conquest. The program highlights key moments such as the Battle of Fallen Timbers, where a U.S. victory over a Native confederacy facilitated further incursions into Indigenous lands.

As the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence approaches, this program encourages reflection on how we recognize the Founders’ achievements while also confronting the broader impacts of their actions.

Presented by the Clark County Historical Society in partnership with the National Park Service.

On May 9th, join local author Patty Grasher for a 30-minute presentation celebrating the launch of Explore Vancouver Washington: A Local Guide to Southwest Washington, followed by a Q&A session.

Talk will highlight the Fort as a powerful starting point for understanding Vancouver’s layered history from Indigenous communities and the Hudson’s Bay Company to the U.S. Army presence. These stories connect to what visitors experience today.

Drawing from her guidebook, Patty will share insights into what visitors often overlook and how to explore the Fort and surrounding historic reserve in a more meaningful and connected way.

The presentation will also recognize the work of photographer Jonathan E. Kraft, whose images throughout the guidebook help bring Vancouver’s history, landscapes, and community to life.

Copies of the guidebook will be available for purchase in the Friends of Fort Vancouver bookstore.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site presents a special program about Mount St. Helens After the Eruption, on Saturday, May 16 at 1:00 p.m. at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center Theater. This presentation will be given by Fort Vancouver volunteer Alex Lennox and will explore what happened after the transformative 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

While the eruption itself dramatically changed the region in a single day, the story of what followed is equally compelling. This program examines how the blast reshaped forests, rivers, and wildlife habitat across the surrounding landscape and how nearby communities experienced and responded to the event in the days, months, and years that followed.

Through an engaging discussion, visitors will explore the long-term environmental and human impacts of the eruption and learn how scientists, land managers, and local communities have observed the remarkable recovery and renewal of the landscape over the decades since the eruption. The program highlights themes of change, resilience, and adaptation, offering a deeper understanding of how people and nature respond to dramatic environmental events.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site presents a special program about Mount St. Helens After the Eruption, on Saturday, May 16 at 1:00 p.m. at the Fort Vancouver Visitor Center Theater. This presentation will be given by Fort Vancouver volunteer Alex Lennox and will explore what happened after the transformative 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens.

While the eruption itself dramatically changed the region in a single day, the story of what followed is equally compelling. This program examines how the blast reshaped forests, rivers, and wildlife habitat across the surrounding landscape and how nearby communities experienced and responded to the event in the days, months, and years that followed.

Through an engaging discussion, visitors will explore the long-term environmental and human impacts of the eruption and learn how scientists, land managers, and local communities have observed the remarkable recovery and renewal of the landscape over the decades since the eruption. The program highlights themes of change, resilience, and adaptation, offering a deeper understanding of how people and nature respond to dramatic environmental events.