Fort Vancouver brings village, barracks back to life

Re-enactors will bring two eras of the 19th century back to life Friday and Saturday at the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.

A new event — “Village & Barracks Come Alive!” — will explore Vancouver’s fur-trading past and its military history from 6 to 9 p.m. Friday and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday.

In the site of the Hudson’s Bay Company’s workers village west of the fort, costumed youth volunteers will interpret 1840s games, dances and cooking.

Across from Pearson Air Museum, in the grassy area where the Vancouver Barracks stables once stood, re-enactors and horses from the 1st Oregon Volunteer Cavalry will interpret Army life in the 1860s.

The events are free.

Fort Vancouver has been focusing on its military history through educational programs, camps, exhibits on the Civil War in the Northwest and the history of the military in Vancouver, Superintendent Tracy Fortmann said in a news release.

Park Ranger Robert Gutierrez said that Friday night’s “after hours” event — until 9 p.m. — gives visitors a full sensory experience of history, with opportunities to interact with figures from the past.