A while back, Captain Cavedweller and I were able to visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center located at Cape Disappointment on edge of the Oregon/Washington coast.
We parked and hiked up the hill to the center.
The flowers and foliage were so pretty. I kept expecting little fairies to pop out of the woods at any moment. (Okay, maybe I didn't really expect to see fairies, but it would have been cool!) I couldn't help but wonder at what it might have looked like when Lewis and Clark arrived.
Almost at the top of the hill, the first thing visitors see is the decommissioned military fortification that served as a military base during the Civil War and World War II.
Following the trail to the very top of the hill offers a spectacular view of where the Columbia River meets the Pacific Ocean.
In November of 1805, the U.S. Corps of Volunteers for Northwest Discovery, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, reached the mouth of the Columbia River and the Pacific Ocean.
"Great joy in camp," Clark wrote in his journal, "we are in view of the ocean, this great Pacific Ocean which we been so long anxious to see."
Cape Disappointment was already a notable landmark in the Pacific Northwest, named before the Lewis and Clark expedition arrived. The first known documentation of the area was in 1775 by Spanish explorer Bruno Heceta, who named it “Bahia de La Asuncion,” or Bay of the Assumption. Then in 1788, British trader John Meares named it “Cape Disappointment” when he mistakenly believed that the mouth of the Columbia River was only a bay.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center stands high on the cliffs of the state park located at Cape Disappointment. A series of mural-sized timeline panels guide visitors through the journey of the expedition, using sketches, paintings, photographs, and snippets from journals written by the Corps members. The center also has a nice short film presentation about the Corps, a glassed-in observation deck with incredible views, as well as various maritime and military displays.
It took us almost two hours to go through the whole thing and look around outside, but it was time well spent.
This journal entry from Meriweather Lewis made me smile. I think I would have also been heartily tired of the national hug.
Outside, the lighthouse is visible in the distance and there are walking paths, not to mention breathtaking views.
If you ever find yourself in the northern-most tip of Oregon or the southern-most tip of Washington right on the coast, I recommend setting aside an hour or two to visit Cape Disappointment.
You won't be disappointed!
USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes. When Shanna isn’t dreaming up unforgettable characters, twisting plots, or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.
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