The proposed strategy for Fort Langley will make it possible to ensure commemorative integrity and to provide the facilities to receive visitors and operate the site in an efficient and effective manner within the CRM principles. It acknowledges that the significance of Fort Langley extends beyond its palisades to its strategic location on the Fraser River and that interpretation of the historic place itself is integral to understanding the role of Fort Langley in Canadian history. At the same time it sees the need for operational and display space and the present character of the interior as an opportunity to meet needs through the construction of buildings which would help suggest historic volumes and spatial relationships within the palisades. A fundamental reassessment of interpretation which encompasses period/costumed interpretation and includes modern multimedia communication overlays the strategy and is integral to its success in delivering national messages and presenting the site with integrity.
The strategy involves six components that are interdependent and are considered as necessary for the effective care and presentation of the historic value of Fort Langley National Historic Site and its long term economic viability. These components will be implemented in accordance with the CRM principles of value, public benefit, understanding, respect and integrity. These six components are:
Communicating with the Canadian public is therefore a fundamental activity of any national historic site. In the context of Fort Langley, the site faces two challenges in this area: first, the need to strengthen the delivery of the messages of national significance and, second, the necessity to reach more effectively an increasingly diversified audience. To meet these challenges, a new interpretive approach is necessary.
To improve the delivery of the site's messages of national significance, additional exhibit space (i.e. a visitor orientation centre, exhibits building, theatre, viewscapes and display areas in existing buildings) and new media (e.g. interpretive signs, interpretive trails, viewscapes, interactive displays, self-guided brochures, audio-guides and additional exhibits) will be added. Focusing on the larger context of the historic place, its resources and its messages, the new media and exhibit space will complement the existing interpretation services, which centre on costumed interpretation. Moreover, the combined presentation efforts of the new interpretive approach will enable the site to reach more effectively its increasingly diversified audience by using three levels of communication: the cognitive (panels along the trails, audiovisual presentation, exhibits and some interpretation activities), the emotional (contact with the landscape, atmosphere of the place, conversation with costumed guides, audiovisual presentation, atmosphere and messages of the displays), and the sensory (trail, interactive exhibits, interpretation activities).
By providing visitors with various means for understanding the history commemorated at Fort Langley, the new interpretive approach will ensure the effective communication of the site's national significance and enable the site to reach its audience. In its presentation efforts, special care will be taken to interpret the site as a whole, to integrate the messages delivered outside and inside the palisade and to relate the many functions of Fort Langley to its strategic position on the Fraser River and its role in the Pacific Slope fur trade.
The vibrant community involvement in Fort Langley will continue to be encouraged through collaboration in the organization of special events, workshops and other programs that relate to the site's national and more localized significance. Existing community traditions relating to messages of national significance such as Douglas Day and the July 1 Citizenship Court will continue and special efforts will be made to link them to Fort Langley's history.
Presentation techniques will be selected to ensure accuracy in the story. The conjectural nature of interior divisions and specific room functions of reconstructed buildings will be acknowledged. A mix of period and contemporary interpretation will be used to explain activities such as coopering and fur packing and to link them to the wider role of Fort Langley in the Pacific Slope fur trade. The Aboriginal role in the social and economic life of the fort will be more effectively presented in the interpretive programming. Collaboration with the Sto:lo on this matter will be invited.
Interpretation will also ensure accuracy in the presentation of the fort itself and respect for the evolution of the historic site and the values it holds for the community. Various actions will be taken to make a clear distinction between authentic, reconstructed and other resources. For example, plans or models could compare the present reconstructed complex to the original and exhibits of historic photos and plans could show the evolution of the fort. The Storehouse will be clearly presented as the single surviving built resource on the site and on the west side, locations of three former structures will be marked and interpreted. Building names, reflecting both function and original purpose, will reinforce the identification of a structure as authentic or new and site maps and brochures will be changed accordingly. Throughout the site, signage will be placed on the different structures indicating their date of construction and where possible, visual comparison of present structures and the originals will be provided.
To ensure that the direction provided in this management plan with regard to the site's presentation are effectively implemented, a new interpretive plan will be developed to explain where, how, by whom and for whom the messages will be delivered.
The site experience will begin for all visitors at the VOC. It will provide a sense of arrival, meet immediate needs (shelter, washrooms, water, seats, telephones, clock), provide a preliminary orientation to the site in its immediate (Fraser River) and larger (Pacific Slope/Canada) geographical setting and introduce the visitor to the site including the interpretive trails and visitor activities in and outside the palisade. The VOC will also house a sales shop, to be operated by a third party, and provide a place where entrance tickets, interpretive aids, such as self-guiding brochures and audio-guides, can be purchased or rented.
The construction of the VOC will be accompanied by a reconfiguration of the parking lot to focus sight lines to the fort and river, to relocate bus parking in the lowest portion of the lot and to improve efficiency in traffic circulation.
The VOC will also be designed to allow for the possible addition of a food services facility. This will, however, require further analysis to determine its viability as a business venture with the private sector, as well as public consultation with local businesses and the public.
To establish views of the palisade from the VOC, the parking lot will be slightly reconfigured, the existing makeshift operational facilities will be removed and these areas planted with low maintenance ground cover.
A short walk from the VOC along the bluff to the fort will include interpretive panels explaining the landscape - the importance of the Fraser River, that railways often followed fur trade routes - and Fort Langley's relationship to other forts on the Pacific Slope. This trail will coordinate interpretive nodes with specific views of the river.
A long trail (perhaps 45 minutes) will take visitors across the CNR tracks at the existing level crossing to the west of the fort, along boardwalk over boggy terrain next to the river and then across the CNR tracks further east to Hudson's Bay Road leading to the east side of the palisade. Provision of direct access to the river area entails an additional level pedestrian crossing linked to the new visitor orientation facility. Site management will pursue this with CNR. The SS BEAVER plaque and accompanying sculpture at present on the bluff will be relocated to the river front and interpretive exhibits erected comparing the present and former shorelines and indicating the former location of the Company pier.
A third trail will encircle the east, south and west sides of the palisade. This route shows the scale of the fort from the outside and will provide resting places and interpretive nodes relating the fort to the pastoral land to the east and its former farm to the south. The north side of the palisade is on a precipice which is unsuitable for trails. Consideration will be given to cutting a door in the north palisade, echoing the former trade shop opening, to provide access to a look-out point to the river and to interpret the trade shop feature of the former fort.
Collaboration with the Greater Vancouver Regional District (GVRD) will be undertaken to link these trails with the "Fort to Fort" trail planned by the GVRD along the river front to the site of the first Fort Langley (1827 - 1839), which is located approximately 4 km down river to the west.
The character of the fort interior is defined by the enclosure itself, five buildings and two bastions and large areas of open space. The palisade, reconstructed in phases from 1957 to 1990, sits on the approximate footprint of the original palisade but is foreshortened by about 20 meters on the north side. Parts of the palisade and the buildings, some of them reconstructions of nearly 40 years, are potential cultural resources in their own right and are valued by the community. These built resources partially recapture some of the historic volumes and spatial relationships of the original fort, and with the Storehouse contribute to the overall character of the site. Open spaces in the long 2:1 rectangle which forms the fort interior are also features of the site. There is a strong opinion that these spatial relationships detract from the understanding of Fort Langley. The longest gap occurs along the east side south of and in line with the Storehouse in an area that has been archaeologically investigated.
There are urgent functional requirements at Fort Langley for operations, theatre and exhibit space which is needed to effectively communicate the site's significance. Current space for operations and the theatre are well below standard and there is no accommodation for didactic displays. Location of staff facilities within the fort will improve staff interaction with the visitor. The addition of the Theatre and Exhibit buildings within the palisade will provide a key way to diversify interpretation in this area and to reinforce the messages of national significance to the visitor. Functional requirements will be met by the construction of three separate new structures on the vacant east side of the fort placed on the approximate footprints of three former structures. Physically, these buildings will increase the fort density and further suggest the historical spatial relationships in the fort interior. All of the buildings will have completely modern interiors with full basements. Operations will be accommodated in a two-storey, hipped-roof structure on the southeast side; public washrooms will be provided from this facility. Two one-storey buildings, in line with and between the Storehouse and the Operations building, will house the theatre and exhibits.
The design intent is to achieve a compatible exterior design for three new structures within the palisade that respects the heritage character of the site through the use of historic information and evidence. The design of the buildings will reflect available and comparative information, while providing functional, cost-effective operational buildings.
New construction will not overwhelm the cultural resources of the site or confuse the public as to what is 'authentic' and what is not. All work will be distinct from the original heritage resources of the site (i.e. the Storehouse) and will be presented in such a way as to not mislead the visitor.
Where gaps in information do not determine the specifics of an exterior detail or finish, designs will be compatible with the heritage character of the Storehouse and the site and be contemporary in nature. Issues arising from the combination of a contemporary interior with an historically compatible exterior design will be resolved in an interdisciplinary context.
While they will be understood by visitors to be contemporary buildings, upon entering the fort, the new structures will reinforce the heritage character of the site and contribute to visitors understanding of the spatial relationships within the palisade.
Buildings will be located on their original sites. It has been determined that there are no cultural resources that would be adversely affected by this decision. The original rectangular form will be followed, including the original number of structural bays. Traditional Red River framing construction techniques will be utilized as the basis for the construction of the exterior walls of the buildings modified as required to meet contemporary building envelope requirements. Form, massing, roof configuration and placement of windows and doors will match that indicated in the December 15, 1858 sketch by Edward Mallandaine. Beyond these three buildings, no further building construction will occur within the palisade.
In view of Vancouver's growing resident population and tourist visitation, it is apparent that there is ample room for an authentic, historical place such as Fort Langley to attract larger markets. The site offers a special heritage experience in the Lower Mainland of British Columbia. According to business planning forecasts, if the heritage product of Fort Langley is renewed with the needs of the visitors in mind and if a strong marketing effort is undertaken through a cooperative campaign with the village of Fort Langley and an integrated regional strategy for all historic sites in the Lower Mainland, visitation to Fort Langley should increase, following a relatively small decline in 1995 and 1996 (due to construction underway and resistance to fee increases), by over 60% by 1999.
Through market-sensitive fees charged to visitors and other historic site users, we must do better in offsetting operating costs with revenue. Priority will be given to initiatives that contribute to ensuring commemorative integrity and providing a quality service to the public. The implementation strategy must be flexible to accommodate changing circumstances. The final timing of implementation will depend upon the success of fund raising efforts and business opportunities.
Gerry Borden's Home Page ||
Heritage Interpretation Page
: April 11, 1998