Chinook Point

Chinook Point

Ian Poellet

Quick Facts

Location:

Fort Columbia State Park, Chinook WA

Significance:

Location where Corps of Discovery saw the Pacific Ocean

Designation:

National Historic Landmark

MANAGED BY:

Washington State Parks

Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums

Visitor Centers (shown in orange), High Potential Historic Sites (shown in black), and Pivotal Places (shown in green) along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

On November 15, 1805, after a year and a half of traveling west, the Corps finally saw the Pacific Ocean near Chinook Point. Intense thunderstorms finally subsided on the 15th, which allowed them to move four miles west toward Chinook Point. Boards from a temporarily deserted Chinook Indian village nearby were used to erect shelters. For the next 10 days the Corps used Chinook Point as a base camp to explore the surrounding area, and find a site for their winter encampment.

 

The Chinook suggested the south bank of the Columbia River where game and edible roots were more plentiful. The Corps also discussed returning upstream on the Columbia River, though it would be colder and salt would be scarce. Lewis and Clark decided to let the Corps vote on the camp location - including York and Sacagawea. This was significant because, at that time, African Americans and women were generally not allowed to vote.

On November 24, 1805 they decided to investigate the south side of the Columbia River:

“. . . we have every reason to believe that the nativs have not provisions Suffient for our Consumption, and if they had, their price's are So high that it would take ten times as much to purchase their roots & Dried fish as we have in our possession, ... They generaly agree that the most Elk is on the opposit Shore, and that the greatest numbers of Deer is up the river at some distance above. added to-, a convenient Situation to the Sea coast where we Could make Salt, and a probibility of vessels Comeing into the mouth of columbia ("which the Indians inform us would return to trade with them in 3 months["]) from whome we might precure a fresh Supply of Indian trinkets to purchase provisions on our return home: together with the Solicitations of every individual, except one of our party induced us Conclude to Cross the river and examine the opposit Side.the Climate which must be from every appearance [must be] much milder than that above the 1st range of Mountains, The Indians are Slightly Clothed and give an account of but little Snow, and the weather which we have experienced Since we arrived in the neighbourhood of the Sea coast has been verry warm, and maney of the fiew days past disagreeably So. if this Should be the Case it will most Certainly be the best Situation of our naked party dressed as they are altogether in leather.”

On November 25, 1805, the Corps of Discovery left their base camp near Chinook Point and traveled to the more favorable location of Fort Clatsop.