Lower Columbia Preservation Society Presents: Free Monthly Lecture About Local History & Historic Preservation
March Lecture:
Elk, Salt, and A Monstrous Fish; Lewis and Clark on the Lower Columbia
A presentation by Tom Wilson.
Dangerously low on food, provisions and trade goods, their leather clothing rotten from continuous rain, the Lewis and Clark Expedition had a number of critical decisions to make once they arrived at the mouth of the Columbia River. Not finding enough game to feed the 33 members and finding that the trade goods they had left was not sufficient to trade with the local natives for food, the Corps needed to find appropriate quarters as winter was approaching all too quickly.
Join Lewis and Clark historian Tom Wilson, and discover how the Expedition survived the harsh North Coast winter. Learn how they established winter quarters, found food, made their clothing, how they were able to obtain salt to preserve meat for their homeward trek, and made the treacherous journey to present day Cannon Beach to obtain whale blubber and oil to add to their lean elk diet.
A retired elementary school teacher from Astoria, Oregon, Tom Wilson was a volunteer and later a National Park Ranger at Lewis and Clark National Historical Park for nearly 30 years. Tom has portrayed several Expedition members in many living history programs. He primarily has portrayed William Clark for documentaries such as OPB’s “Searching For York” and “A Clatsop Winter Story,” as well as being featured on Oregon Field Guide, Grant’s Getaways, Let’s Get Out There (Jon Goodwin) and The Science Channel.
Tom has conducted and/or helped with many tours along the Lewis and Clark Trail. Among these were tours with Dr. Gary Moulton (editor of the Lewis and Clark Journals), Shore Excursions of America, Road Scholar groups, as well as numerous talks and presentations throughout the Northwest.
Join us for this interesting story! Tuesday, March 11th at 7 pm at Pacifick Distillery housed in the historic Astoria Wharf and Warehouse. Come early to secure a seat and enjoy a refreshment. Dining and beverage menus are available.
Tuesday, March 11th at 7:00pm
Pacifick Distillery, 55 4th St. Astoria, OR
Free and open to the public
