• Image of the reconstructed stockade at Fort Vancouver and Pearson Air Museum looking northeast from the Land Bridge.

    Fort Vancouver

    National Historic Site OR,WA

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  • Information on Pearson Air Museum

    Information about Fort Vancouver National Historic Site assuming direct operational responsibility for Pearson Air Museum. More »

Public History Field School

The Fort Vancouver Public History Field School is a partnership program between the History Department at Portland State University, the Creative Media & Digital Culture Program at Washington State University Vancouver, the Edward R. Murrow College of Communication at Washington State University, and the National Park Service (NPS) at Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

Throughout the semester or quarter, students enrolled in the Public History Field School actively apply knowledge gained through group discussion, directed readings, research, practical exercises, peer review, and class instruction to crafting interpretive programs, publications and digital art and media that helps the public connect to and understand the national significance of this historic site.

 
 
Official logo of Portland State University

Department of History, Portland State University

Coursework facilitated onsite through Portland State University (HST 411/511: Historic Site Interpretation, offered in odd-numbered years) is designed to build on the context of students' introductory coursework by providing a focused, hands-on immersion into how history is promulgated by one of the leading stewards of the nation's history - the National Park Service (NPS). Students work onsite at Fort Vancouver with instructor Greg Shine and use group discussion, directed readings, primary source research, practical exercises, peer review, and class instruction to 1) craft programs and interpretive media for the public and 2) provide core historical research to inform other project work.Student internships and individual studies can also be arranged for more in-depth research and application.

 
Official logo for Washington State University Vancouver

Creative Media & Digital Culture Program, Washington State University Vancouver

The Creative Media & Digital Culture Program (CMDC) is an academic program, unique to Washington State University Vancouver, that houses the Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Digital Technology and Culture. The CMDC coursework (DTC 354 Digital Storytelling) focuses on creating digital art and media that uses PSU student & NPS staff research to connect visitors to historic site significance.

 
Official Washington State university logo. Text reads: World Class. Face to Face.

Edward R. Murrow College of Communication, Washington State University

The WSU Edward R. Murrow College of Communication coursework (ComJour 333: Reporting Across Platforms) uses PSU & NPS content to produce media through various digital formats (including the Fort Vancouver Mobile app) that helps facilitate and communicate greater public understanding of the site and its historical significance.

 

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2013 Public History Field School

2012 Public History Field School (CMDC Link)

2011 Public History Field School

2009 Public History Field School

2008 Public History Field School

2006 Public History Field School

Did You Know?

Image of O.O. Howard from the New York Historical Society's Civil War Treasures Collection

Did you know that a number of U.S. Army generals served at Fort Vancouver NHS’s Vancouver Barracks early in their careers? The list includes Generals Oliver O. Howard, George C. Marshall, Ulysses S. Grant, George B. McClellan, Phillip Sheridan, William T. Sherman, Omar Bradley and George Pickett. More...