Bicentennial in Washington
 Starting in 1804, Meriwether Lewis
and William Clark led the
Corps of Discovery expedition on an epic, two-year journey from
St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back. Marking two centuries since President Thomas Jefferson issued instructions to the explorers in 1803, the Lewis &Clark Expedition bicentennial is being commemorated from 2003 to 2006. This briefing document identifies
and highlights the various bicentennial
activities of the Washington State
Historical Society (WSHS).
Planning
WSHS is recognized in statute as the lead agency for
coordinating the Lewis and Clark bicentennial in Washington. This is done chiefly through its work with two bodies. The first, also created in statute, is the Washington Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Advisory Committee. The committee, most members of which are appointed by the governor, meets three times a year to oversee state agency coordination of bicentennial activities. The technical support committee, led by WSHS —called the Agency Assistance Team—meets monthly and is composed of representatives from other state agencies: Department of Transportation, State Tourism Office, National Guard, State Parks, and Arts Commission.
In furtherance of its role as bicentennial planner and coordinator, WSHS conducts occasional public meetings and conferences, provides technical assistance, and publishes a monthly electronic newsletter. Those interested in
receiving this monthly newsletter may subscribe online (see upper right corner of this screen). A complete archive of past issues can be found at: http://www.washingtonhistory.org/wshm/lewisandclark/newsletter-archive.htm.
Trail Improvements
Working with State Parks and WSDOT, WSHS is planning a new generation of roadside interpretive markers from Clarkston to Long Beach. Reflecting the latest scholarship and modern graphic design, the Lewis and Clark markers program in Washington is the most ambitious in the nation.
In association with the same agencies and the National Park Service, WSHS is the lead agency for consideration of the expansion of Fort Clatsop National Memorial to include three sites of historical significance related to the expedition on the Washington side of the river. These are the Megler Rest Area (where the expedition was marooned for a harrowing week), "Station Camp 1805" (the end of the voyage and the site of the famed "vote" to establish winter quarters), and Fort Canby State Park, where Lewis, Clark, and other members of the expedition took in an expansive view of their goal, the Pacific Ocean. With respect to Station Camp, the agencies are creating a team to develop a full interpretive waterfront park, potentially involving the relocation of a short stretch of Highway 101.
Educational Programs and Activities:
WSHS has published a companion book for the "Beyond Lewis and Clark"
exhibition. Written by Jim Ronda, a leading authority on the Lewis and Clark story and author of Lewis and Clark among the Indians, this book will be distributed nationally by University of Washington Press.
David Nicandri, director of WSHS, will also publish under UW Press auspices his regional study of the expedition, entitled Lewis and Clark on the Snake and Columbia Rivers: An Environmental History.
In a film/video tentatively titled The Indian Nations Respond to Lewis and Clark, WSHS will explore how the Corps of Discovery was and is now seen from the Native American perspective. Guided by an advisory committee, this project will address the fact that Lewis and Clark ushered in the displacement of the West's native people, an occasion for thoughtful reflection.
Exhibits:
WSHS will present at least four exhibits during the bicentennial at the Washington State History Museum in Tacoma.
End of Our Voyage: Lewis and Clark in Washington
November 15, 2002 - January 31, 2003
Exhibit Size: 450 square feet
Most of the Lewis and Clark Expedition's journey along the Columbia River took place in present-day Washington, including the surveying they did to mark their arrival at the Pacific at Station Camp. This small panel exhibit tells the story of the expedition's journey through Washington, detailing the route and campsites. There are two simultaneously circulating copies of this exhibit which were firstseen at the WSHM and in Charlottesville, Virginia, as a part of the national bicentennial "kick-off" event. After appearing at these locations the exhibits will circulate to small museums and libraries in Washington State.
Beyond Lewis and Clark:
The Army Explores the West
February 14 - October 31, 2004
Exhibit Size: 4,000 square feet
Lewis and Clark were the first representatives the army sent to explore west of the Mississippi. Subsequently, other army expeditions explored the West and paved the way for its incorporation into the United States. Significant later explorers include John C. Fremont, Isaac Stevens, and the notorious George A. Custer. This major national exhibit, filled with objects and engaging stories, will open at the Virginia Historical Society and travel to the Washington State History Museum, the Kansas State Historical Society and the Missouri Historical Society. With fewer artifacts, it will become a long-term exhibit at the Frontier Army Museum at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
Lewis and Clark Revisited: A Trail in Modern Day
Photography by Greg MacGregor
February 16 - April 4, 2004
Exhibit Size: 1,800 square feet
Photographs of the places Lewis and Clark visited, as they look today, highlight the differences modern
development has made to scenes described in Lewis and Clark's journals. Organized by Smith Kramer Fine Arts.
Discovering the Rivers of Lewis and Clark
November 26, 2004 - January 17, 2005
Exhibit Size: 2,500 - 3,500 square feet
Visitors will walk the length of the Lewis and Clark Trail from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean, learning about the rich river life that the explorers encountered during their great expedition. This large panel exhibit features spectacular color photos, maps, a replica
keelboat, and audio and video stations. Cosponsored by the Army Corps of Engineers, the History Channel, and with content donated by National Geographic. Organized by American Rivers.
Publications:
COLUMBIA
The Magazine of Northwest History will contain at least one feature story per issue on Lewis and Clark or the
bicentennial during the period of the commemoration. Previously published articles about Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery can be found on the Washington State Historical Society's website at: http://www.washingtonhistory.org/wshm/lewisandclark/lc-articles.htm.
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