Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area

From my view Fort Yamhill represents an example of one of the many forts and Posts that would have been managed and supplied from the Vancouver Barracks as part of the Columbia Department. This puts it in as part of the Portland Story. It also is part of story of what happened to the first inhabitants on this land and in Portland.

Fort Yamhill was established in 1856 as part of the relocation by the army of the last of the native population to reservations (call the trail of tears). It was positioned to keep natives in and keep settlers out. But when you look at the placement of the fort is was mostly just to keep the indigenous people on the reservation. By 1866 with natives pacified and with demand of the from the civil war in the east the fort was closed.

The Oregon State Parks opened the Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area in 2006. What is known about the fort today comes from archaeological excavations and limited historical documents. From this the park service (and I am sure on a limited budget) has attempted to give visitors an idea of what Fort Yamhill was and its roll in Oregon history. Today you can do a walking tour of where the fort was and read signs that tell a little bit about Fort Yamhill.

  • Entry sign at Fort Yamhill State Heritage Area.
  • Introductory signs that give the a quick overview about the fort. Informational brochure available here.
  • One of the officers houses is the last building from Fort Yamhill.
  • The last original building, officer’s house, at its relocated site.
  • The house has been partially restore to its original state but still waits to be finished.
  • A walk way winds up the hill where the old fort once stood. Along the route are signs naming the building that once stood there and information about fort.
  • The imposing building of the fort was the blockhouse. This is the spot where it once stood.
  • The Blockhouse was position to overlook the valley and to be sure all who passed could see it.
  • When the blockhouse stood on the hill there was a clear view all the way to the river and trail that led to the coast.
  • Signs are posted to show what building once stood there. It would take a lot of imagination to try and picture what the old fort would have looked like.
  • Signs along the gravel trail give bits of information about the old fort. The brochure available at the entry info signs has more.