July 2005, Volume 5, Issue 5

CORPS OF DISCOVERY'S CAMPSITE AT PATIT CREEK

On May 2, 1806, the members of the Corps of Discovery camped on the Patit Creek just east of present-day Dayton, Washington.

On July 15, 2005, you can see their silhouettes in the campsite again.

Over 33 members, 3 Native Americans, and 26 horses are portrayed in life-sized iron replicas on the campsite. The project is the results of several years of planning, research and persistence on the part of Dayton resident George Touchette. The dedication of the project will be on July 15, 2005, at 1 PM. The location is 2.5 miles SE of Dayton. Approaching Dayton on Highway 12 make a turn on Patit Creek Road located on the south side of the highway near the former Green Giant cannery. Proceed along the Patit Creek Road for 2.5 miles and the location is on the right. Arrive early to insure a good parking spot.

SEE THE ANIMALS LEWIS & CLARK SAW

Artifacts and reproductions from the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery expedition 200 years ago will be on display at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park near Eatonville from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on July 24. Guests from the Washington National Guard will be available to explain the pelts, uniforms and other items in the Guard's Discovery Box display.

In addition, Northwest Trek will sponsor additional demonstrations and historical interpretations such as a hunter's camp and words from Sacagawea. Trek also has a self-guided tour to highlight the animals Lewis and Clark recorded in their journals, such as grizzly bears and bison, many of which are endangered.

All the special activities and the signature tram tour of the free-roaming area are included in park admission for the day.

Northwest Trek, accredited by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association, is a 715-acre zoological park dedicated to conservation, education and recreation by displaying, interpreting and researching native northwest wildlife and their natural habitats. The wildlife park is located 35 miles southeast of Tacoma off State Highway 161. For more information, call (360) 832-6117 or visit http://www.nwtrek.org/page.asp?view=3011

SACAGAWEA'S CHILD
NEW BOOK BY THE ARTHUR H. CLARK COMPANY

With Lewis and Clark from the moment of his birth, little "Pomp," whose real name was Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, journeyed from North Dakota to the Pacific and back in the arms of his mother, Sacagawea. In his sixty-one years, he successfully integrated the voyageur lifestyle of his father's people, the proud Native American heritage of his mother's people, and the great Jeffersonian traditions of his guardian, William Clark. Jean-Baptiste remained at the forefront of western expansion his entire life--from his infancy with the Corps of Discovery, to his years as a fur trader and Mountain Man on the upper Missouri and the Santa Fe Trail, to his guidance of the Mormon Battalion and administrative term in southern California, and finally to his gold rush years near Sacramento.

Family history of the Charbonneaus is detailed, together with a perceptive analysis of the characters and backgrounds of Jean-Baptiste's father, Toussaint, and mother. The place of Sacagawea within her culture, both as a Shoshoni and Hidatsa, and as wife of the French fur trader, is carefully considered.

Although well educated, Jean-Baptiste did not write his memoirs; thus, nearly all we know of him comes through the eyes of his contemporaries. Like his mother, however, he made a strong impression on those he met, and many of them left provocative glimpses of him over his lifetime. Here is a study of a unique American metis and the cultures and times that molded him.

The author: Dr. Susan Colby has degrees in anthropology and zoology, and received her doctorate in Athropology from UCLA. She has been a professional archaeologist for many years, specializing in the analysis of human and animal bones from archaeological sites. She is the author of one book and several articles concerning French-Canadian history. A distant cousin of Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, she brings unique insight and training to this biography.

A handsome volume of 203 pages, containing a chronology, notes, bibliography, appendix, and index. Embellished with twenty illustrations and maps. Printed on acid-free paper and bound in rich red linen cloth with foil stamped spine and front cover. Western Frontiersmen Series, vol. XXXIII. Issued in an edition of 750 copies. $28.50. Library of Congress Control Number 2004027793 ISBN 0-87062-339-7. Washington State customers please add 8.5% sales tax. Shipping charge (by USPS) of $4.50 waived in U.S.A. if check accompanies your order. Place orders with the Publisher: Arthur H. Clark Company, P.O. Box 14707, Spokane, WA 99214 800-842-9286; FAX 509-928-4364 email: info@ahclark.com Shipping charge (by USPO) of $4.50 waived if check accompanies your order.

DESTINATION THE PACIFIC - NEW SOUVENIR GUIDE AVAILABLE NOW!

The souvenir edition of the Destination: The Pacific commemorative guide is now available. The guide includes information about Signature Event programs and how to purchase tickets, which go on sale at the end of June.

The magazine also offers information about the new Lewis and Clark National Historical Park, a forum for Tribal Voices, a suite of bicentennial-related programs and products, and a travel planner section for those interested in attending Destination: The Pacific activities in November.

To receive a copy of the guide email director@destinationthepacific.com or call (503) 861-4403 and provide your name and mailing address. For updated information about bicentennial programs and ticketing information visit www.destinationthepacific.com.

NOW AVAILABLE —
A New Lewis & Clark Pictorial

Ocian in view! Oh! the joy:
Lewis & Clark in Washington State

The latest book offering from the Washington State Historical Society is Ocian in view! Oh! the joy: Lewis & Clark in Washington State, with illustrations by Roger Cooke and narrative text by Robert C. Carriker. This volume is an ideal companion for anyone interested in retracing the Washington portion of the Lewis and Clark trail. Cooke's unique illustrations draw you into the scene, and Carriker's informative text and judicious use of quotes from expedition journals impart both a historian's perspective and a sense of actually being there. These illustrations also grace a series of wayside markers erected at points of interest along the Washington portion of the expedition route as part of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial commemoration.

168 pp., 78 color illustrations, 4 maps, $27.95 on paper.

To order your copy, contact Amy Coggins at 253/798-5902. Shipping and handling are free to members of the Washington State Historical Society who purchase the book directly from WSHS.

NATIONAL LEWIS AND CLARK TALENT DATABASE NOW ONLINE

Event and program coordinators looking for Lewis and Clark-related speakers, musicians, dance groups, performers, living history interpreters, and even puppeteers can search the Washington State Historical Society's new online Lewis and Clark Talent Database. Each entry includes detailed program descriptions, costs, and contact information. Nearly 200 entries from across the United States are listed in this handy new feature at http://69.13.172.222/LCTalent/programSearch.asp. Or, go to washingtonhistory.org, click on "Lewis and Clark," then "Talent Database." To get the broadest search results, leave all fields blanks and click "Search."

To get your program entered in the database, email Lauren Danner, Assistant Bicentennial Coordinator, at Ldanner@wshs.wa.gov.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

By Sharon Hultman, WSHS Digital Projects Manager

Thomas Jefferson
Library of Congress Online Exhibition

Focusing on the remarkable life of Thomas Jefferson, this website provides glimpses of our third President in many of his historic roles. The site is richly illustrated with primary documents, artifacts, artwork, and photographs intended to trace his intellectual development from his Piedmont plantation childhood to his role in promoting individual rights in America and around the world.

The story is split into eight chapters, the first of which is titled Life and Labor at Monticello, where the visitor is treated to glimpses of the life of a plantation owner—a map of Virginia drawn by his father Peter; bills of sale for slaves; plans for educating his daughters; and a newspaper article about his relationship to the children of Sally Hemings, one of his slaves.

Chapter two, Creating a Virginia Republic delves further into Jefferson's vision for a republican society that would transform the political, legal, and educational landscapes of his time. The next chapter is Declaration of Independence: Right to Institute New Government, which follows Jefferson as he is assigned the task of producing a draft document for the consideration of the Continental Congress. We are shown various drafts of the Declaration of Independence, in addition to the final version, and various paintings and lithographs featuring the founding fathers.

Establishing a Federal Republic chronicles his rise within the newly established American government, despite his assignment to France. His influence was felt through his correspondence, some of which can be viewed in this section. The fifth chapter, The West, explains Jefferson's fascination with the American West and deep commitment to its incorporation into the United States. Even before he held a national office, Jefferson advocated exploratory expeditions into the west.

As a European diplomat, Jefferson became a champion of the French Revolution as we discover in A Revolutionary World. He was convinced that liberty would spread around the world, guided by the American Declaration of Independence. Chapter seven, Legacy, describes Jefferson's later years, including a copy of the gravestone he designed for himself.

The final section, Jefferson's Library, speaks to his ardent love of books. He collected such a fine library that when the Congressional library was destroyed during the War of 1812, Jefferson was able to restock the library by selling his own collection to Congress.

The text is wonderfully instructive and well-organized, but the true beauty of this site is in the images of Jefferson's writings, maps, and plans, as well as the artwork and artifacts, that resurrect this great man's life for our digital edification.

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.