VANCOUVER, Wash. — Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, a unit of the National Park System, has debuted a new self-guided tour of Vancouver Barracks, the first US Army post established in the Pacific Northwest. The tour can be accessed through the NPS App, downloadable on the Apple Store or Google Play. 

Vancouver Barracks was established by the US Army in 1849. In the following decades, it served as a center of the Army’s operations in the Pacific Northwest, and of the local community in the City of Vancouver. This self-guided tour leads visitors along the post’s Officers’ Row and around the Parade Ground, where they will discover stories spanning from the earliest days of the post through World War I.  

“The history of Vancouver Barracks is nationally, regionally, and locally significant,” said Fort Vancouver NHS Curator Meagan Huff. “Understanding the history of this place is so important to understanding our community’s past and the role Vancouver has played in Northwest history. The self-guided format of this tour allows visitors to take the time to absorb these impactful stories.” 

The tour highlights iconic landmarks like the Vancouver Barracks flagstaff, bandstand, and barracks buildings, as well as the stories of people who lived and worked here. Among these, visitors will learn about Irish laundresses like Hannah Hartney, Chinese cook Mick Lai, and the Buffalo Soldiers who served at Vancouver Barracks at the turn of the last century. 

The tour was developed over the course of several months by American Conservation Experience Intern Marie Hashimoto, working with National Park Service staff. “Vancouver Barracks has such a rich, diverse history,” she said. “Throughout my research process, I was constantly uncovering new layers and new perspectives, and I’m excited to be able to share some of those stories in this tour.” 

“Recognizing our annual visitation of one million visitors, we are looking for a full range of opportunities to connect with them,” noted Fort Vancouver NHS Superintendent Tracy Fortmann. “This self-guided tour is user friendly and allows visitors to learn about this historic military post on their own schedule.”  

The NPS App launched in April 2021 and gives the public up-to-date information about every national park from one easy-to-use app. The NPS App helps visitors learn about trails, visitor centers, directions, fees and passes, weather alerts, passport stamp locations, and more. Self-guided tours help visitors learn more about park history. Search “National Park Service” in the iOS App Store and Google Play Store, or go to The NPS App - Digital (U.S. National Park Service to download the app.