Differences

he reconstruction of Fort Clatsop that now stands at or near the site of the Corps' winter encampment of 1805-06 was built on the same floor plan that Clark drew on the cover of the Elkskin-covered Journal. Assuming this was the plan that was actually followed, the rest of the present structure resembles the original only in a remote sense, and gives visitors an imperfect idea of what it was really like, for three basic reasons.

First, the present one was built to last for an indeterminate time; the original was a temporary structure for a residence of only about four months.

Second, the new one was built for the convenience and safety of large numbers of welcome visitors; the original was designed for limited access and for defense.

Third, professional carpenters carefully crafted the modern version over a period of two years, with power tools as well as hand tools, using the best available materials; 30 hungry and dispirited soldiers clad in shabby, wet leather, built their little fort with light hand tools, out of native materials within arm's reach, in 15 days.

--Joseph Mussulman