Arrived in the evening and all the structures were closed. Nice evening to just walk around. Even though everything is a reconstruction it was still interesting.

The fort is probably what you would expect, but their garden in season is a phenomenal presentation of so many different heirloom plants. The rest of the old military installation is also nice to go with the family for picnics and walking. (Also fun fact for the military people, AAFES apparently got its start here with a little shop still doing business.)

Love this place so much, I have got several family photos done here and now I have been doing my own. If you are looking for a beautiful quite walk, this this is your place! A lot of history to learn on your way!Photo taken by: Korrin LeonInstagram: korrinleon

Beautiful and local. Great staff and interesting subject.

Very historical large park area with barrack houses for military. Well kept and nice grounds. Several military remembrance events throughout the year. Fourth of July is a wonderful re-enactment of world war 1 and 2. Historical displays and cannon demonstrations. This is a great area to explore and remember our veterans

We loved visiting the Victorian Home, took the tour which is free. The tour for Fort Vancouver, there is a small fee. You can tour the gardens for free and also the Pearson Air Museum. Didnt have time to tour the barracks and many other buildings. This is a wonderful place to stop. So beautiful and so full of history. Could have spent more than an afternoon, but unfortunately that was all the time we had. Would definitely like to return if we ever visit again.

Amazingly well taken care of historic area. Enjoy the vista upon the Columbia River and all the stillness of the whole area. It’s a perfect place for family, dogs, or just personal enjoyment. I like running and walking my dogs here. Plenty of receptacles and green grass.Have fun in this side of the river!

What an extraordinary place, and I visited during quiet times (Thursday Mid-day). As such, I had an extraordinary amount of one-on-one time with the cook and the blacksmith. I was astounded that these volunteers knew so much about their assigned roles and conditions of the Fort. I had a chance to speak with a fellow Master Gardener about the gardens of the Fort as well.

I was expecting a simple recreated fort, but the site has a lot more than that. Yes the fort is there and is staffed by volunteers in period costume! There also is an air museum, home tour museum on officers row and an abandoned US military post! You can easily spend 3-4 hours here.

Beautiful! Quite suitable for a walk and enjoy a moment of peace

Ive lived in this area my entire life. And have taken the tour a couple times when I was a child. My girlfriend and I recently did the candle lantern tour. It was a lot of fun and the reenactment of journal entries was great. We will do it again next year when the story changes again.

This is a great place to start your visit of this historically important site.The staff was wonderful. Great place Fort Vancouver National Historic Site | Visitor Center.

This is a must see place in Vancouver. Historical site with great history! They hold several events trough the year and i highly recommend attending at least a few of them. The prices are reasonable and you will have a lot of fun. My wife and I attended the lantern tour and it was fantastic. The local rangers and the volunteers did a play which took you back several hundreds years. They mad some hot cider at the end which was delicious!

A great preserve of history and they have speakers in hand to explain early life at Ft Vancouver

Very helpful and knowledgeable volunteers. Kids and I learned a lot and had a great time.

Amazing local history, all should go.

So fun to come here with the whole family! There is an 8 year span between my oldest and youngest and it really is fun for the whole family. (Except maybe a teenager... At least they wont act like it anyway. But deep down theyll like it, and theyll definitely remember it!) The staff is super friendly! The garden out front is beautiful. Same goes for the orchard near by. And perhaps one of our favorite parts is watching small planes take off and land at Pearson airfield on a lucky day! In fact, while youre in the area, check out the air museum too. My boys thought it was sooooo cool!

I love walking this area. There is so much history to read on & the sunsets are gorgeous.

The visitor center staff are absolutely wonderful. It is evident they enjoy their work. The employees were eager to talk about the fort, the state of Washington and nearby Mt. Saint Helens. The gift shop is chock full of Washington souvenirs. This is a great place to start your visit of this historically important site.

Excellent day spent here.

Decent place to visit if youre into history or the national parks... But be aware that this is a recreation of the original fort that sat on this site. They have some scenes recreated, they have some staff in period Costumes explaining how things work, they do a really great job of explaining how we know what we know about history through arciogical evidence... but this is a recreation Fort. You probably dont need much more than two to two and a half hours for a visit here. Worth of visit if you have time, skip it if youre only in town for 2 or 3 days.

A great place to take your family. Plenty of parking. My suggestion is to visit the Fort first. So much history and people their willing to tell you the story. I was surprised about the Hawiaan people who lived near the fort and how they got here. After the fort don’t miss out in the old airplanes. If you don’t do either of these you can walk along the path and their Is plenty to see and read about the history. Bring a picnic lunch and sit out in the beautiful well kept lawn. Have fun and don’t leave a mess

If you want to stroll through history, these is definitely the place to check out. There is a small fee to get in. Family friendly, and wheel chair accessible for the most part. Theres public bathrooms.

Had a wonderful time with my 7 year old grandson. Visited the Visitor center. Enjoyed seeing all the relics and enjoyed the visual program. Will be going back for more programs. Staff was very helpful and accommodating.

If you enjoy history you will love visiting this Hudson Bay Fort in Vancouver WA. The buildings are original so not wheelchair accessible. Approaching the fort you will pass a garden filled with flowers and vegetables. Fee is 8 dollars for adults unless you have a National Park Permit. The blacksmith is on duty on the weekendI was there and a storekeeper to explain all about the trade goods.

For one its part of US history, the men and women who are dressed in character and know all there is to know about the Hudson Bay Co make this place a great visit and history lesson.

Great history and very knowledgeable staff

This is a very good place to learn about history. My kids loved it and they received a badge after returning to the ranger answering his question. People are very knowledgeable about those times and this place is close to the Pearson air museum!

Love coming here with my family!

The Fort was having Christmas at the Fort so we could see people dressed in period costumes and assuming historical roles show us what life at the Fort was like in the 1840s and 1850s. So many families were enjoying the crafts, the old-fashioned games and learning about life back then. It was a real gift to the community. Free parking and reasonable admission prices. So interesting and fun!

We have gone 2 times so far for the 4th of july fireworks, its been great. Crowded but to be expected, the area is nice to sit out on the big field, the old buildings and historical history in the area is interesting to see and hear about

Awesome place to visit, a lot of history, very clear and great personel

Today we stopped after driving past this treasure for several years. I am so glad we did. Docents are well informed, engaging and welcoming. Im a question asker. They rolled with it; questions answered and conversations had. Make this a Northwest bucket list item. Highlights: kitchen, main house (how about those cannon?) And especially the blacksmith shop. Lots to learn for all ages.

This place is so awesome. Huge grassy fields for the kids to run around. There is a decent size play structure as well. The location is close to everything making picnicking a breeze. While I dont take my family here often, this is one place we are going to visit more often. The historical military value and lessons here are absolutely over the top with old. Barracks and officer housing, which now house businesses and over the top amazing restaurants. This place is all around a 10 on must sees in Vancouver.

Awesome piece of history! Volunteers in period costume providing information and demonstrations to bring the fort back to life. Dont forget to fill out the Jr Ranger booklet to get your badge.

I live close by to this site, and it really is just beautiful! Its great for many reasons, and I usually incorporate it into my daily walk just for the beauty of the park.There is a trail that will take you downtown, or even to the waterfront, and its always well-kept. There is a place for great Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch, and Dinner along officers row. There are many learning opportunities in the visitor center, or just by walking the same land as the settlers from long ago and seeing the incredible reconstructed fort, or the many tours and events hosted here by the park service. If you want to picnic, this is your area. If you want to sit under a big, beautiful tree and read, this is your area. Vancouver has an incredible treasure in this park!The only issue would be the amount of people playing Pokemon Go along the walking paths and just standing in the way, but at least they have a beautiful park to do it in - and if thats your jam, then this park is also your area to be.Just be sure to pick up after yourself so we can keep this place just as wonderful.

I lived in the Northwest most of my life, but I had yet to visit this place until now. It was awesome! The air museum was small, but focused on Vancouver Fort. The actually fort was cool with volunteers acting the time period of the fur trade and explorers. They even had real blacksmith doing demonstrations, and bakers baking in time period ovens. The newer portions of the fort was a cool stroll for any veteran.Remember, if you are a disabled veteran, you can get a free National Park pass. Just show your VA ID that shows service connected disability at the visitors center, and they will hook you up.

Our first visit was for the Fourth of July fireworks and it was a wonderful introduction to the history and beauty of the site. Many of the officers houses are open to tour, and others have been renovated keeping the historic quality’s whilst serving as offices for small businesses and nonprofits. Was familiar with this type of repurposing as the Presidio in San Francisco also brings in tenants as a way to sustain these landmarks without undue taxation or entrance fees, very well done. Did not have a chance to tour the barracks area, but did make it to the gift shop with has an information desk manned by NPS guides. Very informative! Thank you NPS!

Best place to take your dog, relax in nature, go on a bike ride...you name it! Must visit!

The improvements made to the area by the NPS and the city of Vancouver have been tremendous. A beautiful day and a great experience

Beautiful garden, interesting history of the fort. On hot days no other people are in the fort. You could have it all to yourself.

The entire grounds are phenomenal. Steeped in history. A wonderland for children and adults alike.

Over all its ok. There is a lot of buildings that have not been rebuilt so it seems empty. A lot of things are not marked and could be to give a more educational experience. Some cement foundations are unmarked. What are/were they? There is safety glass in the tower taking away from the authenticity. Probably a safety necessity though. These all detract from what it could be. There are several cannons that are a nice touch, but no info on them. Authentic? Real? Size?There was one staff member there. She was extremely helpful and even opened a closed building for us to see. Extra star just for that!Overall Fort Nisqually a couple hours drive to the north is a better experience. (Its from the same era).

Always a fun beautiful place to visit. This day was the Vancouver schools parade. :)

Awesome! Great learning experience! So cool, the blacksmith made a leaf! Real cannons, actual historical objects, so much history and it comes to life!

A great place to live and learn history of Vancouver. A great place to spend the afternoon and soak in some local history. Passionate volunteers and lots of hands on exhibits. Recommended.

This is a large area with plenty of history and things to do. I like just hanging out and relaxing in the large park area.

This is a place you do not want to miss. Very educational.

One of the National Parks locations, Fort Vancouver has a lot of history behind it, but it is also a great scenic drive. The visitor center is a bit smaller than some of the other National Parks visitor centers, but the rangers inside are very knowledgeable and friendly. Make sure to stop off here if you have a National Parks Passport to get one of your stamps.

The fort garden is beautiful and I very merry Christmas enjoyed walking around it. The tour by the ranger was very good when we did that, they knew a lot about the history of the place. It is also a great place to start a walk through Vancouver and all night the river.

Not too much happening the day we went. Nice to walk around and there were several places with period dressed reenactments. Very friendly and easy to access for both children and Wheelchair or older people. Educational and several childrens classes visiting the weekday we went. Enjoyable but would have liked more sections open. During the summer this is a live museum with period dressed people adding color and education to the experience.

If your in town for a few days and have a few hours this is worth checking out. Lots to see and a lot of history!

Pretty amazing place that I think everyone who lives in the area should experience at least once. The history behind the fort is truly fascinating. Go visit!

Has two modes: museum and reenactment village. Best reenactment village ever, but just okay as a museum. Watch for the reenactment that occurs the second saturday of September.

Nice big park. They have an excellent 4th of July firework show.

Awesome historical landmark! Totally worth the money and time. Give yourself a couple hours so you have time to see all everything. This was my 3rd time going with our school and the kids love it!

A beautiful place to experience a surprising amount of history that has taken place here. Be sure to check out the actual blacksmiths!

These guys are great. There are a ton of free activities year round that even the kids will love. Can you really beat free? Truly an asset to the city and the history of the Pacific Northwest.Oh and they shoot cannons.

Beautiful historic site to visit if ever in the area. You can watch the planes take off and land from 100 feet away!

A place I visit often for my longer runs. Its a favorite of mine.

Beautiful place for a walk!

Right after the entrance of the fort there is a visitor center where you can get gifts and watch a 30 minute movie about the history of the fort. After you finish this you can walk across a small field to get to the fort. There is a fairly large garden that is maintained by the park service. Once you get past this you get into the fort! Immediately after you enter there is an 1800s kitchen to your left and a woodworking shop right next to it. Near the center of the grounds there is a house which represents what the owners would live in. Off in the corner behind the restrooms there is a bakery which has two large ovens. In the opposite corner there is a blacksmith shop where they work on real metal! Close to this there is a trading post where a person will show you the kinds of things you could get for animal pelts. Finally there is a tower where cannons watch over the grounds. Overall, it was a great experience!

What a great historical site!

I love it here. I just wish everyone wasnt standing around looking are their phones. Like a bunch of poke zombies.

Kids had a great time. They should keep all the rooms open. It doesnt help to just peek thru .

Small facility with friendly staff. Not much going on today so we were actually cautioned against paying the fee to visit the fort. We were invited back on a day we would get more bang for our buck. Really appreciated the honesty. Enjoyed our visit to the Airfield and Marshall House.

This is a fun place to go with your family and learn a little bit of Vancouver history.

This place is so much fun to visit, especially with kids. Try to go when most of the buildings are open and have volunteers in them--you will learn a lot about this unusual fort. Pick up a junior ranger badge booklet for kids when you first go in--there are desks in the counting house you can work on them at, like an old-timey clerk. Bathrooms are modern and relatively clean. Stairs in the tower are a bit much if you are afraid of heights. Watch for their special events, like the kids archaeological digs. They are really fun!

Went on the lantern led tour at night and it was an amazing experiance. The guides and volunteers were wonderful and you can tell they really enjoyed bringing history back to life. Very immersive experience and I highly recommend it.

Although this is a must see for any history buff, I found the Fort and the visitor center a little underwhelming. While impressive dimensionally, the Fort and its naked grounds dont have the gravitas you would expect for something so old. Still worth a visit if youre in the neighborhood.

It was beautiful to walk around in. The birds in the morning were swirling around me in beautiful patterns looking for food. I caught sight of two rabbits that were chasing one another for about two minutes and the restaurant was open.

Many things were going on at the old fort established for the Hudson Bay Company.You can check out the old Canons. Climb up and check out the watch tower. They even have some old outhouses you can view. But dont worry there is no foul smell here.The garden that you walk through going into the Fort has a big selection of the veggies that they grew in the day.While there check out the hospital and blacksmith shop. Verry interesting!

This is a great place to visit to learn the history of the Pacific Northwest.Most of the exhibits are free but some of the special exhibits cost money. The cost of the exhibits are inexpensive when they do charge.The staff is nice and there is a huge private parking lot that has space for buses.

Nice area for walking or going for a run. There are plenty of paths to explore. Check out the restaurant in Officers Row. Visit the historical structures of the fort, in the summer you can even walk around the garden. Its an enjoyable place, that even connects you to the Vancouver Waterfront by crossing a bridge over the highway. If you want to visit inside the fort, its $7 but the pass will last you a couple of days. Enjoy a free stroll, walk your dog, or have a picnic on the lawns. Or experience some history inside the fort.

Always a fun place to bring visiting friends and family.

Lovely day. Very polite workers in all sections of the fort. Interesting. Well kept.

Great historic fort built out of authentic materials from the time period. They offer tours and other fun activities to engage/immerse oneself in the history of the location. Hopefully the blacksmith is open when you visit as they produce really interesting products that are used around the property to maintain historical accuracy. The property also has great walking trails around it with orchards, gardens etc.

Fun experience. Very peaceful place to spend a few hours. Well worth the entrance fee if you are in to history. Blacksmithing shop is cool to visit too.

Amazing experience. The volunteers were great. I would highly recommend coming.

Nice to spend a day interviewing that place in history .have fun

This place is amazing. It was way better than we thought. We spent many hours going from building to building learning things about the Hudsons Bay Company. My favorite part are the volunteers/workers who dress in 1800s attire and answer questions.

I was here for a veterans events at while Im driving around the entirety of what seemed to be the post, I noticed the very clear distinction of clean well cut grass in addition to that the grounds were impeccably taken care of. Not only was the community of veterans welcomed with open arms but there was also small collaborations of people celebrating events of whatever sort all seem to be very welcomed and taken care of in their event needs.

2019 fireworks display was everything I hoped it would be. Once again theyve done a great job and all the people that are at the Ford or just wonderful people. I thank them very much for 56 years of great fourth of Julys.

The restored for has lots of demonstrations on the days they are running. I was particularly fascinated by the blacksmithing. Even more fun with the rendezvous going.

Very fun place, had an encounter with a baer.

Awesome place to go for walks, to watch airplanes take off and land, learn local history and just all around fun place to be. If you ever get the chance to go to the Memorial Day service here it is amazing, Fort Vancouver is one of my favorite places.

I love coming here. Such a beautiful scenic view all the way around in the heart of Vancouver. The nature bridge is as special feature that is something i really adore about this place.

What a great place to visit. So beautiful and has a lot of interesting exhibits about how life was back in the days of the fort.

Great for walking/running beautiful sights to see

Very interesting. Very limited visit due to time. Very informative

I like to just pull into the park and visitors centor as a break before heading into Portland or down the Gorge. Its a beautiful area for a walk or picnic or a rest and read. If youre off on adventures, the Ranger is an excellent source of advice.

Pokemon go players rejoice. This is the ultimate community day destination. Please do NOT drive on the grass

Great historical site. The kids absolutely loved seeing all the old stuff and hearing the stories behind them. They have a fun Junior Ranger program that if completed, the kids get a ranger badge and a certificate. Had a great time.

Historical site with working blacksmith, carpenter shop and more. A real look at how the soldiers lived back in the days of the fort of Vancouver

There are many reasons to check out FT. Vancouver National Historic Site. You can learn a lot of history there and go into some really amazing buildings and learn some more things. There is quite a bit to do here and most if not all of it is free. And there is a bunch Of Pokémon Go stuff around too if youre into that which makes it even better. Overall great experience would highly recommend.

Nice place to walk. Very pet friendly.

Lots of things to do and see. The visitors center is free and has displays, restrooms, water fountains, and a gift shop. Outside there are picnic tables and a play ground. The Historic Fort Vancouver has an entrance fee, but you may return for 7 days on the same receipt.

I love this place because its very sereneyou can have picnics down here with your kids or grandkids its just a place to get away from all the camaraderie thats going on in town its very refreshing

Very educational and insightful sight. A good path for casual walking

Excellent old fort. Must see. Garden is gorgeous. An excellent way to enjoy an afternoon with a friend.