Vancouver, WA - Fort Vancouver National Historic Site re-opens to visitors today. Visitors can again access the national park's public areas, roads, facilities, and public services during regularly scheduled hours of operation. Along with the 400 other units of the national park system, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site has been closed since October 1 due to the lapse in Congressional appropriations.
"We are really excited to be back at work and welcoming visitors to Fort Vancouver National Historic Site," said Superintendent Tracy Fortmann. "As NPS Director Jon Jarvis stated yesterday, 'Turning away visitors is not in our culture or in our DNA.' We recognize that the closing of this national park for 16 days has been extremely tough on our gateway communities, local businesses, neighbors, volunteers, and park partners, and we look forward to working with them on ways to lessen the impact."
To help lessen the impact of the shutdown, park staff members have begun reaching out to schools, groups and individuals to reschedule activities canceled by the shutdown. "We appreciate the understanding and support we've received from the community," said Greg Shine, the park's chief ranger and historian, "especially those with activities impacted by the shutdown, and we look forward to rescheduling as many as possible."
The park's first Lantern Tour of the season--originally scheduled to capacity for October 5 and canceled by the shutdown--has been rescheduled for Oct. 26, with priority placement for those with reservations for the canceled tour.
"We're again calling each individual or group who had reserved a spot on the October 5 Lantern Tour," said Greg Shine, the park's chief ranger and historian, "but this time our message is a more positive one: we're offering them priority placement for the newly-added Lantern Tour on October 26. We'll open to the general public any additional tour spots for the October 26 Lantern Tour once the visitors impacted by the cancelation of the October 5 Lantern Tour have been given the opportunity to sign up."
Due to public interest, this new Lantern Tour will replace the "Tales of the Engagé" talk originally scheduled for that date.
For more information on the park's Lantern Tour series, please visit the park's webpage or call 360-816-6230.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
