History of the Guardhouse at Fort Stevens
The Guardhouse was constructed in 1911. It was the center of activity for the fort.
Guards gathered here to report for duty and take orders. It also had a cell block for errant soldiers. Assaults, theft, drunkenness, and desertion were the most common offenses-and were notably more frequent after payday. Punishment at times included unpleasant daytime duties under escort.
The Guardhouse was the backbone of the fort during the uncertainty of both world wars. It is a unique building architecturally and signifies the efforts of the soldiers to defend the Columbia River over a span of more than 80 years.
Restoring the Guardhouse
Restoring and preserving the Guardhouse is a collaborative effort between Oregon State Parks and the Friends of Old Fort Stevens.
In 2019, FOOFS received a Preserving Oregon Grant from the State Historic Preservation Office for $20,000 to restore 5 of the windows and 2 exterior doors on the Guardhouse, a project that totaled approximately $40,000.
Funding and Fundraisers
Oregon Parks and Recreation Department has recently received funds from the Oregon Legislature through General Obligation bonds. OPRD will be using an estimated $1-3 million of these funds to complete some much-needed repairs on the Guardhouse including a new roof, an upgrade in utilities to stop water infiltrating the basement, and installing new water, sewer, and electrical connections.
Once the exterior of the Guardhouse has been completely restored, work on the inside can begin! There are countless projects that need to be completed on the Guardhouse in order to preserve it for future generations to honor previous generations.
First Annual Summer Festival Event Fundraiser for the Guardhouse
The event was held on September 3rd and 4th, 2022 and welcomed over 2,000 visitors and made over $42,000 for the continued restoration efforts for the Guardhouse!
For details on this year’s Summer’s End Festival, click the link below.
The mission of the Friends of Old Fort Stevens is to preserve, improve, restore, interpret, and promote historic Fort Stevens and its environment in cooperation with the Oregon State Parks and Recreation Department.
