Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Lewis and Clark - 1

Tuesday, 6/23. From Bismarck we drove north to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. These large metal sculptures are Lewis, Clark, and Sakakawea (currently or locally preferred spelling? I learned it as Sacagawea)


The Lewis and Clark story is such a momentous one, and fairly well known since we just passed the bicentennial of their 1804-1806 expedition, that I won't try to condense or reference; google to your heart's delight.


More large metal (and fiberglass) sculptures. Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam ...


L&C and their "Corps of Discovery" spent the winter, Nov 1804-April 1805, near the site of the Center, at what is called Fort Mandan (named for a local tribe). This is where Sakakawea , one of two Indian wives of the fur trader, Charbonneau, joined the Corps of Discovery. She and her husband were guides and interpreters. Most amazing statistic of the L&C expedition is that there was not one death among the 33 'permanent' members of the party.
The exact site of the Fort is not known, but thought likely to be under the current riverbed a few miles downstream. A replica has been built near the Interpretive Center (aka museum?) based on the party's (b)logs, notes, and sketches. Just to the right of the entrance, there was a nice young guide to tell you the Fort Mandan story.


More Lewis and Clark stuff to come. We'll be in Great Falls, MT this weekend for the L&C Festival.
Cheers,
Susie and Rob

No comments: