I’ve
always been interested in Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. I remember the flurry of programs and exhibits
that flourished during the bicentennial commemoration of 2003-2006 and even participated
in several of them. When Tim suggested
that we follow the Missouri River on our way to warmer weather, I jumped at the
idea.
Following
at least a portion of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which has
been established by the National Park Service, seemed to provide a theme, or
loose framework, for our journey southward. I’m not a Lewis and Clark fanatic who has to
stop at every site; however, I did look forward to learning more about the
expedition, the various Indian tribes encountered and the Missouri River
itself.
When
Tim and I left the north unit of Theodore Roosevelt National Park, we followed
the Sakakawea Trail, a North Dakota scenic byway, east toward the Missouri
River. Just a note – in North Dakota,
the name of the Shoshone woman who traveled with Lewis and Clark is spelled
Sakakawea, while elsewhere the spelling is typically Sacagawea. The western part of the drive passes through
rolling farmlands. Unfortunately, it was
difficult to appreciate the scenery due to the heavy rain and fog.
The
weather was so disagreeable that Tim and I decided to stop early. We found a small, city-owned campground in
Hazen, where we stopped shortly after noon. Alas, there was no room at the inn. The lack of an open campsite, however, did
not deter the wonderful camp host from finding a place for us to stay. She knew there were few campground options in
the area and went out of her way to accommodate us. She directed us to pull into the parking area
in front of the community center and ran a couple of extension cords to the RV. It wasn’t 30 amps, but we could turn on our
lights and, more importantly, plug in our little space heater. We were warm and toasty, and very grateful to
be off the road. The clean showers and
laundry were an added bonus. There are
definitely advantages to having a small RV. We can fit almost anywhere.
A Port in the Storm |
We
drove into town for lunch and discovered a regional dish called a Fleishkuekla,
a type of meat pie wrapped in dough and deep fried. The dish was brought to the Dakotas by German-from-Russia
immigrants. We ordered two to-go and
tried them at dinner. Let’s just say
that we likely won’t order them again.
The
weather was better the next morning, and we headed out to encounter Lewis and
Clark. In 1804 Lewis and Clark arrived
at what is now Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site and encountered
the Hidatsa who lived here. It was also
near here that the expedition met Sacagawea.
The
Hidatsa, a Northern Plains Indian tribe, were primarily farmers who lived in earthlodge
villages along the Missouri River and its tributaries. Highlights of the park include a
reconstructed earthlodge, as well as a trail that passes the archeological
remains of two village sites. Circles in
the earth, or depressions, left by approximately 50 to 75 earthodges, are
visible in the landscape.
Reconstructed Earthlodge at Knife River Indian Village National Historic Site |
Interior of the Earthlodge |
Interior of the Earthlodge |
Depressions in the Ground |
We crossed
the Missouri River to visit the North Dakota Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, which provides an outstanding overview of the expedition. The interactive displays focus on the
preparation for the journey, as well as the journey itself. One exhibit made me think that the journals
kept by Lewis and Clark were forerunners of today’s blogs. I know, however, that my blog will never even come
close to the extensive notes recorded in those journals.
A New Member of the Corps of Discovery? |
The
Interpretive Center also maintains Fort Mandan, the encampment built by the
Lewis and Clark expedition as their quarters for the winter of 1804-1805. We toured the reconstructed fort with a very
informative guide and learned how the explorers spent their days. It was interesting to find out how much they
relied on the Hidatsa and Mandan for corn, beans and squash, and for
information about the upper reaches of the Missouri River.
Reconstructed Fort Mandan |
Quarters of the Corps of Discovery |
Quarters of Sacagawea |
We don’t
usually visit three different historic sites or museums in one day, but it
seemed to make sense because of their proximity to one another, as well as
their related themes. With a bit of
information-overload, we drove south on the scenic Lewis and Clark trail that
runs along the Missouri River. Our
destination was Bismarck, North Dakota’s state capital.
That earth lodge looks pretty cozy! LV
ReplyDeleteIt was cozy, but I think I prefer the RV!
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