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Lewis and Clark
National Historic Trail Sites
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail was
established by Congress in 1978 as a component of the National Trails
System. Administered by the National Park Service in partnership with
other Federal, State, and local agencies along with private organizations
and landowners. The National Park Service working with the Lewis and Clark
Trail Heritage Foundation have designated the following as Lewis and Clark
National Historic Trail sites:
North Dakota and Montana Trail Sites
Fort
Abraham Lincoln State Park - Mandan, ND
Popular with visitors is the On-A-Slant Indian Village which are
reconstructed earthlodges depicting the lifestyle of the Mandan Indians,
who occupied this site from about 1575-1781. Clark noted this site in his
journal.
North
Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center - Washburn, ND
This site provides an overview of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, with
special emphasis on the time spent at Fort Mandan during the winter of
1804-1805. The site also includes displays of Native American culture and
the Bergquist Gallery which features artwork by Karl Bodmer on the Upper
Missouri.
Fort
Mandan Park - Washburn, ND
Named after the friendly Mandam tribe, the Expedition wintered several
miles upstream from this reconstructed full size replica of the Expedition’s
1804-1805 winter quarters.
Knife
River Indian Villages National Historic Site - Stanton, ND
The remnants of more than fifty archaeological sites suggest a possible
8,000 year span of inhabitation, including three Hidatsa earthlodge
villages visited by Lewis and Clark during their stay at Fort Mandan.
Four
Bears Park - Newtown, ND
This site contains an interpretive center that focuses on the Arikara,
Mandan, and Hidatsa tribes visited by Lewis and Clark during their stay at
Fort Mandan.
Lewis
and Clark State Park - Epping, ND
The expedition camped nearby on April 17, 1805 and Lewis was shot and
seriously wounded by the nearsighted Cruzatte in an hunting accident. An
interpretive trail marker has been placed within the park.
Confluence
of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers - Williston, ND
Lewis and Clark reached the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone
Rivers in April of 1805. They observed that the area would be an excellent
site for the establishment of a post. In 1828, the American Fur Company
established Fort Union. The U.S. Army established nearby Fort Buford in
1866. Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site is open to the public
and has exhibits on Lewis and Clark’s visit. Fort Buford State Historic
Site preserves the remains of the fort that policed the American-Canadian
border as well as river traffic.
Charles M Russell National Wildlife Refuge -
Lewiston, MT
As the expedition traveled upriver through this area of May of 1805 and
downriver in 1806 they observed bison, elk, and grizzly bears. In the
western portion of the refuge there is a thirty-mile stretch of the
Missouri River where it flows free and appears as it during Lewis &
Clark' time.
Lewis
and Clark Interpretive Center - Great Falls, MT
Lewis and Clark found a series of five
waterfalls, rapids, and steep ravines near present day Great Falls. The
portage took the Expedition one month to complete. A new educational
facility sits on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River in Giant Springs
Heritage State Park. and has
over 5,000 square feet of exhibits detailing the famous 1804-1806
expedition as well the area's natural history and the Plains Native
American culture encountered by the Corps of Discovery.
Gates
of the Mountains - Helena National Forest, MT
The Expedition passed through the spectacular
Missouri River Canyon, remarking on how the towering walls seemed to close
in on them like gates. They observed bighorn sheep along narrow shelves
and perpendicular cliffs that can still be observed today.
Three
Forks - Three Forks, MT
The Corps of Discovery reached the Three Forks of
the Missouri on July 25, 1805. Lewis and Clark named these Missouri
tributaries in honor of the President Jefferson and two of his cabinet
members, Madison and Gallatin. The next challenge involved choosing the
correct river to follow with the wrong choice resulting in getting caught
in the Rocky Mountains at the onset of winter. The Expedition ultimately
chose the southwest flowing Jefferson River.
Beaverhead
Rock - Dillon, MT
On August 8, 1805 Sacagawea saw the geological
formation known to her people, the Shoshone, as Beaverhead Rock. A few
days later the Corps found the Shoshone proving that Sacagawea was
critical to the success of the journey to the Pacific Ocean.
Camp
Fortunate Overlook - Clark Canyon Reservoir, MT
Lewis met the Lemhi Shoshone in present day Idaho
and they accompanied him back to meet with Clark. Sacagawea had recognized
the Shoshone chief, Cameahwait, as her brother enabling the Corp of
Discovery acceptance. The Expedition traded for horses and cached their
canoes and a stash of supplies for the return trip. The actual site is under the Clark Canyon Reservoir, but an
overlook is available with a historical marker giving an account of the
event.
Lemhi
Pass National Historic Landmark - Beaverhead and Salmon National Forests, MT
Lemhi Pass, on the Montana-Idaho border, is the
point where Lewis and Clark first crossed the Continental Divide, left the
territory of the Louisiana Purchase, and saw the headwaters of the
Columbia River.
Lost
Trail Pass - Salmon-Challis National Forest, MT
In early September 1805 Clark and his hired
Shoshone guide, nicknamed Toby, crossed Lost Trail Pass in a failed
attempt to follow the Salmon River to the Columbia River.
Traveler's
Rest State Park - Lolo, MT
The Corps is used the area to prepare (in
September 9 - 11, 1805) and recuperate (June 30 – July 3, 1806) for
treks over the Lolo Trail..
Lewis
and Clark Pass - Helena National Forest, MT, MT
On the return trip Lewis and Clark separated at Traveler's Rest. In an
effort to find a shorter way across the Continental Divide Lewis led 9 men
along the Blackfoot River and a route their Nez Perce guides called "Cokahlarishkit"
Trail over what is now called Lewis and Clark Pass..
Gibbons
Pass - Bitterroot National Forest, MT
After separating from Lewis in July 1806, Clark
followed the Bitterroot River southeast to near present-day Sula. Clark's
party then followed an ancient Indian route that rose from the valley
floor to what is now Gibbons Pass and descended into the Big Hole Valley.
Pompeys
Pillar Monument - 30 miles east of Billings, MT
On Clark’s return down the Yellowstone River
his party came across a large sandstone outcrop. Clark named the rock
Pompy's Tower (now called Pompeys Pillar) after Sacagawea's baby whom he
called Pomp. Clark carved his name and date into the soft sandstone, which
can still be seen today.
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