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Dear Friends of Lewis & Clark, I was starting to get this newsletter out a month ago when a bull's eye rash developed on my leg and I realized I had been bitten by a tick and had Lyme's disease. The symptoms for me were mostly feeling tired. I took tetracyclin for two weeks and it has cleared up. (The bad effects of Lyme's disease are associated with not getting early treatment.) That little deer tick was apparently the size of a pinhead. (My husband Henry says that I was lucky to not be bitten on the toe, because then I would have "a tick attack toe.")
So me and Biddle missed the big party at Great Falls! But we saw a great Power Point show by Stan Wostrel at the Mouth of the Platte Chapter meeting. And Biddle was everywhere--he rode on a bull boat, saw the White Cliffs, and got adopted by two very nice young girls. That is the magic of Biddle--there are multiple Biddles! Photos of the Biddle twins were posted on the Biddle the Bear forum for all of us to enjoy.
Thanks to: Badger State Chapter in Wisconsin for reprinting my New Madrid Earthquakes blog in their July Field Notes issue. Take a look. This issue features "Corps Members Influence History in the Summer of 1808." They write and publish a lot of good history articles.
 Correction: Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs, the daughter of Stephen Ambrose, spells her name "Stephenie" as she explained to me after thanking me for featuring her newest book in the last newsletter. Why Sacagawea Deserves the Day Off and Other Lessons from the Lewis and Clark Trail is available at my website's Amazon bookstore. Shown here are Stephenie and Carol Bronson, executive director of the Trail Heritage Foundation during their visit to Lincoln, Nebraska.
Oops: Bill & Marcia Holman have reminded me that the Lewis and Clark statue in St. Louis is in the Mississippi River not the Missouri as my blog has it.
Kira kira@lewisandclarktravel.com Newsletter Archive
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Planning to travel the trail? Consult our website Trip Planner with links to the websites of over 800 destinations featured in our book.
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Exhuming the remains of Meriwether Lewis
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James E. Starrs and myself are co-authors of a book which will be published in April, 2009-- The Death of Meriwether Lewis: A Historic Crime Scene Investigation. Starrs is an emeritus professor of law and a professor of forensic science at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. He has conducted exhumations regarding historical mysteries and unsolved crimes for many years; and has edited the Scientific Sleuthing Review for over 32 years.
In 1996 he organized a Coroner's Inquest held in Hohenwald, Lewis County, Tennessee. 13 expert witnesses testified at the proceedings regarding the death of Meriwether Lewis and what an exhumation of his remains might reveal. Some of the leading forensic scientists in America participated. The book contains the transcript of the proceedings and other material by Professor Starrs and myself.
Over 200 members of the Lewis family have called for an exhumation of his remains. Despite the Lewis County coroner's jury request for an exhumation, it was denied by the National Park Service, which manages the National Monument gravesite.
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Were lead mines the reason Lewis was murdered?
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 For the last year I have been looking for the "smoking gun" of why General James Wilkinson might have wanted to end the life of our young hero, Meriwether Lewis. I believe it was Wilkinson who arranged the murder, as his agents surrounded Lewis at the time of his death.
Wilkinson was both the commanding general of the U. S. Army and the first governor of Louisiana Territory. He was also in the pay of Spain and always involved in plots to invade Mexico. After representing America at the Louisiana Purchase ceremonies in New Orleans in December, 1803, he wrote to his Spanish paymasters urging them to capture the Lewis and Clark Expedition! He is known as "the General who never won a battle and never lost a court martial."
Historians consider him the most notorious scoundrel, double agent, and traitor in American history. But given this, what particular motive would Wilkinson have had? Finally, this book, Frontier Swashbuckler: The Life and Legend of John Smith T. by Dick Steward provided the answer--the lead mine district covering 1,000 square miles south of St. Louis.
Follow the money
The lead was used in making bullets and was the greatest concentration of pure lead in the world. William Carr, the federal land agent, said "in the course of a few years it would discharge no inconsiderable part of the purchase money for Louisiana." The federal government declared it public land, available only for leasing, unless you had a prior valid Spanish land claim. Moses Austin, the father of Stephen Austin, the founder of Texas, had such a claim. But he had to defend his mines against John Smith T., a relative and close associate of Wilkinson, who had a "floating" claim and a private army.
Meriwether Lewis identified John Smith T. as a traitor and a "Burrite" in his first letter to William Clark after Lewis was appointed the new governor of Louisiana Territory. At the time of Lewis's death, Smith T. was going to Washington with a petition to remove the only honest federal land claims commissioner from office and his brother was going to Sante Fe on a "trade mission." His brother, Reuben Smith, was caught by the Spanish and forced to work under irons in the gold and silver mines of Chihauhau for three years.
Lewis may well have been carrying damaging evidence that would have interferred with another planned invasion of Mexico. After his death, his papers were in total disorder; and his second will was missing and never found, to William Clark's distress.
To read more about, see my blog, Were lead mines the reason Meriwether Lewis was murdered?
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Meriwether Lewis honored by State of Virginia
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Meriwether Lewis, one of Virginia's most famous native sons, was finally honored with a bust in the Old Hall of the House of Delegates at the State Capitol in Richmond--a place that Lewis must have visited often during his lifetime. Richard Cheatham, who does a living history portrayal of Lewis, led the effort to commission the bust and place it on display in the Hall. The marble bust was created by Dr. John A. Lanzalotti of Williamsburg. Members of the Lewis family presented the bust to Governor Timothy M. Kaine on behalf of the family, friends across America, the Locust Hill Graveyard Foundation and the Home Front Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. The dedication ceremonies were held on August 18th, the 224th anniversary of his birth in 1774. The Virginia Capitol is the oldest English-speaking continuous law making body in the Western Hemisphere. The Rotunda houses sculptures of Virginia's eight presidents. Other notable Virginians. including Meriwether Lewis, are honored in the Old Hall. The State Capitol, designed by Thomas Jefferson, is under consideration to become a World Heritage Site. |
International symposium on Maximilian and Bodmer, Oct. 23-27 in Bismarck ND
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The Travels of Maximilian and Bodmer
The Prince, the Painter and the Indians of the Upper Missouri, 1833-34 175th Anniversary Symposium
On
October 23-27, 2008, an international symposium will be held in
Bismarck, North Dakota. Scholars from the U. S. and Germany will make
presentations at this very special event. Historian Elliot West will be the keynote speaker on
Thursday evening. Field trips are scheduled for Sunday and Monday to
nearby attractions. Register for the symposium at www.fortmandan.org or call 877-462-8535.
Dakota Institute headed by Clay Jenkinson
The
symposium is the first event sponsored by the newly established Dakota Institute of the
Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation. Author and living history
interpreter Clay Jenkinson is the director of the Institute, which will
focus on book projects, films, symposiums and conversations about
public issues. Read more about it in the Bismarck Tribune (6-22-2008).
The first volume of a three volume series of The North American Journals of Prince Maximilian of Wied has been published by the University of Oklahoma Press. It is an elegant book, well worth its price of $85, and covers their travel from Germany, the eastern United States, and winter's stay at New Harmony, Indiana.
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Fall Conferences in Nebraska & Pennsylvania
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Steamers, Sandbars and Snags--Reflections of the Steamboat Era on the Missouri
A Missouri River History Conference,
is scheduled for September 4-7th at Ponca State Park in Ponca, Nebraska. It will be a
great conference with outstanding speakers and post meeting trips.
ContactJeff Fields at (402) 755-2284 for further info. jeff.fields@ngpc.ne.gov
Surveying and Cartography--Lewis & Clark Regional Meeting
The Philadelphia chapter of the Trail Heritage Foundation is hosting a very special meeting in Lancaster, Pennsylvania at Ellicott House, the home of Andrew Ellicott, the United States government surveyor who gave instruction to Meriwether Lewis in this very house. The meeting, from September 26-28 will feature one of my very favorite authors, Andro Linklater whose books, The Fabric of America and Measuring America are both available on my website Amazon bookstore.
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News from around the country
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Illinois State Tourism Budget Cuts
First the good news, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Cahokia Mounds will stay open five days a week, despite cutbacks in the State of Illinois tourism budget. The bad news is that Fort des Chartres will be closed except for reenactor events in June and October. Cahokia Courthouse, Fort Kaskaskia and Pierre Menard Home will be closed. Read the State Journal-Register story (8/28/08).
Confluence Tower in Hartford, Illinois
On the other hand, the 180 foot Confluence Tower next to the Interpretive Center may finally open. St Louis Post-Dispatch (7/07/08) columnist Matthew Hathaway reports that finishing the tower's restrooms and parking lot is planned for this year and the tower's dedication ceremonies may happen next year on May 14th, only five years after the originally scheduled opening.
Traveler's Rest in Montana
Traveler's Rest has good neighbors: Bill and Ramona Holt have offered a newly renovated building just east of the entrance to Traveler's Park to be used as a museum and visitor center. The Holts have run a small musem on the site for many years; the building, museum collection and land would be donated to the State of Montana. Please contact Loren Flynn, the Executive Director, to find out how you can help encourage the state to increase funding. lflynn@travelersrest.org (406) 443-7878
Sgt. Floyd 19th Annual Encampment at Sioux City, Iowa
A living history camp was held on the banks of the Missouri River outside the Sgt. Floyd Riverboat Museum and Welcome Center on August 16-17. Following tradition, the Sgt. Floyd Burial Reenactment Ceremony took place at the Sgt. Floyd Monument, which has the honor of being the first National Monument in the United States. Bev Hind gave a program. She and her late husband, Dr. Strode Hinds, a past president of the LCTHF, were active for many years in the keelboat project at Onawa, Iowa and in making the monument and its grounds more beautiful.
Ponca State Park in Ponca, Nebraska
A Lewis and Clark replica campsite has been set up on the grounds of the state park. Two large wall tents and ten small wedge tents are available for rental. Rental is $11 a night. Call (402) 755-2284 for info.
River 340 Boat Race from Kansas City to St Charles
The third annual Missouri River 340 mile boat race took place across the state of Missouri on July 15-18. 150 boats participated--canoes, kayaks, racing boats and surf skis. The race was won by Carter Johnson paddling a surf ski in the record solo time of 37 hours, 46 minutes. Next year's River 340 is planned for August 4-8, 2009. Lewis and Clark took seven days to cover the same distance, from September 15-21, 1806, but they were encountering others on the river and being welcomed back as long lost heroes.
Columbia River Kayaking at Skamokawa, Washington
The Lower Columbia Kayak Roundup was held on August 18-24 featuring expert to beginner instruction and a sea kayak symposium. Lewis and Clark would have enjoyed participating! Next year's dates are August 17-23. Registration is limited to 60 participants and it will go fast when sign up starts in the spring of 2009. Contact Mark Whitakercolumbiariverkayaking@columbiariverkayaking.com .
The Skamokowa Center also hosted a Lewis and Clark paddle trip on July 19th led by DESC members Margaret Miller and Mark Johnson. Visit the Columbia River Kayaking website for more info.
Clark's Camp at Cape Disappointment, Washington
Clark's Camp at Cape Disappointment was held on July 20. Visit the Pacific Northwest Living Historian's website to see all of their activities, including Lewis and Clark horseback trips and charter boat tours.
 Salt makers at Seaside, Oregon
On August 18th, living history reenactors demonstrated salt making on the beach at Seaside, Oregon. The event was filmed by Oregon Public Broadcasting. See The Daily Astorian (8/18/2008).
Cathlopotle Plankhouse gets planked
The Chinookan style cedar plankhouse built on the Ridgefield National Wildlife Refuge in Washington state lacked a plank floor due to pressure to complete the plankhouse in 2005. Recently the building received a new floor made from cedar wood, replacing the packed gravel. See The Columbian (8/18/08) The plankhouse has a nice website at www.plankhouse.org An important Chinook archaeological site is located on the refuge.
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Chinook Tribal Recognition Bill Introduced
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Congressman Brian Baird (D-Vancouver) introduced the Chinook Nation Restoration Act in July. The tribe, which numbers around 2,500 people, have been seeking recognition for years. Members of the Discovery Expedition of St Charles (DESC) made many friends among the Chinook and have been actively supporting their efforts, taking a Chinook canoe on their travels across America. It is believe the bill will be acted on next year. Read Tom Koenninger's column "Recognition for Chinook Overdue" in The Columbian (8/20/08) to learn more about it.
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Videos of Lewis & Clark site in Hell's Canyon
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The Idaho State Historical Society has discovered the site of the 100 foot Nez Perce longhouse where Sgt Ordway and two companions traded for salmon on May 29-30, 1806. The Nez Perce village site was revealed after a large fire swept through area in 2007. Two videos by Idaho KTVB show the brass tacks and blue bead discovered at the site, and the magnificent vistas of Hell's Canyon and the Snake River, which the expedition called "Lewis's River." Click on the two links on this KTVB webpage to view the 4 minute videos.
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Pittsburgh marks keelboat building site
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 205 years ago Meriwether Lewis departed from Pittsburgh with his new keelboat on August 31st, 1803. There has been controversy over where the boat was built. Elizabeth, Pennsylvania--15 miles south of Pittsburgh--has always claimed the honor, but close reading of the journal entries shows it was built in Pittsburgh, as three miles after leaving the boatyard they arrived at Brunot Island, which is located in today's city of Pittsburgh. The island is where a friend of Lewis's fired the air gun hitting a woman bystander, who fortunately received only a superficial scalp wound. (What a way to start the trip!)
Historians are now convinced the keelboat was built at Fort Fayette (aka Fort Lafayette), commanded by Lt. Moses Hooke. Lt. Hooke was the officer Lewis was going to choose as his second-in-command if William Clark wasn't available.
The new marker is located near the 10th St Bypass and the Pittsburgh Convention Center. Read about the marker dedication in the Pittsburgh Post Gazette news story (8/29/08)by Patricia Lowry.
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Maya Lin completes two more Confluence Projects at Vancouver and Sandy River Delta
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 Internationally famous artist Maya Lin received a commission to design seven art projects commemorating confluences of the Columbia River during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. The first at Cape Disappointment is now entirely completed.
On August 23rd dedication ceremonies were held at Troutdale, Oregon and Vancouver, Washington. for a bird blind at the confluence of the Sandy River and the Columbia; and a walking land bridge across busy State Highway 14 from Historic Fort Vancouver to the waterfront. The land bridge is 40 foot wide and covered with earth and native plantings, which sounds very interesting. A model of the bridge, designed in cooperation with Johnpaul Jones is shown here.
GOT A PHOTO? If someone will send us a photo/post in the forum, I'll share it in the next newsletter. The Confluence Project website has a video of Maya Lin and detailed descriptions of the seven projects.
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The "Golden Girls" White Cliffs canoeing trip
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The "Golden Girls" from the Mouth of the Platte chapter went on a three day canoe trip in the White Cliffs region of the Missouri.This was one of the optional trips preceding the annual conference at Great Falls. From left to right: Mary Langhorst, Della Bauer, LaNelle King and Florence Clouse. They are members of the MOP Study Group and we are all very proud of them. See Mary's forum posting.
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Please contact me with news, corrections, suggestions; and for how to order autographed copies of Lewis and Clark Road Trips with personal messages.
Sincerely,
Kira Gale
River Junction Press LLC kira@lewisandclarktravel.com
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Lewis and Clark
Road Trips
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The perfect gift for someone planning to travel the trail
Personally autographed copies available
$29.95 plus $8.95 s&h
Pay by mail by personal check
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Lewis and Clark Road Trips: Exploring the Trail Across America by Kira Gale
$29.95, 274 pages, 161 maps, over 400 photos, full color "Reference books do not get any better than this one. It should be on every library shelf in every nook and cranny of America. It should be in the personal library of every Boy Scout, Girl Scout, and 4-H Leader." --John R. Wunder Nebraska HistoryAmazon Affiliate Bookstore |
Featured Sales Outlets
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If you are selling Lewis and Clark Road Trips, and are not on this list, send me an email. If you want to sell the book, visit our retail orders.
Mississippi Crafts Center Ridgeland MS
National Park Service Bookstore Omaha NE
Headwaters Heritage Museum & Gift Shoppe Three Rivers MT
Blackfeet Nation Store Browning MT
John Heinz History Center Pittsburgh PA
Powell's Store Rare Books Section Lewis and Clark Portland OR
Powell's Store
Portland OR
Columbia River Gateway Bookstore Cape Disappointment Ilwaco WA
Fort Clatsop Bookstore Astoria Oregon
Skamokawa Center Skamokawa Washington
Garst Museum Greenville Ohio
Appaloosa Museum, Moscow Idaho
Great River Road
Interpretive Center, Ste Genevieve, Missouri
Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Gateway Arch, St Louis Missouri
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General Crook House Omaha Nebraska General Dodge House Council Bluffs IowaLewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Center, St Charles MissouriMissouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Center, Nebraska City NebraskaKreycik Riverview Elk and Buffalo Ranch, Niobrara NebraskaDakota Dinosaur Museum Dickinson, North DakotaLog Cabin Visitors' Center Vincennes IndianaCottonwoods Gift Shop, Fort Mandan Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Washburn North DakotaArt's Sleeping Buffalo Resort Store, Malta MontanaKlein Museum, Mobridge South DakotaPortage Cache Store Lewis and Clark National Historic Interpetive Center Great Falls MontanaSquire Boone Caverns near Historic Corydon, IndianaAtchison Visitor Information Center, Atchison KansasMuseum of the American Quilter's Society, Paducah KentuckyWestern Historic Trails Center, Council Bluffs IowaStore of Discovery, Lewis & Clark State Historic Site, Hartford Illinois |
The Lewis and Clark Trail Bear
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Our Biddle Buddy Bear
16 inch pot belly bear machine wash & dry
$36.95 plus s&h
Pay by mail by personal check
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Biddle at William Clark's birthplace in Virginia
Biddle at Harpers Ferry,
West Virginia
Biddle meets an 830 pound Grizzly Bear
at Lincoln, Montana
Biddle rides in a bullboat at Great Falls, Montana
Biddle and Smokey
on the Lolo Trail
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