FT STEVENS SP
The shipwreck was a bust, a small section the skeleton approximately 12’ x 12’ was all that remained. We drove to the historical military area of Ft. Stevens and hiked to the site of a Native American longhouse where the Clatsop people lived seasonally in summer for fishing and trading. Here too, just an artifact remained, but its craftsmanship gave it a sense of dignity. A single cedar log about 10’ tall was standing plumb; it had been hand hewn to make the base look like stilts, making an arched doorway about 18” wide and 48” tall. Its top was also hewn to cradle the ridge pole as well as the rafter logs on each side.
It was a poignant moment imagining the brutal destruction of the amazing native way of life at the hands of the US military. Fortunately they are regaining some of that former dignity by taking the white man’s money in their casinos with which to build hospitals, schools, gyms, libraries, senior centers and more. Good for them!
The drive to Ft. Clatsop was interrupted by the sight of a small herd (15-20) of elk lounging on the corner lot of a residential neighborhood. The homeowner had cultivated a lush green grass and the elk were loving it. One bull and the rest were yearling or cows. They were unfazed by the traffic on the arterial, but became a little wary when the neighbor across the arterial came out to check his mailbox.
Ft. Clatsop was the highlight of the day. I had seen it about thirty years ago with my boys, but it was much better without distraction. The replica is a close approximation of the original due to Clark’s copious drawings and notes. The visitor’s center had many artifacts and information on the natives’ role in assisting the Corps of Discovery recuperate and replenish their supplies after arriving at their goal starving, sick, wearing rotting clothing. It is absolutely amazing they survived and returned to President Jefferson with a bounty of information on the new world.
We stopped at a bar and grill near the campsite for lunch of clam chowder and fish and chips before a late afternoon nap followed by FB posts of some of our adventures.