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November 4, 1805: Lewis and Clark Pass Sauvie Island

November 4, 2011 by Dave Leave a Comment

On Monday, November 4, 1805 Lewis and Clark continued down the Columbia River towards the Pacific Ocean from their camp at the mouth of the Salmon Creek in what is now Clark County Washington.

William Clark recorded in his journal:

we proceeded on met a large & a Small Canoe from below, with 12 men

the large Canoe was ornimented with Images carved in wood the figures of 〈man &〉 a Bear in front & a man in Stern, Painted & fixed verry netely on the 〈bow & Stern〉of the Canoe, rising to near the hight of a man

two Indians verry finely Dressed & with hats on was in this canoe passed the lower point of the Island which is nine miles in length

That island was Sauvie Island, named Wappatoe Island on Lewis and Clark’s maps (Oregon Geographic Names 7TH Edition, by Lewis A. and Lewis L. McArthur). The expedition also spotted five volcanoes that day; Mount Adams, Mount Hood, Mount Jefferson, Mount Rainier, and Mount St. Helens.

Filed Under: History, Oregon, Portland, This Day in History

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