Oregon Public Broadcasting

Vancouver, Washington launched a campaign Friday to re-brand itself, but not to rename itself. 

Fort Vancouver

This comes in the wake of the Winter Olympics.  The regional tourism bureau wants to differentiate the American Vancouver from its identically named neighbor to the North.

Vancouver, Washington has always had a little bit of a name problem.  The Winter Olympics only increased the frequency of calls to area hotels and the visitors bureau seeking the other Vancouver, in British Columbia.

Kim Bennett of the newly renamed Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office saw first hand the confusion.

"People were asking how close they were to the venue.  You're about eight hours away and there's a border crossing.  And they'd say, 'Uh-huh, yeah?'"

A new slogan emphasizes historic prominence: "Visit Vancouver USA - Discover the Original."

"We originated about 30 years before Vancouver, BC. While they have a great city and great destination, we were historically first," Bennett said.

This past fall and winter, some civic leaders revived the idea of renaming their fair city Fort Vancouver.  But Bennett says that idea seems to have petered out.

Vancouver USA Regional Tourism Office