Montage of Washington State Park scenes
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Doug's Beach State Park – The Friendly Village

1805 To the Pacific – Down the Columbia River, always seeking food

On Oct. 29, 1805, the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition stopped at the site of Doug's Beach State Park.

"Came too on the Stard. Side at a village of 7 houses built in the Same form and materials of those above, here we found the Chief we had Seen at the long narrows," wrote Clark. "We entered his lodge and he gave us to eate Pounded fish, bread made of roots, Filberts nuts, & the berries of Sackecomme. we gave to each woman of the lodge a brace of Ribon of which they were much pleased… we call this the friendly village."


1806 The Return Home – Up the Columbia River, begin the trade for horses

On their return trip, as the members of the Corps approached the site of Friendly Village, they began the long process of trading for horses from the local American Indians. Lewis and Clark knew they could not portage their canoes upstream through the narrows and falls. They needed horses to continue their trip, and the local inhabitants had horses – but trading for them was not easy. When they arrived at the Friendly Village they had not yet been successful in obtaining any horses. At the village they tried again, "with no better success" lamented Lewis.

Brightly colored sails of sailboarders on the Columbia River

Today, there is still much activity at this site. On windy days, hundreds of sailboarders gather to catch some wind and test their skills against world-famous Columbia River waves. Lewis and Clark noticed wind, too. A few miles downstream of this site Clark noted, "the wind rose and raised the wavs to Such a hight that I could not proceed any further."



History of the journey through Washington The Corps of Discovery Enters Washington Sacajawea State Park – Reaching the Columbia River at Last! Proceeding Down the Columbia Maryhill State Park – At the East End of the Gorge Columbia Hills State Park – Between the Long and Short Narrows Doug's Beach State Park – The Friendly Village Beacon Rock State Park – A Remarkable Rock Approaching the Coast Station Camp State Park – End of the Voyage Fort Columbia State Park – Over the Rocky Point Cape Disappointment State Park – Clark's Trip to the Ocean A Shortcut on the Way Home Lewis and Clark Trail State Park – On the Overland Shortcut

  1. History of the journey through Washington
  2. The Corps of Discovery Enters Washington
  3. Sacajawea State Park – Reaching the Columbia River at Last!
  4. Proceeding Down the Columbia
  5. Maryhill State Park – At the East End of the Gorge
  6. Columbia Hills State Park – Between the Long and Short Narrows
  7. Doug's Beach State Park – The Friendly Village
  1. Beacon Rock State Park – A Remarkable Rock
  2. Approaching the Coast
  3. Station Camp State Park – End of the Voyage
  4. Fort Columbia State Park – Over the Rocky Point
  5. Cape Disappointment State Park – Clark's Trip to the Ocean
  6. A Shortcut on the Way Home
  7. Lewis and Clark Trail State Park – On the Overland Shortcut


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