Weippe in Clearwater County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)
"Handsome Small Prairie"
Gold Rush Historic Byway
— Adventure Into Idaho's Beginnings —
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 6, 2018
1. "Handsome Small Prairie" Marker
After the hardships of the mountain passage, the Weippe Prairie was a place of relief for the Corps of Discovery. The Nez Perce befriended them and renewed their hope of reaching the Pacific Ocean. "the pleasure I now felt in having tryumphed (sic) over the rocky Mountains and descending once more to a level and fertile country where there was every rational hope of finding a comfortable subsistence for myself and party can be more readily conceived than expressed, nor was the flattering prospect of the final success of the expedition less pleasing." -- Meriwether Lewis ~ September 22, 1805
On their return journey they were happy to return to this beautiful place where they could hunt and secure meat for the trip over the mountains. They arrived in late spring when the Camas was in full bloom.
"...The qualmish is now in blume (sic) and from the colour of its bloom at a short distance it resembles lakes of fine clear water, so complete is this deseption (sic) that on first sight I could've swoarn (sic) it was water." Meriwether Lewis ~ June 12, 1806
Erected by
this page online
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical date for this entry is September 22, 1805.
Location. 46° 22.548′ N, 115° 57.088′ W. Marker is in Weippe, Idaho, in Clearwater County. Marker is on West Pierce Street (State Highway 11 at milepost 17) near West 7th Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1001 West Pierce Street, Weippe ID 83553, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Weippe Prairie (here, next to this marker); Lewis and Clark (here, next to this marker); First Contact Between Two Cultures (approx. 0.4 miles away); Corps of Discovery (approx. 2.2 miles away); a different marker also named First Contact Between Two Cultures (approx. 2.2 miles away); a different marker also named Weippe Prairie (approx. 2.2 miles away); Fraser Park (approx. 4.6 miles away); Fraser (approx. 4.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Weippe.
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, May 6, 2018
2. "Handsome Small Prairie" Marker
The marker is just beyond the sign in the foreground.
Credits. This page was last revised on August 10, 2018. It was originally submitted on August 10, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 161 times since then and 31 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 10, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
