FY26 Blacksmith (Living History Interpreter)

The Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) viewed each of its forts as a small factory that would not only provide items for trade, but also for the individual requirements of fort employees.

The Blacksmith Shop was a busy place during workdays at the fort, with blacksmiths working on four separate forges to manufacture or repair a large variety of iron goods, including axes, beaver traps, window hardware, plows, and more. The long distance and time required to haul supplies and trade goods from Great Britain, as well as the expense involved, led the Company to employ craftsmen to manufacture required iron objects.

The primary goal of living history interpretation is to help make connections between visitors and the resource (Fort Vancouver NHS). Working as a blacksmith within the fort, you will facilitate and aid the general visitors’ understanding of the historic roles and functions the shop and smiths would have provided. Volunteers are absolutely essential to the visitor experience at Fort Vancouver NHS, especially within our historic trade spaces.