Lewis and Clark with Wallace W Hansen Native Plants of the Northwest

WALLACE W HANSEN

Native Plants of the Northwest

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Updated February 21, 2003

Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark

Botanical Discoveries of the Lewis and Clark Expedition: Grand Fir (Abies Grandis)

Fort Clatsop, Oregon, February 6, 1806

Stately and beautiful, this tree is every bit a grand species, prized in modern times for its use as an ornamental and timber tree. It is found most commonly at low elevations on North-facing slopes, and indicates and often dominates moist habitats. Accustomed to the deciduous trees of the eastern seaboard, Captain Lewis was doubtless enthralled by this large, lushly foliaged specimen. Nowadays, the Grand Fir has gained popularity as a Christmas Tree.

At this time in 1806:

The expedition's winter layover at Fort Clatsop continued to be brightened by visiting dignitaries from other nations, giving the voyagers more knowledge of this new land and it's inhabitants. Captain Lewis records in his journal on February 20, 1806:

This forenoon we were visited by Tabcum, a principal chief of the Chinooks, and 25 men of his nation. We had never seen this chief before. He is a good-looking man about 50 years of age, rather larger in stature than most of his nation. As he came on a friendly visit, we gave himself and party something to eat and plied them plentifully with smoke. We gave this chief a small medal, with which he seemed much gratified.

In the evening at sunset we desired them to depart, as is our custom, and closed our gates. We never suffer parties of such number to remain within the fort all night; for, notwithstanding their apparent friendly disposition, their great avarice and hope of plunder might induce them to be treacherous. At all events, we determined always to be on our guard as much as the nature of our situation will permit us, and never place ourselves at the mercy of any savages. We well know that the treachery of the aborigines of America and the too great confidence of our countrymen in their sincerity and friendship has caused the destruction of many hundreds of us.

No matter how many guests the Corps and the Captains entertained, they did not lose sight of their other missions of mapping the terrain and gathering details of the flora and fauna.

*Current events:*
PICTURING THE CORPS OF DISCOVERY: The Lewis and Clark Expedition in Oregon Art An exhibit at the State Capitol building Presented by Oregon Historical Society
December 20, 2002 through December 2004 State Capital building, 900 Court Street NE, Salem, Oregon 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. Monday - Friday 12 p.m. - 4 p.m. Saturday Closed - Sunday
"Picturing the Corps of Discovery demonstrates how artistic interpretations of the Lewis and Clark Expedition mirror the history and evolving values of Americans, and more specifically Oregonians, over the past two centuries. Viewers will be introduced to works of art with Lewis-and-Clark themes that reflect changing understandings of topics as diverse as democratic ideals, ethnicity, and the environment. A collection of images of Lewis and Clark pointing westward, including Frank Schwarz's treasured 1938 mural in Oregon's Capitol rotunda, demonstrate how the two explorers were credited with introducing civilization to the West well into the first half of the twentieth century. By the end of the century, however, works like Michael Florin Dente's 1988 sculpture, The Naming of Mount Jefferson, at the University of Portland, celebrated the expedition's ethnic mix as a historical precedent for a multicultural, pluralistic society in the West." http://www.ohs.org/exhibits/picturing-the-corp-of-discovery.cfm
December 7, 2002 - June 15, 2003 "Time Not Wasted -- Winter with the Corps" Exhibit Lewis and Clark National Trail Interpretive Center Great Falls, MT The exhibit portrays the winter encampments of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and how each encampment uniquely met more than the basic needs of survival – due to the natural surroundings and the objectives at the three different locations: Fort Dubois, Fort Mandan, and Fort Clatsop. The Center’s winter hours are Tuesday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; and Sunday, noon to 5 p.m.; the Center is closed Mondays during the winter. For more information about the Center and its programs, call (406) 727-8733 or visit www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/lcic.htm on the Internet. The Center is managed by the USDA Forest Service.
*Back Issues:* To see back issues of *Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark*, click on this link to jump to the index.
The illustrated map below was created by renowned botanical artist Heidi D. Hansen especially for this website. Done in ink and watercolors, Heidi shows many of the plants Captain Lewis documented overlaid atop a map showing a portion of the journey. (Click on image for large view).


Good luck and happy gardening! Wally

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