Individual & Family Tours

There's so much to see and do at the Fort Vancouver National Site's 366-acre campus. Take a self-guided tour of the multiple attractions, including historic Fort Vancouver, Pearson Air Museum, walking trails, Officers Row, and much more. Your family will enjoy the picturesque scenery, cultural demonstrations, and fascinating, exhibits. Below is a description of what you can see while you're here.

Fort Vancouver

Walk inside the palisade. Climb the stairs inside the bastion. Watch the blacksmiths pounding iron in the blacksmith shop. You can also rent an audio tour (suggested donation: $3) that relates the history and significance of the site as you walk inside the palisade of Fort Vancouver. The adult audio tour lasts one hour. The student audio tour is 45 minutes.

Pearson Air Museum

Explore the historic and replica aircraft focusing on World War II and earlier, shop in the museum shop for aviation-themed books and gifts. Outside the museum is a sculpture depicting Carlton F. Bond, commanding officer of the 121st Observation Squadron, Army Air Corps.

Visitor Center

See the museum exhibits about the British Hudson's Bay Company at Fort Vancouver, watch a short documentary about the site, and shop for unique items in the bookstore. Just west of the Visitor Center see the Japanese sailor monument. Children enjoy the playground equipment south of the building.

Officers Row

Stroll along this promenade of Victorian homes built for Army officers, which is now a popular walking trail. Tour the Marshall House, a free museum. Take your group's photo on the band stand. Enjoy lunch, dinner or happy hour in the Grant House, the restaurant at the Fort Vancouver National Site.

Vancouver Barracks

Many of the barracks buildings still are in use by the military and are not open to the public. Visit the war memorial south of the auditorium. Walk through the Red Cross Convalescent House, which today hosts events.

The Village and the Land Bridge

Just west of the Fort, stroll through the orchard southward past the first house in the Village. On select days, it is open and costumed interpreters will show you around. A second house is being built in spring 2009. Continue past the Village to the Land Bridge, which reconnects Fort Vancouver with the Columbia River waterfront. Enjoy the public artwork along the bridge. On the south side of the bridge, pass through Old Apple Tree Park, the site of the oldest apple tree in the Pacific Northwest (1826). Continue southward to the waterfront trail.

The Waterfront Renaissance Trail

This popular walking and biking trail follows the Columbia River eastward and ends at the riverfront restaurants. Along the way, enjoy views of the river and sculptures honoring Ilchee, a Native woman of the Chinook tribe, and the Wendy Rose sculpture paying tribute to the women and men who worked in the Kaiser Shipyards during World War II. Further east near Marine Park, see a viewing tower interpreting the Kaiser Shipyards.