September 2001, Volume 1, Issue 2

LEWIS AND CLARK TRAIL HIGHWAY CORRIDOR ACTION PLAN

Washington's plan for commemorating the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition through interpretive and tourism projects and activities will soon be available for general public reference.

The Corridor Action Plan outlines bicentennial-related planning and design efforts completed to date by the state's Agency Assistance Team (Historical Society, Department of Transportation, Parks and Recreation Commission, Tourism Office, and Department of Fish and Wildlife). The plan lists all sites along the trail in Washington originally inventoried and evaluated in the Fall of 1998. The plan also summarizes the public involvement process and project prioritization efforts that have been part of the planning process. The plan also includes the current list of Washington's Top Priority Projects.

By mid-October, it is anticipated that the plan will be available online at the Department of Transportation's website (see link below). A "pdf" file will be made available for people to download and print-out either in black and white or color. Copies of the plan also will be available through the state library system. Members of the state's Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Advisory Committee, the Governor's Lewis and Clark Trail Committee, and tribal representatives involved in Bicentennial planning will receive copies of the plan.

To access the Lewis and Clark Trail Highway Corridor Action Plan at the WSDOT Heritage Corridor Program's website and other information related to Lewis and Clark bicentennial planning and activities, go to:

http://wsdot.wa.gov/hlrd/hcp/hcp_home.htm

You will be at the Heritage Corridors homepage. From here, click on the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Button. Look for the Corridor Action Plan at this website around mid-October.

DESIGN GUIDELINES ACCESSIBLE ONLINE

Note: The Heritage Corridors program website above also provides a "pdf" version of the Design Guidelines for Outdoor Interpretive Exhibits along the Lewis and Clark Trail in Washington. Please download these Guidelines, print them out, and refer to them for your bicentennial projects.

UPDATE FROM THE VANCOUVER/CLARK COUNTY LEWIS AND CLARK BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE

Summarized from an article contributed by Marsha Spellman, Director

Lots of exciting things are happening in Clark County to prepare for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial! Vancouver Mayor Royce Pollard and Clark County Commissioner Judie Stanton chair a group representing numerous organizations that have come together to coordinate the upcoming commemoration. Specific projects underway include:

• Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge: US Fish and Wildlife, Chinook Tribe, and others are working on the potential development of a Native American long house on the refuge to commemorate the historic presence of the Cathlapotle Village, a large village site noted by the Lewis and Clark Expedition during both their westbound and eastbound treks through this region.
• Cottonwood Beach: The home of a future park commemorating the site of the "provision camp" where the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent six nights stockpiling provisions and making preparations for their homeward journey.
• Steigerwald Lake National Wildlife Refuge: A new interpretive center is in the conceptual design phase. When completed, the center will function as a gateway to the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area.

Other projects, events, and activities being planned by The Vancouver/Clark County committee include:

• Confluences - a project by Vietnam Memorial creator Maya Lin
• "Along the Trail" - an original drama from the Native American Perspective
• An original symphony commemorating the bicentennial
• A Lewis and Clark historic garden at Fort Vancouver
• National folk art festival
• Canoeing/boating the Lewis and Clark Trail in Clark County
• Speaker series

END OF OUR VOYAGE GUIDE AVAILABLE

The "End of Our Voyage" guide to interesting stories and locations along the Lewis and Clark Trail is now available. Approximately 140,000 copies were recently printed - but the guide is going fast! To receive your own personal copy, send a reply to this e-mail or contact Jean Peterson at the Heritage Resource Center 360-586-0219.

UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

October 10, 2001
Agency Assistance Team Monthly Meeting
10:00 am to 1:00 pm
Washington State History Museum
1911 Pacific Avenue
Tacoma, WA

October 30, 2001
Lewis and Clark Bicentennial
Advisory Meeting
9:00 am
Yakama Nation Cultural Center
Toppenish, WA

October 30, 2001
Regional Roundtable Meeting
A regular gathering to discuss tribal related
bicentennial issues and activities
1:00 pm
Yakama Nation Cultural Center
Toppenish, WA

Next Round of Lewis and Clark Trail Interpretive Waysides Project Public Meetings:

(Specific locations to be confirmed - refer to the upcoming issue of the quarterly newsletter and the October issue of the e-newsletter)

Clarkston - Tuesday, November 6, 2001, 6:30-8:30 pm
Richland - Wednesday, November 7, 6:30-8:30 pm
Lyle - Thursday, November 8, 6:30-8:30 pm
Vancouver - Tuesday, November 13, 6:30-8:30 pm
Kelso/Longview - Wednesday, November 14, 6:30-8:30 pm
Ilwaco/Long Beach - Monday, November 19, 6:30-8:30 pm

November 15 - 17, 2001
Lewis and Clark: New Perspectives on an Historic Journey
Center for Columbia River History Program
Ridgefield, Washington
For more information, contact:
360-992-1821 areidell.ccrh@pdx.wantweb.net

April 10 - 12, 2002
National Bicentennial Conference
Lewiston, Idaho
Tentatively will include mobile workshops/tours in southeastern Washington.
Look for more information in upcoming newsletters.

WEBSITE OF THE MONTH

Every month, Washington's Lewis and Clark Bicentennial E-Newsletter will feature a different website link. This month, check out the National Bicentennial Council's website for a wide variety of bicentennial-related information, including tribal and community contacts from around the country; calendar of events; press releases; and a comprehensive database of planned projects for the bicentennial. A list of national bicentennial signature events is currently provided on the website.

http://www.lewisandclark200.org

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 Mandi Roberts at Otak 206-442-1369 or mandi.roberts@otak.com.

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 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 Jean Peterson at the Heritage Resource Center 360-586-0219.

The AAT will continue to publish and mail out the quarterly "hard copy" newsletters in addition to this electronic communication.