Near Williston in Williams County, North Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Area
Williams County
| | Lewis & Clark in North Dakota | |
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2019
1. Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Area Marker
Map of the Missouri-Yellowstone confluence in 1805 and today.
Thursday and Friday, April 25 and 26, 1805
Rich wildlife heralded the expedition's arrival at the Yellowstone-Missouri confluence. Impatient, Lewis ascended the south bluff to view the "wide and fertile vallies." He camped Thursday night on the Yellowstone. On the winding Missouri, fierce wind nearly swamped Clark's canoes, and ice collected on the oars. He camped on the south bank after 14 river miles.
On Friday, Lewis sent Joseph Fields up the Yellowstone. He passed a well-timbered island, saw Bighorn Sheep, and reported "country...like that of the Missouri." Clark's boats stopped just past the confluence. Finding them "at this long wished for spot," Lewis ordered "a dram...issued to each person." A fiddle appeared and the evening was spent "with much hilarity, singing & dancing."
The captains reported "Immence numbers of Antelope," "beaver in every bend," elk, deer buffalo, and nesting magpies, ducks, geese, and eagles. In the bottoms grew cottonwood, oak, ash, elm, willow, and many berry bushes. Clark measured both rivers at the confluence; the Missouri was 520 yards wide (330 of it water) and the Yellowstone
this page online
Erected by State Historical Society of North Dakota.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical date for this entry is April 25, 1805.
Location. 47° 59.113′ N, 103° 59.248′ W. Marker is near Williston, North Dakota, in Williams County. It can be reached from 39th Lane Northwest near 153rd Avenue Northwest. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 15349 39th Lane Northwest, Williston ND 58801, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in North Dakota’s Bakken Oil Patch. It is also in the American Lewis & Clark Corridor, on the prairies, and on the Northern Plains. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once Ruperts Land and also the Louisiana Purchase.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: A Beaver Boom (within shouting
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, August 16, 2019
2. Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Area Marker
More about this marker. The marker is on the grounds of the Missouri-Yellowstone Confluence Interpretive Center.
Also see . . . Missouri/Yellowstone Confluence, Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail. National Park Service website entry (Submitted on September 2, 2024, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2024. It was originally submitted on November 29, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 550 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on November 29, 2019, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
