Lewis and Clark events around the Northwest

By Kristin Jackson
Seattle Times travel staff

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Washington, Oregon

Cape Disappointment State Park/Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center: Trails, a lighthouse, beach walks and campground, in addition to the newly renovated museum. 360-642-3029 or www.parks.wa.gov/

Fort Clatsop National Memorial: Reconstructed fort, plus a visitor center and interpretive programs. 503-861-2471 or www.nps.gov/focl

National Park Service reservations (for Fort Clatsop admission tickets): 800-967-2283, reservations.nps.gov

Explorer Shuttle bus: Sunset Empire Transportation District, 800-776-6406, www.ridethebus.org/

Lewis and Clark Explorer Train: Details are being worked out, but tickets will be sold through Amtrak. For more train information, contact the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial in Oregon group: 503-768-7444 or www.lcbo.net

Clatsop County Genealogical Society: www.pacifier.com/~karenl/

Destination: The Pacific: For information on the November 2005 "signature event" and other Lewis and Clark activities. Call 503-861-4403, or visit www.destinationthepacific.com

State organizations

• The Lewis & Clark Bicentennial in Oregon, an official state group, has an abundance of information on Lewis and Clark events: www.lcbo.net/
 
• The Washington state tourism Web site has Lewis and Clark background, maps and more: www.experiencewashington.com/lewisandclark/

Local tourism offices

Visitor centers in various communities can give information on Lewis and Clark and other events and lodging, including summer events and festivals that can be combined with a Lewis and Clark-themed trip.

• Long Beach Peninsula Visitors Bureau: 800-451-2542 or www.funbeach.com (click on Lewis and Clark to get extensive information on local events).

• Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce: 503-325-6311, www.oldoregon.com/

• Seaside, Ore., Chamber of Commerce: 888-306-2326 or www.seasideor.com

Northwest museum exhibits

Among current or upcoming Lewis and Clark exhibits in Washington and Oregon are:

Washington State History Museum: The Tacoma museum will have various exhibits linked to Lewis and Clark during the bicentennial, including the recently opened "Beyond Lewis and Clark: The Army Explores the West" (until Oct. 31, then on national tour). 888-238-4373, www.washingtonhistory.org

Columbia Gorge Discovery Center: The "Cargo Exhibit" opens May 22 at The Dalles, Ore., museum — on the goods Lewis and Clark carried across the continent. 541-296-8600, www.gorgediscovery.org

Columbia Gorge Interpretive Center: Ongoing exhibits on Lewis and Clark, native culture and more at the museum in Stevenson, Wash. 800-991-2338, www.columbiagorge.org

Oregon Historical Society: Special exhibits and lectures on Lewis and Clark impacts at the Portland museum: 503-222-1741, www.ohs.org/

Native perspectives

For a collection of current American Indian perspectives on Lewis and Clark, see www.nathpo.org/Many_Nations/mn.html. The site is a joint effort of the Native American Journalists Association and the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers.

Many museums and visitor centers along the Lewis and Clark trail include exhibits about the expedition's impacts on native culture, including the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center at Washington's Cape Disappointment State Park (focusing on the Chinook culture) and the Tamástslikt Cultural Institute (www.tamastslikt.com) near Pendleton, Ore., an interpretive center for the Cayuse, Umatilla and Walla Walla tribes.

More information

To get more information on sights and events linked to Lewis and Clark, contact these national organizations:

• For background and Web links to parks/visitor centers along the Lewis and Clark trail, see the National Park Service Web site: www.nps.gov/lecl/ (click on In Depth).

• A federal government Web site, www.lewisandclark200.gov, gives quick access to information from more than 30 federal agencies about Lewis and Clark historic places throughout the West.

• The National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Council has details on major events, historical notes and more: www.lewisandclark200.org

Kristin Jackson: 206-464-2271 or kjackson@seattletimes.com