Sunset on the Interstate Bridge spanning the Columbia River1

Vancouver, Washington is a port city on the north bank of the Columbia River, directly across from Portland, Oregon. It is one of the state's largest cities and boasts an ideal location with The Pacific Coast less than 90 mi (145 km) to the west and the Cascade Mountain Range rising to the east. Vancouver offers plenty of small-town charm for such a major metropolitan area. A variety of activities and attractions can be found near the city. For instance, the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area is a 30-minute drive east of Vancouver while Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument is less than a two-hour drive from the city.

	Ilchee statue2

HISTORY

Vancouver is the oldest city in the sate of Washington. Prior to the arrival of Europeans, a group of American Indians in the Chinookan tribe were expert traders along the lower Columbia. Highly sophisticated in commerce, they would bring their surplus goods, such as salmon to exchange at the major trade centers. Around 1775, after the first ecounter with non-aboriginals, the population was drastically reduced by diseases brought by white traders. In 1792, American trader and sailor, Robert Gray traveled to the Vancouver area and was the first non-native to walk along the Columbia River also known at the time as the Great River of the West. Later that same year, British Lt. William Broughton, who served under Captain George Vancouver, searched 100 mi (161 km) upriver and decided to name an area along the shore in honor of his commander. In 1824, the Hudson's Bay Company officially established Vancouver, and by the 1840s it had become the most influential settlement and largest population center on the West Coast of North America. An ethnically diverse population that consisited of French-Canadians, Scots, English, Americans, Iroquois, Orkney Islanders and other local natives emerged during this time. These diverse groups of people spoke Chinook Jargon, which is a trade language that enabled the different groups to communicate. Vancouver was officially incorporated as a city in 1857.

CLIMATE

Vancouver weather is mild with four distinct seasons. It is uncommon for the temperature to fall below 30º F ( -1ºC) on winter nights. Vancouver's moderate climate results in lush forests and plenty of foliage, with lots of rain in the spring as well as in the winter and summertime highs that peak around 77º F (25ºC).

TRANSPORTATION
Vancouver is easily accessible from the I-5 and I-205, bringing in travelers from the north and south end of the state while the I-84 from Oregon runs in an east-west direction and offers access from Camas and Washougal, Washington. Two heavily-traveled state highways within the city limits are the SR-14 and the SR-500. The closest city to Vancouver is Portland, Oregon 8 mi (13km) away.
Passenger train services to and from many major U.S. cities are provided by Amtrak. Short-haul trains between Seattle and Portland, all of which stop in Vancouver, are also available through Amtrak Cascades.
Two main airports serve the Vancouver area, Portland International Airport (PDX) and Pearson Field. The main airport serving the city is Pearson Field, which is operated by the city of Vancouver and not intended for commercial air service, only for general aviation. PDX is the nearest commercial airport and is about a 20-minute drive from the city. Once in Vancouver, getting around is simple with the transit system dubbed the C-Tran. Renting a car or taking a taxi is a great way to get around Vancouver in a quick manner.

ATTRACTIONS
Mount St. Helens and Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument
The Mount St. Helens National Volcanic Monument offers visitors a fascinating look at the surrounding landscape that was dramatically changed within moments by the 1980 eruption. Measuring 5.1 on the Richter scale, a devastating earthquake demolished the north face of Mount St. Helens, causing a massive avalanche and the destruction of approximately 230 sq mi (596 sq km) of forest. The 110,000-acre (44515-ha) National Volcanic Monument was created in 1982 for research, recreation and education.
Visitors also enjoy climbing the active Mount St. Helens. Climbing is permitted year-round, but most popular from late spring through early fall. The Monitor Ridge Route from Climbers Bivouac is a favored spot to climb as it gains 4,500-ft (1372-m) in 5 mi (8 km), reaching an elevation of 8,365- ft (2550-m) at the crater rim. Many climbers can complete the round trip in seven to 12 hours, and although climbing to the crater rim is permitted, entry into the crater is strictly prohibited. Climbers need to acquire a permit to climb above an elevation of 4,800-ft (1463-m).

The Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is a breathtaking river canyon that provides the only sea-level route through the Cascade Mountain Range. It is 4,000-ft (1219-m) deep and 80 mi (129 km) long. The north canyon walls are in Washington State and the south are in Oregon State. Popular activities in the Gorge include fishing, boating, hiking, mountain biking, windsurfing, rock climbing and camping. Visitors looking for more relaxing activities can picnic, take photographs and observe birds, wildlife and wildflowers.
The Columbia River Gorge is also home to stunning waterfalls that were created through millenniums of geological events. The Scenic Area of the Gorge offers beautiful landscapes, as well as places to view vital habitat and ancient Indian rock art. Other cultural and historical sites can be found in the Scenic Area as well as farmlands, forestlands and orchards. The Scenic Area stretches 85 mi (137 km) from the east of Troutdale and Washougal to the Deschutes River.

Pearson Air Museum
The Pearson Air Museum showcases vintage aircraft. Located in the heart of Vancouver's National Historic Reserve, the Pearson Air Museum's many displays of vintage aircraft includes several World War I-era biplanes and the plane that made the first transpacific flight. The museum also features a pictorial history wall, exhibits, a children's interactive room, a reference library, a restoration hangar and a theater.

The Marshall House3

Officer's Row National Historic District
One of the oldest neighborhoods in the Northwest is Officer's Row, which features 21 beautifully preserved Victorian-era homes that were built for U.S. Army officers in the mid-1800s. The homes represent an architectural style common to the U.S. Army, yet, they also reflect modifications that are unique to the Pacific Northwest. The George C. Marshall House, built in 1886, is open for public viewing and has become known as the crown jewel of Officers Row. The 1953 Nobel Peace Prize recipient, General George C. Marshall, resided in the home from 1936 to 1938. The first floor of the house may be rented out for special events and the venue has become a popular place for weddings and receptions.

The Clark County Historical Museum
The Clark County Historical Museum opened on New Year’s Eve in 1909, sharing space with Vancouver’s first public library. The library building is one of 43 Carnegie Libraries in Washington and features a research library, which is part of the museum and contains over 3,000 books. The museum features a collection of artifacts from the mid-1200s through to the late 20th century. Lake River ceramics and American Indian stone, bone, clothing and baskets can be viewed. Items from the Hudson’s Bay fur trade are also on display, as well as many photos, artwork and textiles.

Fort Vancouver Baston4

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Now preserved as a National Historic Site, archaeologists have recovered more than a million artifacts at Fort Vancouver since 1948. These artifacts have been used to accurately reconstruct six of Fort Vancouver's 27 buildings at their original site as they were in 1845. Guided tours led by Park Service Rangers are available. A visit to the elegant, fully-restored home of Chief Factor, John McLoughlin, is also included in the tour. Visitors can also view the crops that were once grown in the fort's period gardens and continue to be grown there.

Annual Events
Annual Events Vancouver hosts several events throughout the year. Every Fourth of July, the largest display of fireworks west of the Mississippi River can be viewed. The display near Fort Vancouver runs for approximately 45 minutes and attracts many people to the city. Another annual event that occurs in September is the three-day St. Joseph Vancouver Sausage Fest. This event has become famous for its beer, carnival rides, live entertainment and for its secret-recipe sausage.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF:

1. Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau; Sunset on the Interstate Bridge; Vancouver, Washington, United States
2. Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau; Ilchee statue; Vancouver, Washington, United States
3. Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau;The Marshall House; Vancouver, Washington, United States
4. Southwest Washington Convention and Visitors Bureau;Fort Vancouver Baston; Vancouver, Washington, United States