Museum Collection Open House

Museum Collection Open House tours take place on the second Saturday of the month, March through October, at 12:00 PM and 2:00 PM

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Curious about what can be discovered in Fort Vancouver's collection of two million archaeological and historic objects? Find out at our Museum Collection Open House tours! In this popular program, visitors go behind the scenes inside our curation facility to get up close to actual artifacts that come to us through archaeological excavations or are donated by members of the community. Each month's open house focuses on a different topic - ranging from military history, to hygiene and health, to our present day archaeological excavations.

Museum Collection Open Houses take place from March through October on the second Saturday of the month. Two tours occur during the day: one at 12:00 PM and one at 2:00 PM. Tours are limited to 15 people. Children over 10 years old are welcome.

Register in advance for a Museum Collection Open House tour by contacting Museum Technician Meagan Huff at [phone], or by email. Registration for remaining spots on each tour can be reserved at the Ranger Station inside the fort on the day of the event.

2013 Schedule

March 9, 2013: The McLoughlin Family in the Northwest

Dr. John McLoughlin served as Chief Factor of Fort Vancouver from 1825 until 1845. Learn about his family's important role in the history of the Northwest, and see historic objects owned by the McLoughlins.

April 13, 2013: The Women of Vancouver Barracks

Learn about the women who lived at Vancouver Barracks - from laundresses to officers' wives - through archaeological artifacts excavated from the post.

May 11, 2013: Fur Trade Families at Fort Vancouver

What was it like to raise a family in early 19th century Vancouver? Who did the housework? Who worked outside the home? What was it like to be a child at Fort Vancouver? Find out through our collection of archaeological artifacts! This day's tours will take place at 12:00 PM and 3:30 PM.

June 8, 2013: Health and Hygiene in 19th Century Vancouver

Find out how the residents of Fort Vancouver and Vancouver Barracks stayed healthy, and how approaches to health and sanitation transformed during the 19th century.

July 13, 2013: Fort Vancouver's Public Archaeology Field School

Fort Vancouver NHS has been the location of Public Archaeology Field Schools, in partnership with Portland State University and Washington State University Vancouver, since 2001. See artifacts from past years' field school excavations in the Fort Vancouver employee Village, and visit this year's Field School to talk to this summer's student archaeologists. Includes optional walk to the excavation site.

August 10, 2013: Faith at Fort Vancouver

Learn about the diverse religious beliefs of the residents of Fort Vancouver through artifacts in our archaeological collection.

September 14, 2013: 1845

Discover what life was like at Fort Vancouver in the year 1845 through our archaeological collection, and then attend our biggest living history event of the year - Campfires and Candlelight - and transport yourself back in time.

October 12, 2013: Spruce Mill Soldiers

During World War I, Vancouver Barracks was home to the world's largest Spruce Cut Up Mill, bulit to manufacture lumber for airplanes. Historic and archaeological artifacts in our collection tell the story of this huge complex, and the soldiers who lived and worked there.