July 2022 America 250

We will work toward advancing a key National Park Service goal for the America 250 commemoration: to expand understanding of the American people’s extraordinary diversity and explore how the full, aspirational promise of this nation has been denied to many because of who they are. And to understand that resiliency, protests, and patriotism are embedded in the history and fabric of our country and recognize and celebrate that our economic, political, spiritual, and cultural vibrancy comes from our diversity. Social Media hashtags: #FindYourPark, #FindYourTrail, #LewisandClarkTrail

Lewis and Clark Events That Happened This Month

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On July 4, 1804, the Corps of Discovery observed the first Independence Day west of the Mississippi. The men camped in the area of today’s Atchison, Kansas. It was here where Captain Clark named two small streams in honor of the holiday – 4th of July 1804 Creek and Independence Creek. #LewisandClarkTrail More: https://www.nps.gov/articles/lewis-and-clark-s-fourth-of-july-1804-in-kansas.htm

On Friday, July 15, 1803, Meriwether Lewis arrived in Pittsburgh intending to stay just a few days before beginning his journey down the Ohio River. It wasn’t to be. Instead he waited six long, frustrating weeks. Lewis Arrives in Pittsburgh July 15, 1803 (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

After departing Travellers Rest on the return journey, Lewis and his detachment followed the Cokahlarishkit Trail, or “Road to the Buffalo,” to cross the Continental Divide. The trail, which had been identified to Lewis and Clark by the Nez Perce, had long been an established transportation corridor for American Indians. On July 7, 1806, they passed through the Alice Creek drainage. Lewis described “much appearance of beaver many dams” and noted that the “bottoms not wide and covered with low willow and grass.” #LewisandClarkTrailMore on Alice Creek: https://www.nps.gov/places/alice-creek-historic-district.htm

On July 19, 1805, Lewis wrote, “this evening we entered much the most remarkable clifts that we have yet seen. these clifts rise from the waters edge on either side perpendicularly to the hight of 1200 feet. every object here wears a dark and gloomy aspect. the tow[er]ing and projecting rocks in many places seem ready to tumble on us. the river appears to have forced it’s way through this immence body of solid rock for the distance of 5¾ miles and where it makes it’s exit below has thrown on either side vast collumns of rocks mountains high. the river appears to have woarn a passage just the width of it’s channel or 150 yds.”More on Gates of the Mountains: https://www.nps.gov/places/gates-of-the-mountains.htm

During the return journey, Lewis decided to explore up to the headwaters of the Marias River in order to determine if it extended north of the 49th Parallel (thereby expanding the northern boundary of the Loui­siana Purchase), and discover if there was an easy portage between the Marias and Saskatchewan rivers (which could route western Canadian fur trade to the Missouri). Why did he name this area Camp Disappointment? https://www.nps.gov/places/camp-disappointment-mt.htm

The Two Medicine Fight Site represents the first encounter between the Blackfeet Nation and the United States, the first military conflict between the United States and a Plains Tribe, and the only violent en­counter between the expedition and American Indians of the entire journey. Learn more: https://www.nps.gov/places/two-medicine-fight-site-mt.htm

On July 25, 1806, while descending the Yellowstone River, Clark “arived at a remarkable rock Situated in an extensive bottom on the Stard. Side of the river & 250 paces from it.” He wrote that, “this rock I ascended and from it’s top had a most extensive view in every direction. This rock which I shall Call Pompy’s Tower [named for Jean Baptiste ‘Pomp’ Charbonneau] is 200 feet high and 400 paces in secumphrance and only axcessable on one Side which is from the N. E the other parts of it being a perpendicular Clift of lightish Co­loured gritty rock on the top there is a tolerable Soil of about 5 or 6 feet thick Covered with Short grass. The Indians have made 2 piles of Stone on the top of this Tower. The nativs have ingraved on the face of this rock the figures of animals &c. near which I marked my name and the day of the month & year.” #LewisandClarkTrailMore: https://www.nps.gov/places/pompeys-pillar-mt.htm

On July 25, 1805, the expedition finally reached the headwaters of the Missouri River. It was here that Sacagawea had previously been kidnapped by the Hidatsa during a raid on a Shoshone camp. #LewisandClarkTrailRead more: https://www.nps.gov/places/three-forks-of-the-missouri-mt.htm

More July Themes and Activities

July 4: Independence Day

• Independence Day NPS.gov tag(s): independence day, july 4
• Social media hashtag(s): #July4th

July 18: World Listening Day

• Natural Sounds NPS.gov tag: natural sounds
  • Sound Gallery
• Social media hashtag(s): #WorldListeningDay, #ListenUp

July 28: Buffalo Soldiers Anniversary

• Buffalo Soldiers NPS.gov tag(s): buffalo soldiers
• Social media hashtag(s): #BuffaloSoldiers, #FirstRangers

July 31: World Ranger Day

• NPS Careers NPS.gov tag(s): nps careers
• Social media hashtag(s): #WorldRangerDay

TBD: Latino Conservation Week

• Find detailed guidance for Latino Conservation Week
• Latino Conservation Week NPS.gov tag(s): latino conservation week
• American Latino Heritage NPS.gov tag(s): latino heritage, latino history, latinx heritage, latinx history
• Social media hashtag(s): #LatinoConservationWeek, #LatinoHeritage