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The Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in Washington State

© Jerri Brooker

On a recent trip to the west side of the state I picked up a tool from the westward Indian John Rest Area on Interstate 90. Washington State has put together a guide of facts and maps outlining the Lewis and Clark "Corps of Discovery's" time and accomplishments in our state, The Washington Experience of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, published in 2001. It's in handy map form and takes you along the route to discovery in our state. Look for it at visitor centers and rest stops along Interstates 5 and 90.

Map and Historical Guide

From that find I put together a few notable dates and happenings on the Washington leg of the trek for those of you interested in taking the route they took through our state. If you can't do it all you may want to touch on some notable sights.

The map/historical guide is divided into seven areas - I've included some of the towns' names:

· "Map 1, The Nez Perce Homelands and Snake River," beginning with Clarkston;

· "Map 2, The Great Columbia River at Last," including Walla Walla;

· "Map 3, Back on the Map," through Plymouth, Roosevelt;

· "Map 4, Wild Waters," White Salmon and others;

· "Map 5, Calmer and Broader Waters," Washougal and Vancouver;

· "Map 6, Mist, Fog, and Tremendous Anticipation," Cathlamet, Longview, Kelso; and

· "Map 7, Ocean in View, O! the Joy," Long Beach and Ilwaco.

Timeline

The publication follows the main parts of the Washington State journey, beginning October 5, 1805, when the Lewis and Clark Exposition began their route toward our state. On October 10 they entered what is now Washington State. The "Corps of Discovery," as they were called, then arrived at the confluence of the Snake and Columbia rivers on October 16.

At this point they recognized signs of being close to the coast. Since their ultimate goal was to reach the Pacific Ocean, they took side trips to Cape Disappointment where they could view the great Pacific.

They then established "Station Camp" on November 15, 1805 and waited for spring and the mountains to clear. Their camp was in Oregon at present day Ft. Clatsop, across the Columbia River from Washington State.

The next leg of their journey began March 23, 1806. They left Ft. Clatsop and backtracked on the Columbia river to the mouth of the Walla Walla river by canoe and then by land. Native Americans advised them of an overland trail to the Snake River. Their land travels from the Columbia to the Snake River was one of their longest land treks on their entire expedition.

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