Visit the Fort Vancouver Garden

The Fort Vancouver Garden is a great place to learn about gardening and history!

NPS Photo / Junelle Lawry

Take a walk through the beautiful Fort Vancouver Garden! Once spanning up to 8 acres, Fort Vancouver's garden was the source for many of the meals eaten by the residents of the Hudson's Bay Company fort. Today, a condensed version of the garden outside the fort's stockade is maintained by National Park Service volunteers and is open to the public from dusk to dawn.

In the garden, you will see a variety of flowers, fruits, and vegetables, some of which may be familiar to you and some that may be new. The plants grown in the reconstructed garden are based on historic records from Fort Vancouver and archaeological excavations. The products of the reconstructed garden are used in historic cooking demonstrations at the Fort Vancouver Kitchen.

You may also encounter volunteers tending the garden. Feel free to ask any questions you have about the history of the garden or about gardening in general! Our volunteer gardeners are a wonderful resource to learn more about keeping a garden healthy and productive.

Learn more about the history of the garden here.

Opening Hours & Parking

The Fort Vancouver Garden is located directly in front of the reconstructed Fort Vancouver.

Park grounds, including the garden, are open from dawn to dusk. Parking lots are open Tuesday through Saturday, 8 am to 4 pm (Labor Day to Memorial Day) or 8 am to 5 pm (Memorial Day to Labor Day). Vehicles must be removed from parking lots before the gates are closed. Street parking is also available. Check here for updated operating hours and seasons.

Help Us Keep the Garden Beautiful!

We hope that you enjoy your visit to the Fort Vancouver Garden, but please treat it with respect. 

In the garden, please do NOT:

 

• Leave the paths
• Ride a bicycle or skateboard
• Bring your pets into the garden
• Smoke
• Pick flowers or seeds
• Harvest produce
• Dig up or harm plants
• Leave trash or confetti

Details

Duration

5-30 Minutes

Depending on how long you wish to enjoy the plants at Fort Vancouver's Garden, this walk could be a brief walk or a long stroll!

Activity

Living History

Age(s)

All ages are welcome in the garden! Young children should be supervised to avoid picking up or stepping on plants.

Pets Allowed

No

Pets are not allowed in the Fort Vancouver Garden. Learn more about bringing pets to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site here.

Activity Fee

No

Entrance fees may apply, see Fees & Passes information.

Location

Fort Vancouver Garden

The Garden is located outside Fort Vancouver's northern stockade wall. We recommend parking in the parking lot along East 5th Street during operating hours, or using street parking.

Reservations

No

Season

Year Round

The Fort Vancouver Garden is open to the public all year long. The garden is most active in spring, summer, and early fall.

Time of Day

Day, Dawn, Dusk

Accessibility Information

The Garden at Fort Vancouver has firm, stable surfaces made of decomposed granite and minimal inclines. Benches are available in the Garden.