Fort Vancouver and the Columbia Gorge

Cory selected Fort Vancouver as a stop along our way and we are so glad that he did! The first sight as we approached the fort was a beautiful avenue lined with spectacular Victorian homes. We later found that these were identified as Officer's Row. Many appear to be occupied by local businesses and charity organizations but all are well-maintained. Originally built as officer's housing for the US Army in the mid- to late- 1800's, the city of Vancouver eventually gained possession of these homes. This Queen Anne style home is named for General George C. Marshall, author of the Marshall plan for the economic rebuilding of Europe and Japan following WWII. General Marshall lived in this house in the mid-1930's while serving as commander of the Dpt. of the Columbia. The oldest home is named the Ulysses S. Grant house. While he served in Vancouver during the 1850's, he was a junior officer and would not have lived in the grand house that now bears his name.

As we arrived at the fort, we were greeted by a very healthy and rather large garden. Cory said he would help me with one when we settle into a house. I want to be sure I get that in writing!

The fort itself is not very aesthetic, but then it's a fort! Built by Great Britain's Hudson Bay Company, this was not a military installation but a protected trading outpost. Creating a hub of commercial activity, the fort was key to establishing a community of Native Americans, fur traders of multiple nationalities and Great Britain. All of the buildings are reproductions as the original buildings burned down in the late 1800s.

Enthusiastic volunteers add to the National Park staff to provide interesting details of life in the fort. Our first stop was the fur warehouse where furs were purchased and stored for export to Europe.

We also visited the Indian Trade Shop and Dispensary where furs were traded for other goods. No currency was used - only furs or food items. Beaver furs were the most valued and used as the comparative standard. Fur trading was not exclusively with Indians as they were nor reliable for consistent supply. The English were bewildered by their lack of monetary motivation, but rather than to try to force the Indians to meet their demands for more furs - turned to non-Indian trappers. The popularity of beaver felt hats was the basis for the value and when European trends turned to silk, the fur trading industry was no longer deemed profitable. Coinciding with the transfer of the Fort to American soil in 1846, trade eventually diminished and the Hudson Bay company pulled out.

A volunteer demonstrated the blacksmith techniques and equipment of the era. We enjoyed imagining the independence and self-sufficiency that the fort dwellers and community exercised. Their life was difficult, but simple in many ways. Here, a multi-cultural and multi-national community thrived for a significant period of time.

The Chief Factor's residence was prominent within the fort palisade. Serving as the residence for the post's most senior officer, the building also served as an elegant mess hall for clerks and officers. Social events, such as parties and dances also were held in this large and attractive home. Although well fortified by two large cannons in front of the house, we did not feel threatened. Sparrows have taken a liking to the cannon barrel as a nesting ground and park personnel have blockaded visitors from interfering with their family.

The interior was furnished with appropriate antiques to demonstrate the lifestyle at the height of the fort's activity. You can see why we described the mess hall as elegant. Stemware, linen table cloths and patterned china are not what we imagine when the phrase 'mess hall' is used!Behind the primary residence were outbuildings for the kitchen, bakehouse and wash house.

We moved on to Portland for a quick lunch and a return to a very large book store in the downtown area. Called the City of Books, Powell's book store occupies an entire city block, four stories tall. We stocked up on mostly used titles for our home school needs and then ventured east toward Mt. Hood.

We left Interstate 84 to take the Historic Columbia River Highway. (You couldn't expect two former transportation civil engineers to miss this!) The very scenic and very narrow route is parallel to the main highway, but provides close views of several waterfalls, massive rock formations and forrest. One section of the highway was too narrow for our dually pickup to fit in the lane, forcing others to wait or squeeze by at a snail's pace. By this time, it was late afternoon and we were all getting tired, so we compromised our normal touring to driving only! The lodge and restaurant at Multnomah Falls was an amazing stone structure.

The parking lots for the falls were very crowded, so this is our first driving photo of waterfalls on our journey. Pretty good picture considering we were moving!

More waterfalls caught our eye as we continued along the roadway. This one is Horsetail Falls - we can see the resemblance!

On our return to the rv park, we stopped at several turnouts to view the river. The vast expanse between the banks and amazing blue depths are another aspect that is impossible for us to capture. We can't help but try!