Many years ago, I remember wandering through the beautifully restored McCloughlin House which is connected with the Fort Vancouver National Historic Site. The volunteer tour guide pointed out the family’s belongings, sequestered behind velvet ropes.
“Of course, only the Chief Factor’s family enjoyed this level of luxury,” the guide reminded us. “The officers and other high-ranking employees lived in barracks, and hundreds of other low-ranking, non-British employees lived in an encampment outside the Fort walls known as ‘the village’.”
I turned to the guide. “Is there a reconstruction of this village?”
He laughed. “No. Most people would rather learn about the leaders. But we hope to have something in the future.”
I left with a unsettled feeling in the pit of my stomach. How much of our history is colored by our reverence for the wealthy and powerful? Most of the work of building this nation was done by the working class folks, but what do we know of them?
I was excited today when I spent some time on Fort Vancouver’s web site. Apparently in recent years, the Park Service has focused resources at the Fort researching these forgotten peoples, uncovering a wealth of information that it now shares in its educational programs, tours, and brigade encampment events. Park rangers and volunteers dress in period clothing and demonstrate what life was like for ALL the employees of the Hudson Bay Company.
There are only a few days left in the school year. I’m thinking it might be time to bundle the kids into the car, re-visit this park and see what’s changed.
What about the historical parks in your area? Do they do a good job of telling everyone’s story? Tell me about your favorite museums and historical sites.
(Photos courtesy of the NPS).
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Love this post, Karen.
I used to work at Fort Vancouver and it was one of my favorite jobs! There is so much history in the Pacific Northwest, and a lot of it revolves around the Fort and especially John McLaughlin!
I recommend going back to the Fort and taking the tour again (hopefully with a different tour guide.) The rangers and volunteers are amazing and you’ll learn something different each time.
We definitely need more time and resources dedicated to preserving these sites and the incredible stories that rest in the ground.
Thanks, Nicole! I actually did go back this summer, but I arrived on a Monday, just before the big Fourth of July show, so there was very little going on tour-wise. It was bad timing on my part. I’m excited to learn that you worked there. I might have an opportunity coming up to set a story there. I hope you’ll let me pick your brain. 🙂