Atchison in Atchison County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
"the water…contains a half…Glass of ooze"
"The water we drink or the Common water of the missourie at this time, contains a half a Comm Wine Glass of ooze or mud to every pint-"
William Clark
June 21, 1804
The Missouri River of Lewis and Clark's era was wild and unpredictable. It earned the nickname "Big Muddy" due to the abundance of sand, sediment, silt, and clay. In a constant state of change, the river cut side channels, chutes, eddies, boils, sandbars, backwaters, and oxbows - strong currents in some places, slow in others. The flowing water cut into riverbanks, undercutting shorelines and felling trees into the constantly moving water.
Over time, the river meandered back and forth across the flood plain, touching the base of each bluff in tight serpantine [sic] curves. Sometimes these tight "u" shapped [sic] curves would "pinch-off," leaving an oxbow lake stranded from the river. Today the river is a bit different from the times of Lewis and Clark. Channels are maintained for navigation and flood control. Dams further up the river provide power generation, irrigation, recreation, and flood control.
Erected 2004 by Kansas Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission and National Park Service.
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 month for this entry is June 1835.
Location. 39° 33.711′ N, 95° 6.827′ W. Marker is in Atchison, Kansas, in Atchison County. Marker is at the intersection of River Road and Commercial Street, on the right when traveling north on River Road. Marker is at the Riverfront Park pavilion. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Atchison KS 66002, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Homeland of the Kanza Indians (here, next to this marker); The Lewis and Clark Expedition (a few steps from this marker); "walked on Shore above this Creek" (a few steps from this marker); Lewis Discovers a High Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); Under a large Cottonwood… (within shouting distance of this marker); Atchison Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); USS Arizona Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Butterfield's Overland Dispatch (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atchison.
Also see . . .
1. The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. (Submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. (Submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Credits. This page was last revised on December 4, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 739 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.