Wanderlust World Wanderlust World The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) established Fort Vancouver in 1824 as a central hub for its Pacific Northwest fur trade. Situated at the confluence of the Columbia and Willamette Rivers, the site offered ideal transportation, trade, and exploration access. By the mid-1830s, it became the primary depot for HBC's vast Northwestern fur operations.
The fort served as a vital trading post where Indigenous peoples from various tribes exchanged furs for European goods—blankets, guns, kettles, cloth, knives, beads, and food staples. This exchange stimulated economic activity and cross-cultural interactions across the Pacific Northwest, profoundly impacting Indigenous cultures and livelihoods.