The Founding: 1825
Vancouver’s origins are not tied to American pioneers, but to the British-owned Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC).
- Fort Vancouver: In 1825, Dr. John McLoughlin established Fort Vancouver on the north bank of the Columbia River. It wasn’t just a fort; it was the colonial capital of the Pacific Northwest.
- The “New York of the Pacific”: For decades, this outpost served as the center of trade, agriculture, and manufacturing for the entire region. It was the primary supply depot for fur trappers ranging from Alaska to California and the first destination for exhausted travelers on the Oregon Trail.
When the Oregon Treaty of…..