WALLACE W HANSEN

Native Plants of the Northwest

Native Plant Nursery & Gardens

2158 Bower Ct S.E., Salem, Oregon 97301 E-Mail: Wallace W Hansen
PHONE (503)581-2638 FAX(503)581-9957

Updated August 22, 2003

Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark's Bicentennial

Botanical Discoveries of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Lodgepole Pine (Pinus contorta latifolia)

Lolo Trail in Montana, September 1805

Lodgepole Pine's name is truly fitting. This Northwest Native Tree has always been used for poles to build lodges and raising tipis (or teepee). It's naturally straight, strong and plentiful. Depending on the size of tipi, trees of proper proportions were selected and harvested as needed. For instance, a 15-foot diameter tipi needs 8, 18-foot poles. The raising pole is always a little longer and is especially chosen for it's qualities and spirit. Jennifer, webmaster and chief writer for the nursery, lived in just such a tipi with her family for a few months several years ago. She says: "To walk among a stand of Lodgepole Pine and know they looked just that way hundreds of years ago gave me much insight into the lives of my ancestors."

Captain Lewis faithfully recorded his finding of this great tree in his journals.

See purchase information for this and other Northwest Native plants documented by the Corps of Discovery during the Lewis and Clark Expedition in our online catalog.

USDA Photo

At this time in 1806:

Negotiating an invitation:

Set out at sunrise and proceeded on. When we were opposite the Minnetarees' grand village, we saw a number of the natives viewing us. Soon after we came to at a crowd of the natives on the bank opposite the village of the Shoe Indians, or Mahas, at which place I saw the principal chief of the little village of the Minnetarees and the principal chief of the Mahas. I proceeded on to the Black Cats' [Mandan] village, where I intended to encamp, but the sand blew in such a manner that we determined not to continue on that site. I walked up to the Black Cats' village.

I had, as soon as I landed, dispatched Charbonneau to the Minnetarees, inviting the chiefs to visit us, and Drouilliard down to the lower village of the Mandans to ask Mr. Jussome to come and interpret for us.

After assembling the chiefs and smoking one pipe, I informed them that I still spoke the same words which we had spoken to them when we first arrived in their country. We then invited them to visit their Great Father, the President of the U. States, and to hear his own counsels and receive his gifts from his own hands, as also to see the population of a government which can, at their pleasure, protect and secure you from all your enemies and chastise all those who will shut their ears to his counsels. They were all afraid of the Sioux. They would not go down.

Captain Clark, 14 August 1806

We sent for Mr. Jussome and told him to use his influence to prevail on one of the chiefs to accompany us. He informed us soon after that the Big White [Sheheke] would go if we would take his wife and son and Jussome's wife and two children, which we were obliged to agree to do.

Captain Clark, 16 August 1806

We were visited by all the principal chiefs of the Minnetarees, to take their leave of us. At 2 o'clock we left our encampment. We also took our leave of Toussaint Charbonneau, his Snake Indian wife, and their child. We dropped down to the Big White's Mandan village, half a mile below on the south side. I walked to the lodge of the chief, whom I found surrounded by his friends. He sent his baggage with his wife and son, with the interpreter Jussome and his wife and two children to the canoes provided for them. He informed me that he was ready, and we were accompanied to the canoes by all the village. We saluted them with a gun and set out and set out.

Captain Clark, 17 August 1806

Captain Clark's ambassadorial skills once again gained the desired results. His ability to communicate with people of many different languages and custom give evidence of a true nature, a grace of sharing life with his fellow man.

Current events:

Exhibit: End of Our Voyage Exhibit
The Lewis and Clark Expedition in Washington State Trade, Recreation, and Agricultural Center (TRAC)
Pasco , WA

August 8- September 25, 2003
For More Information:
(509) 543-2999

Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in Oregon (www.lcbo.net)

May 23 - September 15, 2003:

The Lewis & Clark Explorer Train

Traveling from Portland to Astoria, via the water level Columbia River rail route.  Contact: Oregon Department of Transportation, download fact sheet (PDF file). .

Location: 1726 Washington Street, Oregon City, OR 97045

(503) 657-9336 (503) 557-8590

End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center Website staff@endoftheoregontrail.org

Description: The End of the Oregon Trail Interpretive Center was built in 1995 on the former Donation Land Claim of the first elected governor of the Oregon Country, George Abernethy. A merchant and miller by trade, Abernethy had a vested interest in the continued growth of Oregon City, so he permitted newly arrived emigrants to park their wagons, graze their oxen, and set up camp on a meadow behind his house. That meadow came to be called Abernethy Green, and for many of the early Oregon Trail emigrants, it truly was the Trail's end. 

Alternative approaches are via State Routes 213, 99-E, and 43. The Interpretive Center is just off the end of SR 213 -- turn left at the last light before the Interstate. Taking 99-E or 43 gives you the option of cutting over to Washington Street on the surface streets if you're familiar with Oregon City, but it's easier to take northbound I-205 to Exit 10 from both roads. 

Here's a handy tip for those arriving on 99-E: the entrance ramp from 99-E is a continuous lane that becomes the exit ramp for SR 213, so you are spared from having to merge with the through traffic on the Interstate.

Back Issues:

To see back issues of Wallace Hansen Celebrates Lewis and Clark, click on this link to jump to the index. 

Commemorative Painting by Heidi Hansen:

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). All the plants pictured are available from Wally Hansen! See our Spring Sale site and our online catalog for more information.

Good luck and happy gardening!

Wally

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