Wanapum and the Lewis and Clark Expedition

The Snake River enters from the left.  Sacajawea State Park is on the wooded point between the two rivers.

Jim Wark, used with permission.

After traveling down the Clearwater and Snake Rivers on the western side of the great divide, the men of the Corps stopped at the mouth of the Snake and rested for two days.

It was mid-October 1805 and they’d finally reached the great Columbia River, the first time since leaving Fort Mandan that they were in a place they’d actually heard of.

About 500 yards upstream was a camp of the Wanapum people (Lewis and Clark called them “Sokulks”), who were in the area for the autumn salmon run. That evening, Chief Cutssahnem brought 200 of his men to the Corps’ camp and they welcomed the visitors by singing and playing hand drums. The Captains returned the gratitude by giving everyone tobacco, then held a council with the chief before presenting him with a peace medal and other gifts.

Today, the site is within Sacajawea State Park, outside Pasco, Washington.