Auburn in Placer County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Jean Baptiste Charbonneau

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, February 18, 2010

1. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau Marker

Inscription. As an infant in 1805, he accompanied his parents Toussaint Charbonneau and Sacagawea, as they guided the Lewis & Clark Expedition. He lived along the American River Canyon, at Murderer’s, Buckner’s, Rattlesnake & Manhattan Bars between 1848 and 1857. In 1861 he worked as a clerk at the Orleans Hotel, located near this site. Died in Oregon shortly after leaving Auburn in 1866.

Erected 2006 by Placer County Historical Society.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1805.

Location. 38° 53.639′ N, 121° 4.753′ W. Marker is in Auburn, California, in Placer County. It is at the intersection of Lincoln Way and Park Street on Lincoln Way. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1587 Lincoln Way, Auburn CA 95603, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in California’s Sacramento Metro,

in the Sierra Nevada,

and in the Lake Tahoe Basin.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: The Auburn Joss House (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Chinese Houses (about 400 feet away); Gietzen Fire Station (about 500 feet away); Bosse-Morgan Building (about

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600 feet away); American Hotel (about 600 feet away); Auburn Post Office (about 700 feet away); The Tsuda Grocery (about 700 feet away); Wells Fargo Express Office – 1852 (about 700 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Auburn.

Also see . . . Jean Baptiste Charbonneau Biography. Following his birth, "the newest member of the 33-member Louis & Clark Expedition, Jean Baptiste was a healthy and active boy, a great favorite of Clark, who nicknamed him “Pomp and Pompy,” for his pompous “little dancing boy” antics. On April 7, 1805, riding in a pirogue (river boat) with his mother, the 55 day-old Jean Baptiste joined the expedition as the Corps left Fort Mandan to continue their journey toward the Rocky Mountains and Sacagawea’s people. (Submitted on July 3, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.)

Additional keywords. Multiracial Americans

Photographed by Barry Swackhamer, June 5, 2011

2. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on November 7, 2019. It was originally submitted on July 3, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 3,972 times since then and 110 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 3, 2011, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. • Syd Whittle was the editor who published this page.