December 2003, Volume 3, Issue 12

CAPTAIN WILLIAM CLARK PARK AT COTTONWOOD BEACH IS BECOMING A REALITY...

Three years ago a citizen committee chaired by Clark County Commissioner Judie Stanton and facilitated by local historian Roger Daniels recommended to the Port of Camas/Washougal commissioners that property the port owned at Cottonwood Beach be designated a new county park and that it would be named "Captain William Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach." Subsequently, an inter-local agreement was signed by the Port of Camus/Washougal, City of Washougal, City of Camas, and Clark County to establish a new county park. Further, the project received funding from local entities and state agencies totaling $2.8 million.

The new park site is within close proximity to Lewis & Clark's March 31 - April 6, 1806 camp site. This is where the Corps of Discovery spent six days gathering provisions for their return to the east. From this location, William Clark led a party of men back down the Columbia to sight the Willamette River and he also stopped at several Indian lodges along the way. While Lewis was overseeing the building of scaffolds and drying of meat, Clark's local exploration provided him with more details about the Willamette Valley and the present Portland/Vancouver area. For this reason, the East County Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Committee recommended that the new park be named after William Clark. When the Port formally adopted the resolution to name it Captain William Clark Park, local organizers were both surprised and proud to learn that it is the only park in American to bear his name (most are named after the two corps leaders together).

A park dedication has been tentatively set for the first week of August 2005.

Proposed Park Improvements

The Capt. William Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach will provide unique experience for Clark County residents and visitors. This regional park will offer a combination of recreation, historical interpretation, and environmental education opportunities. Recreation facilities will focus on providing for water-oriented activities including motorized and non-motorized boating activities, shoreline fishing, and wading within a designated water contact area. Nature walks, picnicking, tent camping, recreation vehicle camping facilities will also be available.

The focus of historic interpretation will be the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery's Expedition and their six-day Provision Camp established at this location in 1806. This significant event and Captain William Clark's leadership and valuable contributions to the Expedition will be the highlight of the Captain William Clark Park Recognition Plaza. The plaza will be constructed at the top of the dike overlooking the sand beach and Columbia River. Other historic interpretation stories will include; Native Americans of the Lower Columbia River; The Columbia River - Past, Present & Future; and Washougal's Early History & Settlers. Each of these stories will be told at separate interpretive stations located on boardwalks along the dike trail overlooking the Columbia River.

Providing for environmental education will be the third significant focus of this park. Two boardwalks departing from the dike trail will provide the opportunity to learn about the uniqueness of the surrounding natural environment. These environmental stories will include the Ice Age floods; how the Columbia River Gorge was formed; the abundance of resident birds, mammals and insects that can be seen and heard in this area; the diversity of migratory birds that frequent the Pacific Northwest; and the native shoreline plants that create valuable wildlife habitat along the Columbia River estuary. In addition, this project will identify, preserve and enhance the valued forested wetlands within this park. Invasive, non-native plants, such as Himalayan blackberry bushes and reed canary grass, will be removed and replaced by native riparian vegetation, such as Wapato and slough sedge.

Historical interpretation about the 1803 - 1806 Lewis & Clark journey from St. Louis, Missouri to the Pacific Ocean and back will be displayed. A cluster of directional/distance signs will be mounted on a pole in the plaza pointing to significant landmarks including St. Louis; the Rocky Mountains; the Clearwater and Snake Rivers; Mount Hood, Mount Adams, Mount Rainier, and Mount St. Helens; the Sandy and Willamette rivers; and the Pacific Ocean. A recognition area will also be located in the plaza listing key individuals, community organizations, grant funding agencies, private donors, and public agencies that participate in the creation of the Capt. William Clark Park at Cottonwood Beach.

PERMIT NEEDED TO FOLLOW LEWIS AND CLARK FOOTSTEPS ON LOLO MOTORWAY

If you want to travel in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark along a 58-mile section of the Lolo Motorway from July 15 to Oct. 1 next year, you will need a permit.

The permits are issued by the Forest Service through a lottery conducted by the Lochsa Ranger District in the Clearwater National Forest. The application period begins Dec. 1 and ends Jan. 31. A $6 non-refundable fee must accompany your application. Permits will be chosen at random by computer, and successful applicants will be notified by mail in mid-February, 2004.

The road section requiring a permit for travel stretches from Grizzly Bear Saddle west to Weitas Butte Road 557. The purpose of the permit is to protect travelers as well as rare cultural and natural resources by pacing traffic along the route.

Two types of permits are available - a single or small-group permit and a large-group permit. The permit system will be in effect during the remainder of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial commemoration years, through 2006.

Applicants must request a preferred trip start date, and may request two alternate dates. Unreserved travel dates can be claimed on a first-come, first-served basis beginning April 1, 2004. This will provide an opportunity for people who missed the application deadline, did not receive a permit in the lottery, or who want to make a last-minute trip along the Lolo Motorway

For more information, or to request an application packet, visit the Web site www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater or call the Lochsa Ranger District in Koskia, Idaho, at (208) 926-4274.

LCIC VIDEO WINS AWARD

The new video program shown at the Cape Disappointment State Park (formerly Fort Canby State Park) won a national award. The award is from the National Association for Interpretation. The video is called "Of Dreams and Discovery: Lewis and Clark's Arrival at the Pacific Ocean."

LEWIS AND CLARK BICENTENNIAL LAUNCHES PUBLIC SERVICE CAMPAIGN

St. Louis, MO-On December 10, the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, the Missouri Historical Society and the Ad Council will launch a multi-year national public service advertising campaign to commemorate the historic Lewis and Clark Expedition. 2003-2006 marks the 200th anniversary of Lewis and Clark's journey and the bicentennial provides a critical opportunity for all Americans to reflect upon the many timeless social issues faced by the expedition that are still relevant in today's society—tolerance and non-discrimination; teamwork; non-violence; and protecting and preserving the environment. The public service advertising campaign will feature television, radio and print ads created pro bono by advertising agency Young & Rubicam, and will feature the message "Walk with them and see what you discover."

The campaign will direct Americans to a newly redesigned website, www.lewisandclark200.org, which will serve as an in-depth portal to the many ways they can experience the journey and get involved in the commemoration.

"There has never been a time in American history where cross-cultural understanding, courage to face unknown challenges and willingness to be good stewards of our natural resources are more important than today. Through this campaign we hope that all Americans learn more about the expedition and the American Indians it encountered, and discover truths, ideals and lessons that can guide them in their own lives today," said Bob Archibald, president of the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.

In addition to the PSA campaign and with the involvement of more than 20 federal agencies, 38 American Indian tribes, 19 states and dozens of nonprofit cultural organizations, the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration will include 14 large-scale signature events taking place in communities across the nation. (The first two events have already occurred—at Monticello, Virginia and the Falls of the Ohio, Kentucky.) The commemoration will also bring increased awareness of the American Indians Lewis and Clark encountered on the expedition through a focused tribal awareness campaign highlighting the tribes and their legacies today. For more information on these organizations, signature events and other activities go to www.lewisandclark200.org.

"We are so pleased to have worked with the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council and the Missouri Historical Society," said Peggy Conlon, president and CEO of the Ad Council. "These powerful ads demonstrate how Lewis and Clark's journey and their interactions with the people they encountered continue to have such an impact on our lives. We hope they will serve to open the hearts and minds of Americans to embrace the diverse cultures that are part of our country and our world today."

NEW PHONE NUMBERS - NATIONAL HISTORIC TRAIL OFFICE

The telephone numbers at the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Office in Omaha changed effective Wednesday, November 25, 2003. Please make the appropriate changes in you roledex, phone lists, etc.

Our toll free number, 888-237-3252, will remain the same and will continue to ring at the main office where the receptionist will connect you to the staff.

NEW LEWIS AND CLARK STAMPS

Next year the U. S. Postal Service will release three new stamps commemorating the bicentennial of the official launch of the Lewis and Clark expedition on May 14, 1804. The Prestige Booklet will feature portraits of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark on self-adhesive semi-jumbo stamps available in sheets of ten.

The Bicentennial stamp, sold separately from the Prestige Booklet, will depict "Lewis and Clark standing on a promontory surveying the countryside," and will be sold in sheets of twenty.

For a look at the beautiful artwork on the new stamps honoring the explorers, visit the links below.

Lewis and Clark Prestige Booklet
Lewis and Clark Bicentennial

CALIFORNIA CONDORS IN OREGON ZOO

Six breeding pairs of California condors have been acquired by the Oregon Zoo (Portland, OR). They are opening a breeding center somewhere in Clackamas county, as part of the species recovery effort. The project was conceived by the marketing director for the Oregon Zoo (Jane Hartline) as a way for the zoo to participate in the L&C bicentennial.

The Oregonian newspaper (11/20/2003) reports that this is the first time in over 100 years that the condor has been in this part of the world, where they had been once sighted by Captain Lewis.

ENCYCLOPEDIA OF THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION

Encyclopedia of the Lewis and Clark Expedition provides a complete reference to this great American expedition, covering all major elements from the preparatory work initiated by President Thomas Jefferson in 1801 to the corp's return from the Pacific Ocean in 1806. This engaging and accessible volume highlights fascinating aspects of this important journey in American history—from the hundreds of new discoveries to the punctilious recording of the customs and habits of the Native Americans the explorers met, from the incredible physical effort required on certain parts of the journey to the trust the captains placed in their subordinates and the incredible ingenuity they employed.

A wealth of informative A-to-Z entries, as well as an extensive chronology with mileage markers, an introductory essay, supporting backmatter, and many maps and photographs combine to make this a must-have reference. Ned Blackhawk, an enrolled member of the Te-Moak Tribe of Western Shoshone Indians of Nevada and a history professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, has contributed an enlightening foreword.

Encyclopedia of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
ISBN: 0-8160-4781-2. Hardcover. $65.00
116 black-and-white photographs and illustrations. 20 maps. Index. Subject index. Bibliography.
Cross-references. Chronology.
Facts on File, Inc.
Contact:
Laurie Katz
Phone: 212-896-4269
Email: lkatz@factsonfile.com

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
By Sharon Hultman, WSHS Webmaster

National Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Website Gets a Grand Makeover

The National Bicentennial site has undergone a major renovation, and now sports a very contemporary, colorful new look. Utilizing some cutting-edge web technology, the redesigned site features audio and video promotions, a sliding-scale timeline of Bicentennial signature events, and links to just about everything on the web related to the Corps of Discovery.

There are multiple ways to navigate the site, starting with the gray menu at the upper left. This helpful guide shows up on every page, leading the visitor smoothly to news stories, educational materials, media resources, and merchandise. The calendar of events is a searchable database that also allows browsing by keyword, region and event type.

Another interesting new feature is the addition of Community Weblogs on several key topics - American Indian, Conservation and Travel the Trail. Although few individuals have taken advantage of this opportunity so far, its very presence bespeaks a commitment to truly serving the greater Lewis & Clark community.

The links to other sources of Lewis & Clark information are extensive, and probably constitute the most comprehensive Bicentennial resource available on the web. This is definitely the site to visit for all things Lewis & Clark over the next few years!

EVENTS LISTING

We are now listing bicentennial events and promotions in a large, searchable database, with several different search criteria, freeing up space in the electronic newsletter for more news-related items. If you would like to have an event or promotion listed in this new database, please direct all information to Mark Vessey at mvessey@wshs.wa.gov and he will post the listing.

To access this new feature, visit our website at www.washingtonhistory.org/lewisandclark and click the Bicentennial Events Calendar Database at the top of the page —or click on the link below.

PLEASE LOOK for additional information and updates on Bicentennial planning activities and projects in next month's e-newsletter.

ALSO - if you have articles or news-worthy information that you would like to contribute to this e-newsletter or to Washington's quarterly bicentennial newsletter, please contact Mark Vessey at 360.586.0219 or mvessey@wshs.wa.gov.

The Washington State Historical Society, lead agency of the state's Agency Assistance Team (AAT) for bicentennial planning, will send this newsletter via e-mail on a monthly basis to provide updates on events, projects, and activities going on around the state in preparation for the commemoration.

Your name is in the state's Lewis and Clark Trail database as someone who has expressed interest in the bicentennial. If you do not want to continue to receive this newsletter and/or other bicentennial communications, reply to this e-mail or contact Mark Vessey at the Heritage Resource Center 360.586.0219.