Arrival at the Pacific Ocean


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	The Expedition Station Camp


	Mountains of Waves

Arrival at the Pacific Ocean

Page 4 of 4

James Sayce photo

hile the rest of the Corps huddled in the gale-driven rain at Station Camp, Clark and ten of his men, plus his servant York, set out overland, on November 18, 1805, toward the Pacific Ocean. On the 19th, having hiked a total of 25 miles, they arrived at "the Comencment of an extencive Sand beech." "I proceeded on the Sandy Coast 4 miles," Clark reported, "and marked my name on a Small pine, the Day of the month & year, &c." The "&c." included "by land," as Lewis had carved on a tree at Cape Disappointment a few days earlier, thus officially marking the extent of their journey.

This sculpture by Stanley Wanlass, situated in the city of Long Beach, Washington, commemorates that moment. Although Lewis was not with Clark on November 19, the artist places him there, as if present in spirit, to symbolize their mutual triumph.

--Joseph Mussulman


	Mountains of Waves

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From Discovering Lewis & Clark ®, http://www.lewis-clark.org © 1998-2009 VIAs Inc.
© 2009 by The Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, Washburn, North Dakota.
Journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton
13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983–2001)