Lewis and Clark Among the Nez Perce

The Nimiipuu or Nez Perce people have always lived here. When the
expedition led by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark ventured
into this country in the fall of 1805, they encountered a society tied
closely to the land. A land of plenty, a sacred land of rivers, canyons,
prairies, mountains. Home.

Imagine the questions that must have been asked as these strangers
walked out onto the camas fields of the Weippe Prairie: Who are they?
What do they want? Should we fight? Should we help? Why? Why not?

A respected Nez Perce elder, Wetxuuwíis (Wet-k\'hoo-wees), responded to
these questions. Captured by the Blackfeet as a young girl, she went
east and became acquainted with fur traders, who treated her with
kindness. Her memories compelled her to speak, urging that the band do
no harm to these strangers.

The Nez Perce ultimately provided assistance to the expedition in the
form of food, horses, directions, and guides in the fall of 1805. When
the expedition returned again in the spring of 1806, Lewis and Clark
spent nearly a month living among the Nez Perce. With the possible
exception of the winter encampments, Lewis and Clark spent more time
with the Nez Perce than any other group. When Lewis and Clark left the
Nez Perce, they had established a formal relationship between nations.

Explore these places. Learn their stories and treat them with care. They
are still called Home.

The Nimiipuu have been in this land since time immemorial. Nez Perce
National Historical Park tells the story of the Nez Perce, offering all
Americans an important perspective about our history as a people. This
is not a story told from the Mississippi looking west; it is a view from
a homeland looking out, witnessing the march of history and change. It
is a park about a people for all people.

Corps II: 200 Years to the Future

Beginning in July, 2005, coinciding with the arrival of Captains
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark into Idaho and western Montana,
activities commemorating the bicentennial of the expedition will
commence.

Since 2003, the National Park Service\'s Corps of Discovery II has been
on the road following the route taken by Lewis and Clark 200 years ago.
Corps II is composed of several interpretive exhibits and a performance
venue known as the Tent of Many Voices, providing space for
demonstrations, cultural presentations, and audiovisual programs. Corps
II provides this stage so the public can share their stories and reflect
on the impacts the expedition has had over the last two hundred years.

In July and August, 2005 Corps II will make appearances in Helena,
Bozeman, and Dillon Montana. After a stop in Salmon, Idaho, Corps II
will be in Kamiah, Idaho from September 16-26 and Clarkston, Washington
from October 1-9 before continuing west to Oregon and the Pacific Ocean.
Corps II will return to Nez Perce National Historical Park, from June
3-17, 2006 coinciding with the Nez Perce Tribe\'s signature event, The
Summer of Peace, June14-17, 2006.

For information on Corps II, please visit the Lewis and Clark National
Historic Trail web site at www.nps.gov/lecl. Events related to the
bicentennial can be found at the official web site of the bicentennial,
www.lewisandclark200.org.

Idaho

Confluence Overlook

Donald MacKenzie established a trading post near the confluence of the
Clearwater River in September 1812. The Nez Perce were not interested in
the fur trade and MacKenzie sold out to the British.

Coyote\'s Fishnet

Coyote and Black Bear got into an argument. In frustration, Coyote threw
his fishing net on a hill and tossed Black Bear on another, turning him
into stone. Both features are visible today

Ant and Yellowjacket

Ant and Yellowjacket were arguing over who had the right to fish for
Salmon when they got into an argument. Coyote asked them to stop and
they did heed his warning, whereby Coyote turned them into a stone arch
that is visible today.

Spalding

The Spalding site has seen many uses by the Nez Perce and was the
location of Henry and Eliza Spalding's mission. The park\'s visitor
center and museum is located here as well. Nearby is where the
Spalding\'s first settled in 1836.

Northern Idaho Indian Agency

As part of the treaty process, the U.S. Government set up an agency to
oversee the implementation of the terms of the treaties.

Fort Lapwai

In the fall of 1862, a detachment of volunteers chose this location for
their fort. The 1883 officers\' quarters at the southwest end of the
parade ground is one of the few orignal buildings to have survived.

Craig Donation Land Claim

This is the site of the first claim by the first Euro-American settler
in Idaho. William Craig was a mountain man, an interpreter, and friend
of the Nez Perce.

St. Joseph\'s Mission

This was the first Roman Catholic mission among the Nez Perce. It was
dedicated on September 8, 1874 by Father Joseph Cataldo, who had built
it.

Cottonwood Skirmishes

After skirmishes with the U.S. Army and volunteers here on July 3 and 5,
1877, the main body of Nez Perce was able to evade the Army.

Weis Rockshelter

More than 8,000 years ago humans first made this home and continuously
inhabited the area until about 600 years ago.

Camas Prairie

Where wheat fields stretch to the horizon today, camas once grew. Camas
bulbs were a major food source for the Nez Perce, and they came here in
late summer and early fall to dig them.

Tolo Lake

In 1877, the non-treaty bands congregated at this ancient council site,
known as Tepahlewam, before moving onto the reservation. Frustrated by
injustices against the Nez Perce, three Nez Perce warriors raided
homesteads on the Salmon River from this site.

White Bird Battlefield

On June 17, 1877, the first battle of the Nez Perce War was fought here.
The U.S. cavalry was defeated with heavy losses and the Nez Perce began
their long journey to find safety and sanctuary. A self-guided walking
tour of the battlefield is available at the trailhead.

Clearwater Battlefield

On July 11, 1877 Gen. Oliver O. Howard crossed the Clearwater River and
hoped to take the Nez Perce by surprise. His hopes came to naught and
the fighting ended with the Nez Perce withdrawing.

Heart of the Monster

This is the location of the Heart of the Monster, where Coyote defeated
a monster and, in turn, created the Nez Perce people. Audio stations
tell the story in English and in the Nez Perce languages.

Asa Smith Mission

In April 1839, Rev. and Mrs. Asa Smith established a mission in the
Kamiah area. Unsuited to the demands of such work, the Smiths left in
1841.

Lewis and Clark Long Camp

Near here Lewis and Clark camped in the spring of 1806 heading east for
home. Here they waited for the snow in the Bitterroot Mountains to melt
and stayed among the Nez Perce for a month.

Canoe Camp

In the early fall of 1805, the Lewis and Clark expedition rested here
and built canoes of hollowed-out logs for the final leg of their trip to
the Pacific Ocean.

Lenore

For thousands of years, this village site was used by the Nez Perce and
their ancestors.

Weippe Prairie

This was a root-gathering place for the Nez Perce and it was here on
September 20, 1805, that Lewis and Clark first met the Nez Perce. During
the 1877 War, the Nez Perce came here after the Battle of the
Clearwater.

Pierce

In September 1860, gold was found on the Nez Perce reservation,
triggering another treaty that reduced the size of the reservation. The
other site of interest is the old Shoshone County courthouse, completed
in 1862 and the oldest public building in Idaho.

Musselshell Meadow

For many generations, Nez Perce have come here to dig for camas. General
Howard camped here at the end of July, 1877 while pursuing the Nez Perce
over the Lolo Trail.

Lolo Pass and Trail

This historic Nez Perce trail was used by Lewis and Clark in 1805 and
1806. During the 1877 War the Nez Perce followed the trail on into
Montana. The U.S. Forest Service maintains a visitor center at Lolo
Pass.

Looking Glass\' 1877 Campsite

The Looking Glass Band tried to remain neutral in the conflict between
the non-treaty Nez Perce. The Army attacked the village. Looking Glass
regarded this as treachery and joined the others against the Army.

Buffalo Eddy

The unique petroglyphs of this area are evidence of the longevity of the
Nez Perce occupation of the area. Defacing federal archeological sites
is a criminal offense.

Hasotino

Hasotino was a site used until the end of the 19th century and was
located near an important eel fishery.

Camas Meadow Battle Site

After the tragedy at Big Hole, the Nez Perce gained time by stealing
more than 200 of the Army's pack mules and horses, halting their
advance.

Montana

Big Hole National Battlefield

On the morning of August 9, 1877, U.S. troops surprised the Nez Perce
who crossed the Bitterroots trying to evade capture. Between 60 and 90
Nez Perce men, women, and children were killed. The Army lost 29
soldiers and 40 wounded.

Canyon Creek

After emerging from Yellowstone National Park, the Nez Perce were
pursued by the cavalry. In a rearguard action the Nez Perce were able to
gain time by successfully stopping the pursuing troops.

Bear Paw Battlefield

Just 40 miles short of the Canadian border, the Nez Perce were besieged
by the Army and forced to surrender on October 5, 1877. They had
traveled 1,170 miles in the nearly four months since the first
skirmishes.

Oregon

Dug Bar

At this traditional crossing of the Snake River, Joseph and his band
crossed in May, 1877 as they left their homes in Oregon for the
reservation in Idaho. Located in Hell\'s Canyon National Recreation
Area, the site is accessible by either boat or a high clearance vehicle.

Joseph Canyon Viewpoint

This was one of the winter homes of the Nez Perce. Tradition holds that
Chief Joseph was born in a cave along the east bank of the creek.
Restrooms are available.

Old Chief Joseph\'s Gravesite

The remains of the elder Chief Joseph were reburied here in 1926. Nearby
are the graves of other Nez Perce and some settlers.

Lostine Campsite

At the junction of the Lostine and Wallowa Rivers is a traditional Nez
Perce summer campsite where Old Chief Joseph died in 1871. This
landscape has changed little from the days before the area was settled.
Not a developed site.

Washington

Burial Site of Chief Joseph the Younger

In 1885 Chief Joseph and his band were allowed to return to the
Northwest from Indian Territory in Oklahoma. Joseph spent his remaining
years on the Colville Reservation and died here in 1904. The cemetery is
private property and a sacred place.

Nez Perce Campsites at Nespelem

Chief Joseph\'s band continued their traditional way of life while
living on the Colville Reservation. These were their winter and summer
homes and were the last places where Joseph lived. Not a developed site.

Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail

In 1986, Congress established the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National
Historic Trail to commemorate the 1877 War. The trail begins at Wallowa
Lake in Oregon and extends 1,170 miles to the Bear Paw Battlefield in
Montana. The trail is managed by the U.S. Forest Service in cooperation
with other partners, including the National Park Service. Further
Information on sites to see and special events along the trail can be
found on the web at: www.fs.fed.us/npnht/.

Lewis and Clark Sites

Nez Perce National Historical Park includes a number of sites that
Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark passed through or camped at
on their journey across western Montana and central Idaho.

Spalding Visitor Center

See a Jefferson Peace Medal given to Kepowan, a Palouse/Nez Perce
headman in October of 1805. Nez Perce history and culture is featured in
exhibits, a film, and book store.

Canoe Camp

At Canoe Camp Lewis and Clark made the transition from land to water.
From September 26 to October 7 1805, with some assistance from the Nez
Perce, the Corps of Discovery built several dugout canoes for the trip
down the river. Canoe Camp is located 2.5 miles west of Orofino, Idaho
on U.S. Highway 12 and has outdoor exhibits.

Weippe Prairie

On September 20, 1805 William Clark came onto the prairie after ten days
of atrocious weather and arduous trail conditions. The approximate
location where Clark entered the prairie is off of Highway 11
approximately 3 miles southeast of the town of Weippe. Follow the signs
to the turn out. The Weippe Discovery Center also has exhibits related
to Lewis and Clark.

Lolo Trail and Pass

Visitors can retrace the route that Lewis and Clark took in 1805 and1806
on U.S. Highway 12 over Lolo Pass or on primitive dirt road known as the
Lolo Motorway (Forest Road 500). A rest area and visitor center are
located at Lolo Pass. The rest area is open twenty-four hours a day; the
visitor center is open seven days a week from early June through Labor
Day from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm (PDT). Call (208) 942-1234 for more
information.

PLEASE NOTE: Forest Road 500 is suitable only for high clearance
vehicles. Trailers are not recommended. A free, first come, first serve
permit is required to travel a segment of the Lolo Motorway from July 15
to October 1, 2005. For more information please contact the Lochsa
Ranger District office at (208) 926-4274 or on the web at
www.fs.fed.us/r1/clearwater/

Long Camp

Delayed in crossing the Bitterroot Mountains on their return journey in
1806, the expedition lived among the Nez Perce for a month at a site
known as Long Camp in present day Kamiah, Idaho. The site of Long Camp
is now occupied by a sawmill and lumber yard. This is private property -
there is no public access. An interpretive sign is located on a pullout
south of Kamiah on Hwy 12.

Big Hole National Battlefield

On July 3, 1806 at Travelers Rest near Missoula, Montana, Lewis and
Clark split the expedition into two groups On July 6, Clark's group
camped at Trail Creek, a few miles west of the Battlefield. The next day
they crossed into the Big Hole valley and continued to a campsite near
present day Jackson. Regional information on Lewis and Clark is
available at the park's visitor center.

Archeological sites, battlefields and artifacts are protected by state
and federal law. Anyone who injures, destroys or appropriates artifacts
or objects of antiquity on park lands is subject to arrest and
prosecution to the maximum extent of the law.

Please call (208) 843-2261 in Idaho and (406) 689-3155 in Montana to
report incidents.

Nez Perce National Historical Park

39063 US Hwy 95

Spalding, ID 83540

Phone: (208) 843-2261, ext. 199

Fax: (208) 843-2001

E-Mail:NEPE_Visitor_Information@nps.gov

Web Site: www.nps.gov/nepe

Spalding Visitor Center

Located ten miles east of Lewiston, Idaho on U.S. Highway 95.

Summer: Memorial Day to Labor Day - Daily

8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Rest of the Year: Daily, 8:00 am to 4:30 pm

Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's.

The visitor center offers exhibits, films, and a bookstore on Nez Perce
culture and

history.

Fees: Free

Restrooms are accessible. Park film has open captions and audio
description is available for the park film and museum exhibit.

Big Hole National Battlefield

P.O. Box 237

Wisdom, MT 59761

Phone: (406) 689-3155

Fax: (406) 689-3151

E-Mail: BIHO_Visitor_Information@nps.gov

Web Site: www.nps.gov/biho

Visitor Center

Located ten miles west of Wisdom, Montana on State Highway 43.

Summer: May 28 - September 5, 2005

9:00 am to 6:00 pm

Rest of the Year: 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

Closed: Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's

The visitor center offers exhibits, a film, and a bookstore on the Nez
Perce war of 1877.

Fees: Fees collected May 28, 2005 to September 25, 2005

\$5.00 per vehicle

\$3.00 Person traveling alone

Restrooms and visitor center are accessible.

Bear Paw Battlefield

301 Ohio

Chinook, MT 59523

Phone: (406) 357-3130

Fax: (406) 357-3140

E-Mail: NEPE_Bear_Paw@nps.gov

Web Site: www.nps.gov/nepe

Visitor Center

Located in the Blaine County Museum

501 Indiana St., Chinook, Montana

Summer: Memorial Day to Labor Day

Mon. to Sat. 8:00 am to 5:00 pm

Closed between noon and 1 pm

Sunday: Noon to 5:00 pm.

Rest of the Year: Monday through Friday, 1pm to 5pm

Located 16 miles south of Chinook, Montana on Route 240. The battlefield
is open daily from dawn to dusk with a self guided trail, picnic tables,
and vault toilets.

Fees: Free

Comments?

Editor, Nez Perce NHP

39063 US Hwy 95

Spalding, ID 83540-6086

Photography Credits

Nez Perce National Historical Park - NPS

The Visitor Guide is published by Nez Perce National Historical Park and
Big Hole National Battlefield in cooperation with the Northwest
Interpretive Association and Glacier Natural History Association.
Printed by American Color Printing, Shakopee, Minnesota.

Northwest Interpretive Association

909 First Ave, Suite 630

Seattle WA 98104-3627

\(206\) 220-4140

Glacier Natural Historical Association

P.O. Box 310

West Glacier, MT 59936-0310

\(410\) 888-5756