Vancouver Barracks/Parade Ground: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, National Park Service
Caywood J and Owens E. 2010. Vancouver Barracks/Parade Ground: Cultural Landscape Inventory, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, National Park Service. Cultural Landscapes Inventory Report. 400179. NPS Pacific West Regional Office. Pacific West Regional Office/CLI Database
The Vancouver Barracks/Parade Ground is an approximately 13‑acre designed historic landscape central to the Vancouver Barracks developed by the U.S. Army between 1861 and 1947. This landscape includes the Parade Ground and a small portion of East Barracks where foundation plantings mark the historic site of an U.S. Army building that no longer remains (east of building 993). The Parade Ground is a large, roughly rectangular, open lawn running east‑west across the northern portion of the Reserve. The flat terrace is punctuated with mature trees and a bandstand, and edged by roads and walkways, historic U.S. Army buildings, trees, and fences. Historically, the Parade Ground was developed for army drills, ceremonies, and recreation. Today, it is used as a public park for community events, picnicking, and recreation. The edges of the Parade Ground are clearly defined by roads, buildings, fences, and vegetation. An S‑shaped road constructed by the NPS as part of its Mission 66‑era development defines the Parade Ground’s eastern edge. The remaining three edges are defined by the U.S. Army Vancouver Barracks and Officers’ Row developments that are representative of a typical army posts with buildings clustered according to function. Buildings contained within the Vancouver Barracks and Officers’ Row reflect standard‑plan military architecture of a variety of periods, including the 1880s, 1910s, 1930s, and 1940s. The period of significance for Vancouver Barracks/Parade Ground extends from 1851 through 1946. In 1851, the Army completed buildings on three sides of the area that would become the Parade Ground. The Parade Ground was further developed over time with fences and paths and became the location for U.S. Army drills, ceremonies, and recreation. The Vancouver Barracks/Parade Ground played significant roles during the Pacific Northwest Indian Wars, the Spanish American War, World War I, and World War II. By the end of the period of significance, 1946, the post began reporting to Fort Lewis and the Vancouver Barracks ceased to play an important role in national military affairs. The Vancouver Barracks/Parade Ground is nationally significant for its association with the exploration/settlement, industry, military, politics/government, and transportation; for its association with General O.O. Howard; and for archeological sites that have revealed significant historic information and have potential to yield further information regarding military activities. The Parade Ground retains integrity as a large, formal, military‑designed open space developed during the period of significance and is in good condition.
- Type
- Published Report
- Authors
- Caywood, Janene; Owens, Erica
- Date of Issue
- 2010-09-22
- Publisher
- NPS Pacific West Regional Office
- Units
- FOVA , PWR
- Keywords
- barracks, Camp Vancouver, ceremony, Exploration, Government, Historic Designed Landscape, historic site, Hudson Bay Company, Indian wars, Industry, Leisure, Military, Military Facility, Mission 66, Officers' Row, Parade Ground, Political and Military Affairs, Recreation, Settlement, Spanish American War, The Home Front, Transportation, U.S. Army, World War I, World War II
- Subjects
- CRIS-CL: 400179: Vancouver Barracks/Parade Ground