Near Burbank in Walla Walla County, Washington — The American West (Northwest)

The Charbonneau Family

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 14, 2026

1. The Charbonneau Family Marker

Inscription. Touissant, Sacajawea,* and Jean Baptiste
* Note Sacajawea's name is shown with the traditional spelling. Some historians also use the spelling "Sacagawea."
Touissant Charbonneau joined the Lewis and Clark Expedition at Fort Mandan in present day North Dakota. His family included Sacajawea, his wife, and Jean Baptiste (nicknamed "Pomp" and "Pomp"), their son. Lewis and Clark hired Charbonneau and Sacajawea as interpreters for the Expedition
As the explorers traveled through the region, the presence of the young mother conveyed the Expedition's peaceful intentions to American Indian tribes.

"little dancing boy"
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau started his journey with the Lewis and Clark Expedition when he was less than two months old.. William Clark developed a great fondness for the child as he watched him grow from infant to toddler. He referred to him as "my little dancing boy" and offered to become his guardian after the Expedition. Upon parting with the Charbonneau family in August 1806, Clark wrote, "i offered to take his little son butifull promising child..."
After a few years, Jean Baptiste was

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entrusted into Clark's care in St. Louis, where he received a formal education. He eventually followed in his parent's footsteps and became an explorer and guide. He died in 1866, and his grave is located in Danner, Oregon

October 13, 1805 "The wife of Shabono our interpretr we find reconsiles all the Indians, as to our friendly intentions a woman with a party of men is a token of peace." William Clark

October 19, 1805
"the sight of This Indian woman, wife to one of our interprs, confirmed those people of our friendly intentions, as no woman ever accompanies a war party of Indians in this quarter."
William Clark

Interpreter and Chef
In addition to providing services as an interpreter, Touissant Charbonneau was a good cook. The explores particularly enjoyed his version of the recipe for boudin blanc or "white puddng,." a food of French voyageurs made with bison intestines as casing, stuffed with bits of meat, boiled, and then fried in bear oil. Lewis praised Charbonneau's dish as "one of the greatest delicacies of the forest."

Erected by Washington Lewis & Clark Expedition Bicentennial Commission.

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 14, 2026

2. The Charbonneau Family Marker

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Food & Drink • Indigenous Peoples and Communities. A significant historical month for this entry is August 1806.

Location. 46° 15.325′ N, 118° 50.852′ W. Marker is near Burbank, Washington, in Walla Walla County. It can be reached from Charbonneau Road (becomes Campground Road) near Shoreline Drive. This marker is located in Charbanneau Park, near the boat launch. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Burbank WA 99323, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Columbia Basin. It is also in the American Mountain West

and in the Lewis & Clark Corridor.

Globally, it is in North America,

on 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 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Dangerous Rapids (approx. 5.9 miles away); Lewis and Clark Trail (approx. 8½ miles away); Before This Was a Park (approx. 8½ miles away); Mayor A. P. Gray (approx. 9.9 miles away); "Sah-cah-ga-weah" (approx. 9.9 miles

<i>boudin blanc</i> image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Web photo

3. boudin blanc

away); "great Columbia river" (approx. 9.9 miles away); Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (approx. 9.9 miles away); Snake River Passage & Columbia Plains Crossing (approx. 9.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Burbank.

Other markers no longer nearby. Sacagawea (was approx. 9 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Ainsworth (was approx. 9 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . .
1. Toussaint Charbonneau – A Disliked Trapper-Trader -- Legends of America. "A French-Canadian explorer, trader, and a member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Charbonneau was born in Boucherville, Quebec, on March 20, 1767. Located near Montreal ... he worked for a time as a fur trapper with the British-owned North West Company." (Submitted on September 20, 2026, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

2. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau (1805-1866) -- Oregon Encyclopedia. " ∆ean Baptiste Charbonneau is remembered primarily as the son of Sacagawea. His father, Toussaint Charbonneau, was a French-Canadian fur trapper who joined the Lewis and Clark Expedition as an interpreter:

Possibly Jean Baptiste or Touissant Charbonneau on the left with Prince Maximilian and Karl Bodmer image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Karl Bodmer

4. Possibly Jean Baptiste or Touissant Charbonneau on the left with Prince Maximilian and Karl Bodmer

at Fort Clark.

... Their infant son was carried with them and later managed to travel farther than any other member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, for he was taken to Europe for several years before making his way back to the Far West." (Submitted on September 20, 2026, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Credits. This page was last revised on September 20, 2026. It was originally submitted on September 20, 2026, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 5 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on September 20, 2026, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.