Livingston in Park County, Montana — The American West (Mountains)

Searching for Large Cottonwood

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 4, 2022

1. Searching for Large Cottonwood Marker

Captions: (background photo) Cottonwoods on the river.; (oval medallion) Captain William Clark traveled through here in July 1806. He painted his name and date in red on a cottonwood tree near the Yellowstone River.

Inscription. "I can See no timber Sufficient large for a Canoe which will Carry more than 3 men and Such a one would be too Small to answer my purpose." William Clark, Tuesday 15th July, 1806

In 1806, Captain William Clark and his party of explorers drove 50 horsed east to follow the Yellowstone River to its confluence with the Missouri River. The horses helped carry provisions when navigable waters were not available.Clark needed a cottonwood tree large enough to make a dugout canoe so they could travel by river but could not find then in this area.
The cottonwood species here on the eastern side of the Continental Divide is not as large as that on the western slope.

Erected by Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Horticulture & Forestry. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical date for this entry is July 15, 1806.

Location. 45° 39.011′ N, 110° 33.759′ W. Marker is in Livingston, Montana, in Park County. Marker is at the intersection of South 9th Street and River Drive, on the left when traveling south on South 9th Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 615 South 9th Street, Livingston MT 59047, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8

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other markers are within walking distance of this marker. On Horseback (here, next to this marker); Livingston Memorial Hospital (approx. 0.3 miles away); "Wide bold, rapid and deep" (approx. 0.4 miles away); Sacajawea on the Yellowstone (approx. 0.4 miles away); "At the Yellowstone" (approx. 0.4 miles away); Talcott House (approx. 0.6 miles away); St. Mary's Catholic Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); 221 South Yellowstone (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Livingston.

Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, August 4, 2022

2. Searching for Large Cottonwood Marker

Yellowstone River in the background.

Credits. This page was last revised on September 11, 2022. It was originally submitted on September 11, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 79 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 11, 2022, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.