Astoria, Oregon
“Great joy … we are in view of the ocean … which we [have] been so long anxious to see, and the roaring or noise made by the waves breaking on rocky shores … may be heard distinctly.”From the Journals of Lewis and Clark, November 7, 1805
The Corps of Discovery first reached the Pacific Coast on the northern or Washington side of the Columbia River. With winter fast approaching, they had a decision to make: to remain on the northern side, cross over to winter on the southern side of the river near the coast, or return inland to construct their over-wintering site. The decision was driven by their need for salt (hence remain close to the ocean) and food. By vote of the Corps (including the Indian woman Sacagawea and Clark’s black manservant York) the Corps decided to cross the Columbia River. A site with an abundance of elk was found near present-day Astoria. A 50 x 50 ft log stockade was constructed in a dense forest of spruce and hemlock, their home until March 23, 1806 when the homeward journey began. They named it Fort Clatsop. It was not the most comfortable existence. It rained on all but twelve days, and they were plagued by their supply of elk going bad.
The National Park Service has reconstructed Fort Clatsop on the actual site. How the Corps of Discovery would have longed for a day such as ours – warm, clear and sunny! There, in reconstruction, were the desks where the two Captains, Lewis and Clark, reviewed the journals and maps of their great expedition … should they manage to return safely to civilization. They did, and the great rush to settle the lands that they discovered began.
“Great joy … we are in view of the ocean … which we [have] been so long anxious to see, and the roaring or noise made by the waves breaking on rocky shores … may be heard distinctly.”From the Journals of Lewis and Clark, November 7, 1805
The Corps of Discovery first reached the Pacific Coast on the northern or Washington side of the Columbia River. With winter fast approaching, they had a decision to make: to remain on the northern side, cross over to winter on the southern side of the river near the coast, or return inland to construct their over-wintering site. The decision was driven by their need for salt (hence remain close to the ocean) and food. By vote of the Corps (including the Indian woman Sacagawea and Clark’s black manservant York) the Corps decided to cross the Columbia River. A site with an abundance of elk was found near present-day Astoria. A 50 x 50 ft log stockade was constructed in a dense forest of spruce and hemlock, their home until March 23, 1806 when the homeward journey began. They named it Fort Clatsop. It was not the most comfortable existence. It rained on all but twelve days, and they were plagued by their supply of elk going bad.
The National Park Service has reconstructed Fort Clatsop on the actual site. How the Corps of Discovery would have longed for a day such as ours – warm, clear and sunny! There, in reconstruction, were the desks where the two Captains, Lewis and Clark, reviewed the journals and maps of their great expedition … should they manage to return safely to civilization. They did, and the great rush to settle the lands that they discovered began.
