When It all began

 

 

 

The story of Lewis and Clark along with their guide, Sacajawea

Bismarck, North Dakota

 

In Bismarck, ND in the museum at the State Capital grounds, their image looks very much like the one in Salmon,Idaho.

 

Note yet a different name spelling

 

The real story of Sacajawea

I have always had a desire to learn all about Sacajawea since I took Idaho history in the eighth grade.
We have traveled to all of the states she was known to travel,with Lewis and Clark.
We started in Salmon, Idaho where she was kidnapped from her people, at the young age of 12.
Sacajawea was taken to North Dakota by Hidatsa Indians, there she was purchased by Touissant Charbonneau for a wife.
They were hired to be guides for Lewis and Clark because Sacajawea knew the country and spoke many languages.
She lead the party to the West Coast.
There was never a drawing or a picture taken of Sacajawea, so each state has its own image of her in the likeness of what they think she looked like.
Her own people in Salmon, Idaho probably come to the best image.

Sacajawea

 

 

 

 

Sandstone Outcropping

The Extraordinary sandstone outcropping along the Yellowstone River.
Clark named this formation in honor of his young companion John Baptiste Charbonneau, who he doted on, and nicknamed Pomp.
There are steps leading to the top of the Pillar that you can go and observe the valley from the top.
Clark has signed his name in the soft Sandstone and the date.
Pomp was born Feb. 11-1805 and was 1 1/2 years old when they were here.
This is an interesting place with a great visitors center and plenty of parking for RV's.
It is on I-94 E. 28 miles East,from Miles City, Montana

Pompy's Pillar in Montana

 

 

 

A new spelling to her name

In Fort Mandan, North Dakota we discovered another name and spelling to this historic woman.
When I ask about the different spelling and pronouncing of her name, I was told that Sacajawea could not spell or read.
The tribe that she came from, and the tribe that stole her, did not speak the same language. Therefore they spelled and pronounced her name as it would be in their language.
It was Pronounced as Sa Cag A Wea.
Her image was different looking too.
However you spell or pronounce her name the beautiful Indian maiden was so much too so many people.
Clark stayed in touch with Sacajawea after returning to Fort Mandan.
When John Baptist turned school age, Sacajawea ask Clark to take Pomp, into his home and send him to school in St. Louis,Mo.
Sacajawea died in Fort Mandan, North Dakota ,a few years after that. Having never recover from giving birth to a second child, a girl.
The history of the girl was never known, some saying she died as well.

Fort Mandan,North Dakota

 

The North Dakota image of Sakawea

 

 

 

Inside the living area of Sakawea,her husband Charbonneau and son John Baptiste

The Yellowstone National Park

Every two or three years we load up and head for Yellowstone National Park.
It is close to us and they have a lot of animals out in the spring.
We left in May and got there just after they opened the park on the first of May.
We parked our trailer in 3 feet of snow. The weather was nice and sunny but cool.
At the entrance to the park the ranger said there were grizzly being spotted, so be careful.
That was one animal we wanted to see.
We had seen one,grizzly in the park, another time, but it running through the trees and hard to see.
When ask the ranger said the buffalo had babies, but the elk didn't have theirs until June.
Off we went in search of animals.
This is what we seen.

The Park Animals

The Eagle comes back every year to nest.

Waking up and Hungery

On our way out of the park in a snow covered field, was an animal, cars were parked on both sides of the street for a block in each direction.
We could only guess as to what the animal could be. At that point it was lying on the snow covered ground and it was black.
It took a long time to get our turn at seeing what it was and was we surprised to see the biggest grizzly we had ever seen.

 

From the Deep Sleep

I got out of the truck to take a picture, along with 30 others who wanted one too. The people ran out to him like he was a pet. The surprising thing was he ran towards them.
I stayed on the road and got my picture, maybe not so close of a shot, but oh so much safer.
He stopped only when the people stopped running towards him, lucky for us all.