"Bone" Voyage: Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

Wednesday, June 6th-We had a great field trip with Aunt Debbie today. We did a lot of driving but we saw some awesome things.
We started at Astoria which is called the little San Francisco of the Pacific Northwest. It is very quaint and is perched above the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean. Aunt Debbie took us to the column which was erected in 1926 to commerate the discovery, exploration and settlement of the Pacific Northwest. This 125 foot tall concrete column is adorned with murals depicting scenes from Oregon history. It was a clear day today and we could see the Columbia River, Lewis and Clark river and the Pacific ocean. The best part was the excitement and joy watching Janae and Stefan fly their balsom airplanes from the top. Another great idea from Aunt Debbie.

The Columbia River

Astoria in the background

We then drove down the Oregon coast a bit and went to the Lewis and Clark National Historic Site at Fort Clatsop. Built on the banks of the Netul River (now the Lewis and Clark River), this was the third winter encampment for the Corps of Discovery from December 1805-March1806. "Ocian in view! O! the joy." When Capt. Clark wrote these words in his journal, he was not standing at the Pacific Ocean but the Columbia River esturary. It would be another couple weeks before he would see the ocean. It was overlooking Cannon Beach that he would see the ocean.

The expedition was President Thomas Jefferson's idea. He had for years been fascinated by the vast and virtually unknown territory west of the Mississippi. In 1803, he announced his plans to send an exploratory party by rivers to the Pacific. He chose Lewis to head it, and Lewis selected Clark,his friend and former commanding officer, to share the responsibilites. They were to explore the Missouri River to its source, then establish the most direct water route to the Pacific, makingscientific and geographic observations alongthe way. They were also to learn what they could of Indian tribes they encountered.

They started near St. Louis and wintered at Fort Mandan. They then left in April and when they got to Idaho, Sacagawea's people helped them get horses for the grueling trip over the Continental Divide.

During their time at Fort Clatsop, Clatsop and Chinook Indians whom Clark described as close bargainers,came to the fort almost daily to visit and trade. The captains wrote often in their journals about the tribes'appearance, habits, living conditions, lodges, and abilities as hunters and fishermen.

The visitor center movies were very good. They got a grant from a 12 year old daughter of a Clatsop park ranger to redo the movie. It was very good having an Indian woman narrate it. She pointed out that other white men had just come to trade but these people stayed. When visiting back and forth, the Indians were never asked to spend the night as they would offer. In the end, when the Discovery Corp was to go home, they were negotiating for a new canoe. The indians wouldn't sell it for their desired price, so they stole it. The Indian chief came and confronted Lewis. He offered his apology and gave them the fort after they returned home. Disappointing to hear this story. However, it ended with the Inidan actors who are the actual people, stating but we are still here.

I think Sacagawea was the real hero. How she cooked and survived in this miserable climate with a baby is unbelievable. It rained all but 12 days of the 106 that they here. She was only 19 which probably helped and the oldest person was Lewis and Clark, in their early thirties.

We then went further south to visit Cannon Beach. It got it's name after a navy vessel ran aground on the Columbia River Bar, split in half and part of the deck with a cannon attached to it washed ashore here. Beautiful beach. The large rock is the haystack and is a popular picture background. This is where Lewis and Clark and Company saw the ocean for the first time when they came to see a beeched whale.