The Dalles in Wasco County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)

Rock Fort Camp

October 25, 1805

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, July 13, 2015

1. Rock Fort Camp Marker

Inscription. Rock Fort is an important mid-Columbia campsite for the Lewis and Clark Expedition. After a portage around the Great Falls (Celilo) they came to a gentle part of the river near the present city of The Dalles. They formed their camp on a high point of rocks which forms "a kind of fortification well calculated for defense." Here the expedition remained October 25, 26, 27, 1805 while they dried supplies, repaired canoes, hunted and reconnoitered the river below. The party returned to camp here again on their return journey on April 15, 1806 to (Lewis wrote) "The place we have called Rock Fort Camp."

Erected 1993.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Forts and Castles. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 25, 1805.

Location. 45° 36.048′ N, 121° 10.824′ W. Marker is in The Dalles, Oregon, in Wasco County. It is on East 2nd Street (Business U.S. 30) near Federal Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 East 2nd Street, The Dalles

Paid Advertisement

Click or scan to see
this page online

OR 97058, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Oregon’s Columbia River Gorge.

It is also on the American Pacific Coast,

in the Pacific Northwest,

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Cascade Range,

the Pacific Rim,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Decision at The Dalles (within shouting distance of this marker); Nickelsen Bookstore (within shouting distance of this marker); The Corps of Discovery "Into the Narrows" (within shouting distance of this marker); Wingate & Williams Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); I.O.O.F. (Odd Fellows) Hall (about 300 feet away); Maier Building (about 300 feet away); French and Company Bank (about 400 feet away); The Pioneer Building (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in The Dalles.

More about this marker. The marker is on the Federal Street Side of the building.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, July 1, 2017

2. Rock Fort Camp Marker

Text and map are at the bottom right.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2018. It was originally submitted on December 30, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 470 times since then and 44 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on February 16, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2. submitted on December 30, 2017, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.