November 2003, Volume 3, Issue 11

NEW TRAIL ASSISTANT APPOINTED

The Washington State Historical Society is pleased to announce the hiring of Lauren Danner as the state's assistant trail coordinator for the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial.

Currently a member of the Governor's Lewis & Clark Trail Committee, Ms. Danner is a recent graduate of the University of Oregon, where she took a doctorate in communications with significant coursework in Pacific Northwest History as well. Lauren's principal responsibilities will be working with trail communities identified as venues for the National Park Service's Corps II traveling exhibit and the state's share of interpretive programming for the region's first Signature Event: Destination the Pacific. Event planning for the dedication of the proposed new park at Station Camp rounds out her portfolio.

Lauren's office will be at the State Capital Museum in Olympia, housed within the Society's Heritage Resource Center. She will begin work the week of December 8th.

GREAT NEWS FOR CLARKSTON CENTER

U.S. Senator Patty Murray has recently announced congressional authorization and a half-million dollar appropriation for the Clarkston Confluence Interpretive Center. Senator Murray originally included the authorization to the Senate version of the Energy and Water appropriations bill. She added the $500,000 in funding to the bill during a House-Senate conference on the legislation.

The Confluence Interpretive Center, to be located at the meeting of the Snake and Clearwater Rivers, will house a permanent Lewis and Clark exhibit as well as traveling exhibits and displays on regional culture and history. Maya Lin, the famed Vietnam War Memorial artist, is planning on locating a piece of interpretive art near the site.

Local partners including the City of Clarkston, Asotin County and the Port of Clarkston have contributed funds toward the Center's construction, but work can not begin without Congressional authorization.

The state Agency Assistance Team, through a succession of T-21 and Scenic Byway Grants, has facilitated grants matching the recent federal appropriation.

2004 CHALLENGE COST SHARE GRANTS

The Challenge Cost Share (CCS) program for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (NHT) will be renewed for fiscal year 2004. The program makes available matching funds to non-federal organizations for projects that provide new or enhanced opportunities for protection, interpretation, or recreation at sites or segments on the Lewis and Clark NHT. CCS guidelines require NPS dollars to be matched on a one-for-one basis with non-federal monies, and/or donated time and in-kind service. Normally, the maximum amount awarded for each project is $250,000 of NPS funds and the minimum amount is $2,000.

You will find the application form available at the NPS web site www.nps.gov/lecl. For 2004, you must complete the form on the web site and submit directly on-line, only. Prior to web submission print a copy of your completed application. Please sign and send NPS an original application plus nine hard copies. NPS requires at least one original ink signature per set of applications. No grant proposals submitted purely via e-mail or hard copy will be allowed in 2004.

A down-loadable Microsoft Word version of the application to facilitate the drafting of proposals can be located on at www.nps.gov/lecl - follow the CCS link. The deadline for web submission is no later than January 15, 2004. The 10 hard copies must be postmarked on or before January 15, 2004.

NPS may hold a few regional-based workshops this fall.

To discuss a project, call Challenge Cost Share Program Coordinator Midori Raymore or Trail Manager Richard Williams at 888-237-3252

LEWIS & CLARK BICENTENNIAL COMMEMORATIVE PENDLETON BLANKET - THE PERFECT HOLIDAY GIFT

The Lewis and Clark Expedition has long been recognized as a pivotal event in the nation's history. Nevertheless, it has only been during the current bicentennial era that modern scholarship has revealed the true importance of the Washington segment of the trail.

Accordingly, it is only appropriate that the Washington State History Museum produce this Lewis and Clark Pendleton Blanket, surely to become one of the most prized bicentennial collectibles. This is especially true of the limited, numbered "members edition" of 200, made available solely to the members of the Washington State Historical Society.

For $299 (plus tax and shipping, if applicable) you will be able to secure this exclusive blanket. Deluxe packages that include the premium numbers 1-9 and 200 within the registered set, and a bonus pack of bicentennial collectibles are also available. To reserve your blanket or to request more information, call the membership assistant at 253-798-5902.

NEW NICKELS IN 2004

2004-Dated Nickel Series Facts

In commemoration of the Louisiana Purchase, and Lewis and Clark's expedition, the President enacted Public Law 108-15 to modify the Jefferson five-cent coin (nickel) in 2003, 2004 and 2005, to reflect images evocative of their historic expedition into the Louisiana Territory. A depiction of Monticello will return to the nickel in 2006. The obverse will continue to bear the likeness of President Jefferson.

2004 Spring Design: "Louisiana Purchase/Peace Medal"

The first of two new reverses on the 2004-dated Jefferson nickel will feature a rendition of the reverse of the original Indian Peace Medal commissioned for Lewis and Clark's expedition, bearing the likeness of America's third president on one side, and symbols of peace and friendship on the other. The medals were presented to Native American chiefs and other important leaders as tokens of goodwill at treaty signings and other events.

The design, by United States Mint sculptor/engraver Norman E. Nemeth, features two hands clasped in friendship - one with a military uniform cuff, symbolizing the American government, and the other with a silver band adorned with beads and a stylized American eagle, representing the Native American community with whom the United States sought good relations.

2004 Fall Design: "Keelboat"

In late 2004, the 2004-dated Jefferson nickel will feature an angled, side-view of the keelboat with full sail that transported members of the expedition and their supplies through the rivers of the Louisiana Territory in search of a northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean. Built to the specifications of Captain Lewis, the 55-foot keelboat could be sailed, rowed, poled like a raft, or towed from the riverbank. The design, by United States Mint sculptor/engraver Al Maletsky, shows Captains Lewis and Clark in full uniform in the bow of the keelboat.

LEWIS AND CLARK IN THE LAND OF THE WAHKIAKUMS

Lewis and Clark in the Land of the Wahkiakums, is now available from Scrub Jay Press (Tollhouse, CA.). The book uses photographs and engravings as well as text to convey a sense of what the lower Columbia River was like when the explorers arrived two centuries ago, and how it has changed since. The paperback book retails for $12.95 and is available at
www.scrubjay.net
Email: ezzch@psnw.com

Shipping and handling $2.50 for 1 book, $5.00 for 2-5 books and $8.50 for 6-10 books. Payment by check. Phone is (559) 855-3242.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH
By Sharon Hultman, WSHS Webmaster

LEWIS & CLARK
THE NATIONAL BICENTENNIAL EXHIBITION

Lewis & Clark: The National Bicentennial Exhibit is a beautiful website, very esthetically pleasing, and beginning with one of the best Flash intros this reviewer has ever seen. From the very first screen, it imparts a sense of witnessing a momentous historic event.

Most of the information on the website is understandably slanted to bring visitors to the hosting museums, but it has some wonderful educational material as well. Look for the "Click to learn more" links for a close up view of period artifacts with excellent interpretive content. The site also includes interactives on related topics such as York, Sacagawea, and Missouri in the 1800s. These activities take a while to load, requiring plenty of bandwidth and patience, but once loaded they are terrific.

Of particular note is the section for educators. Containing teaching units and lesson plans, this site gives teachers an assortment of subjects targeting grade levels 4 through 12. Students will be intrigued by themes ranging from Politics & Diplomacy to Warriors/Soldiers, from mapping techniques to the social powers of Indian women.

The exhibition itself won't reach the Northwest until its appearance at the Oregon Historical Society beginning November 2005, but while waiting for the real thing, be sure to pay a visit to this gorgeous and informative website.

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.

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 email address is in the state's Lewis and Clark Trail database as someone who has expressed interest in the bicentennial and/or who has attended public meetings during the past three years. 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.