"... In 1824, George Simpson, North American governor of the Hudson's Bay Company, ordered the abandonment of Ft. George and the search for a new post on the north side of the Columbia River, Criteria for locating the new post included the desire to strengthen British claims to the land north of the Columbia River, and for the HBC to render themselves '... independent of foreign aid in regard to Subsistence.' The search for suitable terrain -- land lacking steep banks or low, flood prone areas -- ended at Jolie Prairie, about one hundred miles from the mouth of the Columbia River. ..." Source:    U.S. National Park Service website, 2005, Fort Vancouver.

A nice description of the Fort can be found in the "History of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington" (1889, vol.1):

"... Fort Vancouver (the site of the present city of Vancouver, and the United States military depot) was established in 1824 by Dr. John McLoughlin, manager of the Hudson's Bay Company trade on the Pacific coast. The post was inclosed in a stockade, two hundred yards by one hundred and seventy-five yards, defended by bastions at the southeast and northwest angles, on which bastions were mounted heavy guns. In the inclosure were the residence of the chief executive officer, two buildings occupied by clerks, a row of buildings for residences of families, five large two-story houses, with a number of offices. The original site stood upon high ground a half mile back from the river. Outside was a huge warehouse, and a salmon house on the banks of the Columbia river. Near the fort was a village of cabins affording dwellings to numerous Kanakas, Canadians and servants of the company. A grist-mill was erected in 1836, and the company also established a saw-mill, which was prevented from running at high stages of water. Several tracts of land were occupied and cultivated by servants. Fort Vancouver was the headquarters of the Columbia district, which included all the territory west of the Rocky Mountains. The returns from all the posts in Oregon were made to this point; and from here all accounts were transmitted for settlement. The chief factors were located at this post, and a very large business was transacted. ..." Source:    "History of the Pacific Northwest, Oregon and Washington", 1889, vol.1.

In 1849 the Hudson's Bay Company transfered its headquarters from Fort Vancouver north to Fort Victoria in Canada, leaving behind a small contingent of men. A U.S. Army post was established in May 1849 next to the Hudson Bay Company "fort". This new Army Post was called "Columbia Barracks" until 1853 when it was renamed "Fort Vancouver". In 1879 the Army Post was again renamed, this time to "Vancouver Barracks".

In June 1860 the British totally abandoned the Fort Vancouver and moved, leaving the fort and village to the Americans. The Army occupied some of the buildings, but fire destroyed all visible traces of the establishment by 1866.

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• Cowlitz Farm ...
• Government Island ...
• "Mystery Rock" ...
• Sauvie Island Dairies ...
• Sawmills and Gristmills ...

A Hudson's Bay Company gristmill was built on Mill Creek, two miles west of the sawmill, near the location of today's Image, Washington. Mill Creek was said to have four falls within a short distance of one another, and each fall could produce between twenty-one and twenty-four horse power. All of the falls were situated within a half mile stretch of the stream and were so placed that a mill could be put along them "every fifty yards," or they could all be employed to operate one mill.

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