Lewis and Clark's Columbia River - Madame Dorion Memorial Park, Washington

Lewis & Clark's Columbia River - "200 Years Later"
"Madame Dorion Memorial Park, Washington"

Including ... Madame Dorion Memorial Park ...

Image, 2005, Madame Dorion Park, Washington, click to enlarge

Click image to enlarge

Madame Dorion Park, Walla Walla River, Washington. Image taken September 25, 2005.

Madame Dorion Memorial Park ...

Madame Dorion Memorial Park is located at the junction of Washington State Highway 12 and Highway 730, at Columbia River Mile (RM) 315 (Lake Wallula), where the Walla Walla River meets the Columbia. During winter of 1811-1812, an advance party of the first fur traders reached the Columbia River from Montreal, Canada. With them was Marie Dorion, an Iowa Indian, who was the second women to come west overland -- the first being Sacajawea, with Lewis and Clark. Marie was the wife of Pierre Dorion, the interpreter for the expedition. She came west with her two children and she inspired her companions by the manner in which she bore the hardships and discomforts of the journey with fortitude. In 1931 the Madame Dorion bridge was built across the Walla Walla River, the remains of which can still be seen at the mouth of the Walla Walla. The nearby 46-acre day-use and camping park is also named in her memory.

Click image to enlarge	Madame Dorion Park, Walla Walla River, Washington. Image taken September 25, 2005.
Click image to enlarge	Sign, Madame Dorion Park, Walla Walla River, Washington. Image taken September 25, 2005.

From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...

Clark, October 18, 1805 ...

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^*River Miles [RM] are approximate, in statute miles, and were determined from USGS topo maps, obtained from NOAA nautical charts, or obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Website, 2003

Sources: Columbia Basin Fish and Wildlife Authority Website, 2003; Hitchman, R., 1985, Place Names of Washington, Washington State Historical Society; U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Website, 2004, Walla Walla District; Washington State Department of Tourism Website, "experiencewashington.com", 2004; Washington Secretary of State Website, 2004, Washington History; Washington State Historical Society Website, 2004, "Lasting Legacy".

All Lewis and Clark quotations from Gary Moulton editions of the Lewis and Clark Journals, University of Nebraska Press, all attempts have been made to type the quotations exactly as in the Moulton editions, however typing errors introduced by this web author cannot be ruled out; location interpretation from variety of sources, including this website author.