Maryhill in Klickitat County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)
Lewis & Clark Journals
1803-1806
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 12, 2026
1. Lewis & Clark Journals Marker, Panel 1
Panel 1:
In 1803, U.S. President Thomas Jefferson sent the Lewis and Clark expedition across a continent uncharted by Europeans or Americans. The adventure culminated in a journey down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. Jefferson named the daring group the "Corps of Discovery" and instructed its members to document the voyage. The resulting journals provide insight into the long, grueling, and dangerous excursion, securing the Corps' place in history. Lewis was the least rigorous in his journal keeping and some journals did not survive the trip; thus Clark is most often cited.
If you had been looking up-river from this overlook in late October 1805 as American Indians probably were you would have seen the Corps of Discovery landing in Oregon just east of the present-day Sam Hill Memorial Bridge. On that day, the Corps official journal entry read ...
"A rapid [John Day] ... the passage was both crooked and difficult, we halted at a Lodge...great numbers of Indians came in canoes to view us at this place... proceeded on... and encamped near five lodges of natives... we purchased a little wood to cook our dog meat and fish. The hills are high and rugged a few scattering trees to seen...
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Panel 2:
"We set out at 9 oclock... on Stard. (north) side... is six lodges of natives drying fish [at Maryhill]...passed a bad rapid at the head of a large island {Miller]... a small island on a Stard... on which I counted 20 parcels [basket*] of dried and pounded fish... we discovered the entrance of a large river [Deschutes]... 6 miles below the upper mouth of Towornehiooks [Deschutes] River the commencement of the pitch of the great falls... we landed and walked down accompanied by an old man to view the falls [Celilo]. and the best route for to make a portage."
William Clark
22 October (Westbound)
We were obliged to let the canoes down by strong ropes of Elk skins... on canoe got loose... and was caught by the Indians... landed safe with all the canoes at our camp below the falls by 3 oclock p.m. nearly covered flees... every man.. was obliged to to strip naked that they might have an opportunity to brushing the flees of their legs and bodies. Great numbers of sea otters in the river below the falls
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 12, 2026
2. Lewis & Clark Journals Marker, Panel 2
Caption: Cello Falls, Columbia River, 1909, by Benjamin Gifford (1859-1936). The falls were located west of Miller Island. With the construction of The Dalles Dam in 1957, they were covered by water. Photo collection of Maryhill Museum of Art.
William Clark
Lewis and Clark identified 178 plants and 122 animals not previously described for science. While traveling through the Northwest they noted amongst others, the following species of wild life and vegetation:
California condor, Columbia white-tail deer, Canada geese, big-horn sheep and elk, turkey vulture, big-leaf maple, vine maple, maple cottonwood, large-headed clover, and Wapato roots.
A wild potato, Wapato roots were a favorite of Sacagawea and an important food source for the Corps during its stay in the Columbia Gorge. Osage orange trees were included in the first specimens sent back to President Jefferson from Missouri. These tree species can be found on Maryhill Musem's parklands along the driveway to the east and west.
Miller Island is located to the west off Maryhill Museum. Just beyond it, on the Oregon shore, is the Deschutes River. The expedition's westbound portage took place on the Oregon shore near the present boat landing at Cello Park. Camp was set up on the Washington shore, downstream from the present railroad bridge. There is an excellent overlook on WA14, five miles west of Maryhill
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 12, 2026
3. Lewis & Clark Journals Marker, Panel 3
Captions: (bottom left) Lewis and Clark carried nearly 90 presidential medals to give to prominent Indians. The Jefferson medals were inscribed "Peace and Friendship"; (upper right) The trail the Corps followed on land during its homeward journey follows the route of todays WA14 highway, right past where your are now standing. Meriwether Lewis carried his own branding irons for labeling equipment and container. On 23 November, 1805 near the Washington coast, Clark recorded in his journal "I marked my name the day of the month & year on a Beech tree & ... Capt. Lewis branded his and the men all marked their names on the trees about the camp." A branding iron was found on Memaloose Island near The Dalles, Oregon.
Panel 3:
"at 7 oclock we loaded and set out [from Wishram, Washington]... during the time the front of the party was waiting for Cap Lewis, I ascended a high hill from which I could plainly see the range of mountains which runs south [from Mt. Hood]... after Capt. Lewis came up we proceeded on through an open rugged plain about 8 miles to a village on the river."
William Clark
13 October 1805
Sacagawea*... "we find reconciles all Indians, as to our friendly intentions a with a party of men is a token of piece - William Clark
The Corps of Discovery's peaceful expedition was unparalleled in the volume of scientific information it recorded and in the legacy of friendship it established with the native populations. Traveling with the Lewis and Clark party was a young Shoshone woman and her two month old son. Sacagawea, the only woman member of the Corps, was of considerable assistance to the expedition, especially with her skills as interpreter, making it possible for the expedition to obtain much needed supplies and identify
Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 12, 2026
4. Lewis & Clark Journals Marker
Lewis and Clark spelled her name several different ways. If the woman's name were pronounced Sacajawea, the Shoshone meaning would be be "boat=launcher" ... an improbable name for a woman. Her French husband, Charbonneau, who also traveled with the Corps, stated that her home tribal name meant "Bird Woman" which when anglicized for easy pronunciation becomes "Sakakawea" or "Sacagawea."
Erected by Maryhill Museum of Art.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Natural Features • Waterways & Vessels. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 21, 1806.
Location. 45° 40.703′ N, 120° 51.693′ W. Marker is in Maryhill, Washington, in Klickitat County. It can be reached from Maryhill Museum Drive near Lewis and Clark Highway (Washington Route 14). The markers are located around the Maryhill Museum of Art. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 35 Maryhill Museum Drive, Goldendale WA 98620, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Washington’s Columbia River Gorge, in the Columbia Basin and in Yakima Valley. It is also in the American Mountain West and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor. Globally, it is in North America, in the Cascade Range, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Lewis & Clark Trail / Samuel Hill Bridge (here, next to this marker); Grain Elevators / The Oregon Trail (within shouting distance of this marker); Loops Road (within shouting distance of this marker); First Sight of the Columbia River (approx. 1.2 miles away in Oregon); Stonehenge (approx. 2.9 miles away); Sam Hill Country (approx. 3 miles away); Deschutes River Crossing (approx. 3.9 miles away in Oregon); Deschutes River Crossing Oregon Trail Kiosk (approx. 3.9 miles away in Oregon). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Maryhill.
Credits. This page was last revised on September 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 9, 2026, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 6 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 9, 2026, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.
