Both virtual and in person educational programs at Fort Vancouver help children process how local history shapes our view of today. Framed around difficult topics like colonialism, acculturation, westward expansion, and manafest destiny, programs at Fort Vancouver encourage students to cultivate a deeper personal connection to this place. We aim to creating unique memories that shape the way local children view our community and heritage.
These programs leverage curriculum content from Washington State’s “Since Time Immemorial” (Senate Bill 5028) and Oregon’s “Tribal History, Shared History” (Senate Bill 13) programs to foster a sense of investigation and stewardship through multiple lenses. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site acknowledges that field trips to Fort Vancouver shape children’s views of Native peoples and, through consultation with over 35 different American Indian tribes and Native Hawaiian Organizations, Fort Vancouver NHS is committed to presenting authentic and fair historical narratives about all groups involved with the history of this site.
Students can learn about British colonization, Indigenous Peoples, the fur trade, U.S. military, early industry, the Golden Age of aviation, and natural history. Fort Vancouver National Historic Site serves as the only national park in the Portland/Vancouver Metropolitan Area. As part of a greater system of national parks, it provides a perspective of national and international significance.
