The Dalles in Wasco County, Oregon — The American West (Northwest)
The Corps of Discovery "Into the Narrows"
Thursday 24th October 1805
Photographed By Barry Swackhamer, July 2, 2017
1. The Corps of Discovery "Into the Narrows" Marker
(Notes on the map at the bottom of the text, top to bottom: Portage of 1200 yards; Little Narrows 1/4 long 45 yds wide; Encampment 24th Oct; Long Narrows 3 m. long 50 to 100 yds wide; E-che-Lute Nation of 21 large wooden houses stuck 6 feet under ground; 107 sacks of pounded fish.)
Inscription.
The Corps of Discovery "Into the Narrows". Thursday 24th October 1805. President Thomas Jefferson's vision, which was reflected in a letter of credit written in 1803 was about to be realized in less than 200 miles, but first the Corps had to shoot the rapids of the Narrows of the Columbia. The important supplies were portaged and the swimming members of the party boarded the canoes and cast off. , The "Short Narrows" were where Columbia River constricted to only 45 yards wide and a quarter of a mile long and the "Long Narrows" were 150 yards wide and three miles long. , Capt. William Clark wrote ...the horrid appearance of the agitated, gut swelling water was boiling and whorling in every direction... , In the standards of today's canoeists this was a class V rapid and the Corps with their five heavy dugout canoes made the run without incident.
President Thomas Jefferson's vision, which was reflected in a letter of credit written in 1803 was about to be realized in less than 200 miles, but first the Corps had to shoot the rapids of the Narrows of the Columbia. The important supplies were portaged and the swimming members of the party boarded the canoes and cast off.
The "Short Narrows" were where Columbia River constricted to only 45 yards wide and a quarter of a mile long and the "Long Narrows" were 150 yards wide and three miles long.
Capt. William Clark wrote ...the horrid appearance of the agitated, gut swelling water was boiling and whorling in every direction...
In the standards of today's canoeists this was a class V rapid and the Corps with their five heavy dugout canoes made the run without incident.
Location. 45° 36.068′ N, 121° 10.778′ W. Marker is in The Dalles, Oregon, in Wasco County. Marker is on East 1st Street near Federal Street, on the right when traveling
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east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 420 East 1st Street, The Dalles OR 97058, United States of America. Touch for directions.
2. The Corps of Discovery "Into the Narrows" Mural
The letter in the background reads in part: In the journey which you are about to undertake for the discovery of the course and source of the Missouri, and of the most convenient water communication from the Pacific Ocean, your party being small, it is to be expected ... considerable dangers ... the Indian inhabitants ... and reach ... Pacific ocean...
Credits. This page was last revised on January 10, 2018. It was originally submitted on January 10, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California. This page has been viewed 174 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on January 10, 2018, by Barry Swackhamer of Brentwood, California.