The Hudson’s Bay Company (HBC) was given a royal charter by the British Crown in 1670 which provided it with a trading monopoly over a vast domain in Canada. By the nineteenth Century, HBC had extended its empire into the Pacific Northwest. In 1825, HBC established Fort Vancouver on the Columbia River as the administrative center and principal supply depot of the Columbia Department, an area of about 700,000 square miles. Fort Vancouver has been part of the National Park System since 1948.
In Fort Vancouver, the Chief Factor’s House was known as the Big House. This was a structure which was designed to impress, According to the display:
“Here, among the fort’s highest ranking gentlemen, news was shared, guests were entertained, policies were enacted, strategies were discussed, and agreements were made affecting lands, resources, and people from Russian Alaska to Mexican California and the Pacific Coast to the crest of the Rocky Mountains—the HBC’s vast Columbia Department.”
The large hall is shown above.
According to the display:
“At the center of economic, social, and political activity, this building housed the top two officers at the post and their families. The building’s central feature—a large hall—provided facilities for officers of the HBC and their guests to dine and enjoy holiday celebrations, religious services, weddings and even an election under the provisional government.”
Shown above is Dr. John McLoughlin, the longest-serving Chief Factor at Fort Vancouver. He moved into this building when it was completed in the spring of 1838. James Douglas and his family also moved into the house at this time.
Shown above is a bookcase in Dr. McLoughlin’s office.
Shown above is Dr. McLoughlin’s office.
Shown above is a portion of the living room.
Another portion of the living room.
Shown above is the kitchen for the Big House.
Museums 101
Museums 101 is a series of photo tours of museum exhibits. More from this series:
North-West Mounted Police: The Officers' Quarters (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The Sedman House in Nevada City (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: The General Store (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Hagerman Valley Historical Museum (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Household Items in the Franklin County Museum (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Glass Art Works by Dale Chihuly (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Skiing (Photo Diary)
Museums 101: Interactive Robots (Photo Diary)