August 13, 2013 - Oregon history

I hadn’t realized how much history there was to learn about in this part of the country. The Columbia River was so important to the Native Americans who lived here and to the explorers, entrepreneurs, and immigrants who came here. The Hudson Bay Company set up a headquarters in Vancouver WA, which is about 100 miles up the Columbia at a fertile and navigable spot. The fur trappers and local Indians came to trade. HBC established Fort Vancouver which was a stockade built to protect the trade goods stored there and to house the businesses and people who ran them. We toured the buildings that have been restored – much of it is still being excavated. We watched blacksmiths working in the blacksmith shop. Don walked up in the bastion to see the cannons that protected the fort (although it was never attacked).

There are 22 officers homes that have been beautifully restored and are now being used for various business enterprises. We toured the one that Gen George Marshall lived in. It had beautiful wood stairs, doors, and floors. Several rooms were octagonal shaped with stained glass windows and window seats. The fireplaces were ornamental. They also have a flight museum at Pierson Field, a huge vegetable garden, and several barracks used by soldiers in WWII.

John McLoughlin was the chief factor (superintendent of trade) at the Fort for many years. He moved to Oregon City OR and bought a lot of land. He was instrumental in establishing the city which is along the Willamette River at the falls. This was a good location because it was somewhat navigable (especially when they built the locks), and the falls provided power for several mills and other plants that he built. We went there to see his house, but it was not open. However, we did get to see the elevator that went from the bluffs above the river to the lower section of the town - which was built along the river and the railroad tracks. This was also where the Oregon Trail ended. McLoughlin was very helpful to those settlers in providing goods and sending them south into the fertile Willamette Valley. I was just fascinated to imagine how it must have been in those times – late 1800’s to 1900. Everything has been carefully maintained and people seem very proud of their river towns.