Canoe-Building Site
Posted by: BruceS
N 46° 30.057 W 116° 19.776
11T E 551440 N 5149927
Historical marker commemorating the location where Lewis and Clark Expedition built canoes to continue their westward trip after their arduous overland travel.
Waymark Code: WM25F4
Location: Idaho, United States
Date Posted: 09/08/2007
Views: 28
Canoe-Building Site
Guided by Twisted Hair and several other Nez Perce, Capt.. William Clark
selected this as a camp site because of the many large ponderosa pines that grew
here then. The canoe makers chopped out small portions of the pine logs,
then used fire or hot coals to char the wood. This made it easier to chip
out the inside of of the canoes.
"I Set out early with the Chief and 2 young men to hunt Some trees
Calculated to build Canoes, as we had previously determined to proceed on by
water" ~ William Clark Journal, September 25, 1805
Lewis and Clark built four large canoes and one small one to accommodate
the 34 members of the expedition. The large canoes were about 50 to 55
feet long and could carry a minimum of seven men and 800 to 1,000 pounds of
gear.
The Corps of Discovery departed after 10 days, having made five canoes.
Canoe Camp was an important turning point. Here the expediton made the
transition from arduous overland travel to travel by water -- onward toward the
Pacific. ~ text of marker
The site is part of the Nez Perce National Historic Park along the Clearwater river.