Douglas Fir was the preferred tree in the west for timbers until it was mostly harvested. I helped a friend salvage the timbers from a barn that was built in 1870. The wood was still solid and you only had to scratch the surface to see the original reddish (they called it red pine around here) color. I still remember the scientific name Pseudotsuga menziesii kind of a fun name. I climbed under a doug fir just two weeks ago on a back country ski trip to take shelter and rest. When I climbed out 2 dusky grouse burst out of the 2 feet deep powder in front of me. Funny bird they migrate by walking up hill in winter, they eat the needles of the Douglas fir, and they often plunge under the snow to sleep.
Scott