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Madame Dorion Park, Walla Walla River, Washington.
Image taken September 25, 2005.
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Madame Dorion Memorial Park ...
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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.
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Click image to enlarge
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Madame Dorion Park, Walla Walla River, Washington.
Image taken September 25, 2005.
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Click image to enlarge
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Sign, Madame Dorion Park, Walla Walla River, Washington.
Image taken September 25, 2005.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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Clark, October 18, 1805 ...
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This morning Cool and fare wind from the S. E.
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Took our leave of the Chiefs and all those about us [from their camp, the location of today's Sacajawea State Park] and proceeded on down the great Columbia river passed a large Island at 8 miles about 3 miles in length, a Island on the Stard. Side the upper point of which is opposit the center of the last mentioned Island and reaches 3½ miles below the 1st. Island and opposit to this near the middle of the river nine Lodges are Situated on the upper point at a rapid which is between the lower point of the 1st Island and upper point of this; great numbers of Indians appeared to be on this Island, and emence quantites of fish Scaffold we landed a few minits to view a rapid which Commenced at the lower point, passd this rapid which was verry bad between 2 Small Islands two Still Smaller near the Lard. Side, at this rapid on the Stard. Side is 2 Lodges of Indians Drying fish, at 2½ miles lower and 14½ below the point passed an Island Close under the Stard. Side on which was 2 Lodges of Indians drying fish on Scaffolds as above
[Today this reach has been inundated by the waters of Lake Wallula, the reservoir behind the McNary Dam. The Burbank Slough - part of the McNary National Wildlife Refuge - dominates the eastern bank of the Columbia and two islands which remain offshore of Wallula are Crescent Island and Badger Island.]
at 16 miles from the point [junction of the Snake River with the Columbia, location of today's Sacajawea State Park] the river passes into the range of high Countrey at which place the rocks project into the river from the high clifts [Wallula Gap] which is on <both> the Lard. Side about 2/3 of the way across those of the Stard Side about the Same distance, the Countrey rises here about 200 feet above The water and is bordered wth black rugid rocks [Columbia River Basalt], at the Commencement of this high Countrey [Wallula Gap] on Lard Side a Small riverlet falls in [Walla Walla River] which appears to passed under the high County in its whole cose Saw a mountain bearing S. W. conocal form Covered with Snow [Mount Hood, Oregon]. passed 4 Islands, at the upper point of the <first> 3rd is a rapid, on this Island is two Lodges of Indians, drying fish, on the fourth Island Close under the Stard. Side is nine large Lodges of Indians Drying fish on Scaffolds as above [Yellepit area];
at this place we were called to land, as it was near night and no appearance of wood [Lewis and Clark are in the Port Kelley area, where today the islands offshore are under the waters of Lake Wallula.], we proceeded on about 2 miles lower to Some willows, at which place we observed a drift log formed a Camp on the Lard Side [Spring Gulch] under a high hill nearly opposit to five Lodges of Indians;
Soon after we landed, our old Chiefs informed us that the large camp above "was the Camp of the 1st Chief of all the tribes in this quarter [Chief Yellepit], and that he had called to us to land and Stay all night with him, that he had plenty of wood for us &" This would have been agreeable to us if it had have been understood perticelarly as we were compelled to Use drid willows for fuel for the purpose of cooking, we requested the old Chiefs to walk up on the Side we had landed and call to the Chief to come down and Stay with us all night which they did;
... we made 21 miles to day.
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