Full Tour of the Gen. George C. Marshall House.

This home's Queen Anne architecture is one of the most popular high Victorian styles. It features ornate Victorian elements, including stained glass windows, decorative woodwork, and a round turret. The house served as an impressive residence for the commanding officer of Vancouver Barracks during the period of western development.

The house is named in honor of General George C. Marshall (1880-1959), who lived here from 1936 to 1938 while serving as the commander of the barracks and the regional Civilian Conservation Corps. In 1937, General and Mrs. Marshall welcomed the Russian crew of the first nonstop transpolar flight from Europe to America at this house. General Marshall is perhaps best remembered for the Marshall Plan, which he authored for European economic recovery after World War II. He was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1953 for this achievement.

This "crown jewel" of Officers Row continued to serve as the residence for the barracks commander until the end of World War II. The city acquired the house in 1984, and it was renovated along with the other homes on Officers Row in the late 1980s.

The house was listed on the Clark County Heritage Register in 1985 and on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

In September 1936, General George C. Marshall received orders to command the 5th Brigade of the 3rd Division, stationed at Vancouver Barracks, while also supervising the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) camps in the region. He, along with his wife Katherine, his teenage stepdaughter Molly, and their Irish setter Pontiac, drove from the East Coast in the General's new Packard, taking three weeks to enjoy the sights along the way.

Upon arriving at Vancouver Barracks, Marshall remarked that "our house is the most attractive I have seen in the Army." He also noted the presence of a "very old" cherry tree in the front yard, as well as the 65 varieties of roses and nearly 200 other plants in the gardens.

The Marshalls were stationed there for 20 months, during which time General Marshall secured substantial funds to rehabilitate the post. His efforts led to the deed of four acres to the City of Vancouver as a park to protect the "Old Apple Tree," a remnant of the Hudson's Bay Company village, and to build a replica of the Company's fur trading post. However, after extensive archaeological excavations in the 1940s and 1950s, Fort Vancouver was ultimately reconstructed at its original location rather than on the acreage set aside by Marshall.

Today, the General is best known for the "Marshall Plan," which facilitated the American post-war reconstruction of Europe. He also served as Secretary of State, Secretary of Defense, and President of the American Red Cross.


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