Vancouver Barracks facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Fort Vancouver National Historic Site
|
|
Artillery barracks in the Fort Vancouver Historic Site area
|
|
| Lua error in Module:Location_map at line 420: attempt to index field 'wikibase' (a nil value). | |
| Location | Vancouver, Washington, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Built | 1849 |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000370 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
The Vancouver Barracks was the very first United States Army base in the Pacific Northwest. It was set up in 1849 in what is now Vancouver, Washington. The base was built on a small hill about 20 feet (6 meters) above the Fort Vancouver fur trading post. This trading post was run by the Hudson's Bay Company (HBC). The buildings of the barracks were lined up near the Columbia River, about 2,000 yards (1,829 meters) from its bank.
Contents
Why the Barracks Were Built
In 1846, the Oregon Treaty was signed between Great Britain and the United States. This treaty settled a disagreement over the border in the Pacific Northwest. The two countries agreed to divide the land along the 49th parallel. This meant that Fort Vancouver became part of the U.S. However, the agreement allowed Great Britain's Hudson's Bay Company to keep operating there.
The Vancouver Barracks was built because of events like the Whitman massacre and the Cayuse War. The U.S. government wanted to have military power in the area. This was to help control Native American groups and encourage white European settlers to move to the Pacific Northwest. The U.S. Army chose to build their base right next to Fort Vancouver. This was because settlers and other important places were already there.
By October 1849, soldiers and supplies arrived at the Vancouver Barracks after a long journey. Colonel William Wing Loring led this group of soldiers. They brought 700 horses, 1,200 mules, and 171 supply wagons.
Conflicts with Native American Tribes
.jpg)
As disagreements between Native American tribes and American settlers grew, many conflicts broke out. These "Pacific Northwest Indian Wars" happened from about 1848 to 1879. Soldiers from Fort Vancouver actively fought against Native American groups. The Vancouver Barracks was involved in almost every military action against Native Americans in the Pacific Northwest.
Some of the major conflicts managed by the Vancouver Barracks included the Cayuse War, Rogue River Wars, Snake River War, Klickitat War, Puget Sound War, Yakima War, Coeur d'Alene War, Paiute War, Snake War, Modoc War, Nez Perce War, Bannock War, and Sheepeater Indian War. These wars involved many Native American groups. Some of these groups were the Cayuse, Shasta, Tutuni, Klickitat, Nisqually, Puyallup, Yakama, Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, Paiute, Bannock, Modoc, Nez Perce, and Shoshone.
During these wars, the Vancouver Barracks was a very important place. It served as a command center, a place for troops, a training area, a supply storage, and a prison. Soldiers from the Vancouver Barracks continued to help settlers even after these wars ended.
Native Americans Held at the Barracks
Since it was built, the Vancouver Barracks always had a prison or Guard House. Native Americans were held there, sometimes as late as 1889. Groups of Native Americans were held as prisoners of war. Sometimes they were held before being moved to reservations. Other times, they were held to protect white settlements. The U.S. Army also held important tribal leaders.
Because so many Native Americans were held there, some historical records even called the Fort a "reservation."
During the World Wars
The base stayed active and was made bigger for World War I. During WWI, it was home to the Army's Spruce Production Division. This division was led by Colonel Brice Disque.
Between the two World Wars, the 5th Infantry Brigade was based there. Joseph E. Kuhn was in charge of the base from October 1923 to July 1925. From 1936 to 1938, George C. Marshall, who later became a very important Army leader, commanded the base.
In World War II, Vancouver Barracks was used as a place where soldiers got ready to leave from the Seattle Port of Embarkation. The base covered 3,019 acres (12.22 square kilometers). It had space for 250 officers and 7,295 enlisted soldiers to live.
After WWII, Vancouver Barracks became a smaller part of Fort Lewis. It kept a small group of active soldiers.
Most of the living spaces were later turned into military offices. The base became home to the 104th Division of the Army Reserve. It also housed units from the Washington National Guard.
Vancouver Barracks closed in 2011. This was part of a plan to reorganize military bases. In 2012, during a Memorial Day ceremony, the south and east barracks were officially given to the National Park Service to care for.
Becoming a Historic Site
Because of its important role in United States history, the HBC Fort Vancouver was named a U.S. National Monument on June 19, 1948. It was then renamed Fort Vancouver National Historic Site on June 30, 1961. In 1996, an area of 366 acres (1.48 square kilometers) around the fort was made into the Vancouver National Historic Reserve. This area includes Kanaka Village, the Vancouver Barracks, and the riverbank. The National Park Service takes care of this reserve and offers tours of the fort.
Different Names Over Time
The Vancouver Barracks had a few different names while it was an active U.S. Army base. When it was first started, it was called Camp Vancouver. In 1850, its name changed to Columbia Barracks. This name was used until 1853, when it was renamed Fort Vancouver. That name lasted until 1879, when the name Vancouver Barracks was finally chosen and stuck.
