It’s always fun to visit Washington’s historic sites, especially those that have been well-preserved. And of course, when those sites are rumored to be haunted, it adds a little extra excitement.

If you’ve ever visited Fort Vancouver National Historic Site, you probably didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. The vast majority of guests never experience paranormal activity. But there’s no denying that it exists here. Professional ghost hunters, former employees, and locals on the walking tour have both seen and heard things that suggest some of Fort Vancouver’s early residents never left.

Originally, Fort Vancouver was a 19th-century fur trading post.

Teresa Gildersleeve / Google The fort was located on the northern bank of the Columbia River in what is now Vancouver, and it was a major center of the regional fur trading.

Eventually, Fort Vancouver became Vancouver Barracks, the first U.S. Army base in the Pacific Northwest.

Theresa A / TripAdvisor And since 1961, it has been a designated National Historic site.

Of course, with such a long, intense history, it seems as if paranormal activity is an inevitability.

Troy G / TripAdvisor And the list of ghost stories here is a mile long.

Some of the accounts are tame. Doors open and shut by themselves, phones ring when they are completely unplugged, and disembodied footsteps can sometimes be heard throughout the fort.

Darlirra / Google One ghost in particular, which employees have nicknamed Sully, likes to hang out at the (now closed) Grant House and sip coffee.

The vast majority of spirits have been spotted around the nearby Officers Row.

Bill Beale / Google Officers Row is a series of preserved Victorian homes built for U.S. Army officers.

If you book a tour through Spirit Tales of the Vancouver Barracks, you’ll hear all sorts of spooky stories about this area.

WorldWanderer99 / TripAdvisor From a man whose dates were repeatedly scared off by a lady ghost to a little boy only one person could see, it’s clear that these walls are full of secrets.

Whatever your beliefs are in the paranormal, Fort Vancouver National Historic Site is a fascinating place to visit.

Theresa A / TripAdvisor Some of these buildings were first built long before Washington achieved statehood.

Have you ever been to Fort Vancouver or Officers Row? The Spirit Tales ghost walks are available through Halloween.

Teresa Gildersleeve / Google

The fort was located on the northern bank of the Columbia River in what is now Vancouver, and it was a major center of the regional fur trading.

Theresa A / TripAdvisor

And since 1961, it has been a designated National Historic site.

Troy G / TripAdvisor

And the list of ghost stories here is a mile long.

Darlirra / Google

One ghost in particular, which employees have nicknamed Sully, likes to hang out at the (now closed) Grant House and sip coffee.

Bill Beale / Google

Officers Row is a series of preserved Victorian homes built for U.S. Army officers.

WorldWanderer99 / TripAdvisor

From a man whose dates were repeatedly scared off by a lady ghost to a little boy only one person could see, it’s clear that these walls are full of secrets.

Some of these buildings were first built long before Washington achieved statehood.

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Address: Fort Vancouver National Historic Site | Visitor Center, 1501 E Evergreen Blvd, Vancouver, WA 98661, USA