3/4/2010

Lately I have been reading books voraciously on all sorts of topics, fiction as well as non-fiction. It is amazing the vast amount of knowledge that is written down and contained within pages of books! Recently I spent hours at a book store pouring over thousands of books . One thing I realized as I looked over these books was the fact that I would not be able to read and absorb even a fraction of all the knowledge contained within those four walls. I am naturally very curious about everything and anything.

2/4/2010

When I began working for the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center 10 years ago, I knew about the Lewis and Clark Expedition, but to tell you the truth I really hadn’t paid a whole lot of attention to it. Other than my two or three days given to it during my high school days, it was just another part of my regular education. However, once I took the job as interpreter, I couldn’t get enough information concerning the expedition. So my collecting days began.

1/7/2010

At this writing, we are hosting Sonja Schierle from the Linden Museum in Stuttgart, Germany, who is here to retrieve the Prince Maximilian artifacts that have been on loan to us this past year. In the 14 months that that this exhibit has been shown, along with the Karl Bodmer display, over 25,000 visitors from all 50 states and dozens of countries have come to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, right here in Washburn, to view them!

12/28/2009

The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan willed be closed Friday, January 1st and will reopen at 9:00 am Saturday, January 2nd.

12/23/2009

To many, Christmas day is a day of rejoicing and being with those you care about, friends, family and embracing the joy within. But to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Christmas of 1804 was a day they likely never forget.

12/21/2009

The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan will be closed on Christmas Eve Day and Christmas Day. We will reopen Saturday, December 26th at 9:00 am.

12/14/2009

The Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation will host its 2nd annual Pajama Night this Friday, December, 18th, 6:30-8:30 pm. Children are invited to come in their p.j.’s and enjoy making Christmas decorations, watching a Christmas movie, and a snack. Admission is $3 for kids, parents and members are free. Bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the McLean County Resource Center and get in free! For more information call 462-8535 or go to www.fortmandan.com

12/3/2009

As members of Pride of Dakota, we will be participating in the Bismarck Holiday Showcase, and would love to have you come visit us at booth #107! The Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcases offers unique holiday gift ideas made in North Dakota. The showcases feature gift items, clothing, accessories, food and condiments, decorative items and more. You'll be able to find something for everyone.

12/3/2009

The Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation’s Winter Quilt Show will open Monday, December 7th. The Quilt Show will coincide with the Smithsonian’s Journey Stories being held at the Washburn Memorial Building.

12/2/2009

This past year, we’ve had over 25,000 visitors coming from Washburn and all around the world. It’s been a great “bounceback” year from high gas prices and economic uncertainties of a year ago, which impacted museums and historic attractions everywhere. It’s been a very good year!

11/25/2009

The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and the Headwaters Fort Mandan Visitor Center will be closed for Thanksgiving. The Center and Fort will reopen at 9:00 am on Friday morning.

11/23/2009

The Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation is accepting quilts for it’s annual Winter Quilt Show. The Winter Quilt Show is set for December 7th through January 18th at the Washburn Memorial Building. Quilts can be dropped off at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center until 5 pm on Monday, November 30th. For more information call 462-8535 or go to www.fortmandan.com

11/19/2009

Interpretive Specialist, Gary Anderson will be presenting his program entitled, “The Visual West,” on Saturday November 21st at 2:00. The program will be a comparison of Western Artists and their work. From the realistic portrayal of Native Americans by Karl Bodmer to the romantic art of Rudolph Kurtz, many artists will be discussed including George Catlin, John James Audubon, as well as later artists Charles Russel and Frederic Remington. Gary’s program will also look at the styles of Charles Fritz and their view of the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

11/9/2009

The ever increasing use of the outdoor recreation areas near Fort Mandan recently got a little “relief”. The placement of a permanent vault toilet in Fahlgren Park offers visitors extended use of the Fort Mandan History and Nature Trail, Kiwanis Playground and picnic shelters. The one piece concrete restroom, delivered and installed last week, was made possible with funds from a Recreation Trails Program grant.

11/3/2009

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity for a brief visit of our nation’s capital. While in Washington, I made my way to a small number of the many museums, memorials and monuments. During this trip I utilized a variety of transportation methods including airplanes, cars, trains and even a water taxi. I explored the Mall by foot from one end to the other, taking pictures and gathering memories. these places all of us had visited.

10/20/2009

The Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation welcomes W. Raymond Wood October 24th and 25th as part of its Fall Interpretive Programming. W. Raymond Wood, Professor Emeritus, University of Missouri-Columbia will be presenting James Kipp: Maximilian’s Mentor.

10/19/2009

Consider joining the Prairie Wind Toastmasters Club. Check out the next meeting on Tuesday, October 20 at 12 p.m. – 1 p.m. at the Headwaters Fort Mandan Visitor Center in Washburn. The club members will do a demonstration meeting so you can see what it is all about.

10/15/2009

James Kipp was the director or bourgeois of Fort Clark trading post during the visit of Prince Maximilian in the winter of 1833-1834. Join us as we welcome W. Raymond Wood, Professor Emeritus, at the University of Missouri-Columbia who will be discussing James Kipp and his important role at Fort Clark and Prince Maximilian’s winter there.

10/8/2009

The Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation will be commemorating the 200th anniversary of Meriwether Lewis this weekend with special interpretive programming. Jeff Turning Heart Jr., Interpretive Specialist, will present his program entitled ‘Murder or Suicide: The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis’ this weekend at the Headwater Fort Mandan Visitor Center.

10/1/2009

The Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation will be hosting the Missouri River Muzzleloaders Fall Rendezvous on October 3rd and 4th. Fur trade era re-enactors will have camps set up in front of Fort Mandan. Ten to fifteen camps are expected from the surrounding area. The public is welcome to visit and enjoy demonstrations of black powder shooting and fur trade era activities throughout the weekend.

9/30/2009

After all of the research and scholarship that has been produced prior to and during the bicentennial of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, there are still questions that remain unanswered. One of those questions surrounds the circumstances of the death of Meriwether Lewis.

9/15/2009

A preview screening of the Ken Burns Public Television documentary “The National Parks, America’s Best Idea” is set for Thursday, September 17 at 7:00 p.m. at Bismarck State College’s Sydney J. Lee Auditorium. The event is free and open to the public.

9/10/2009

A new tradition for the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation begins Saturday, September 12, 2009 with “Member Appreciation Day” at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan.

8/20/2009

Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Washburn, ND—On Saturday, September 26, 2009, Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan will participate in the fifth annual Museum Day, presented by Smithsonian magazine. A celebration of culture, learning and the dissemination of knowledge, Smithsonian’s Museum Day reflects the spirit of the magazine, and emulates the free-admission policy of the Smithsonian Institution’s Washington, DC-based properties. Doors will be open free of charge to Smithsonian magazine readers and Smithsonian.com visitors at museums and cultural institutions nationwide.

8/6/2009

The past several weeks have passed by in a blur, as Summer 2009 begins to fade into the looming school year—which seems to come earlier and earlier. Many of us try to make the most of these precious summer days, and especially weekends, and we’ve been offering a little extra something for you at Fort Mandan.

7/30/2009

The second annual Watermelon Feed at Fort Mandan is set for this Sunday, August 2 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. Visitors will enjoy plenty of watermelon, games, and music provided by Washburn area talent. “This is a great opportunity to get out and enjoy the last part of summer” says Lewis & Clark Foundation Marketing Coordinator, Laura Gardner.

7/20/2009

The third annual Fort Mandan Pet Walk is set for Saturday, July 25, two miles west of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Washburn, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

7/20/2009

NASHVILLE, TN—July, 2009—The American Association for State and Local History (AASLH) announces that Clay S. Jenkinson is the recipient of an Award of Merit from the AASLH Leadership in History Awards for the documentary When the Landscape is Quiet Again: The Legacy of Art Link. Jenkinson, Director of The Dakota Institute of the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, Washburn, co-directed the film with David Swenson of Bismarck. Produced by the Institute, the film is the first of many documentary films planned.

7/2/2009

Summer is finally here! It has been great to go out and enjoy being outdoors! My family and I are ready. I have been reading a lot of magazines about summer travel plans and have been seeing the same theme over and over. Staying close to home and doing things literally in your own backyard, as well as seeing the sights that your town or city has to offer. As people are looking at more ways to stretch their money and still have a good time, one other theme has emerged, the sense of family and creating memories with friends.

6/1/2009

Summer Kickoff 2009 offers free admission to both Fort Mandan and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Washburn Sunday, June 7. It’s part of a weekend of special activities, including a fur traders’ rendezvous at Fort Mandan Friday through Sunday, according to Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation Vice President Wendy Spencer.

5/5/2009

An Arbor Day celebration is set for Friday May 8th at 8:45 a.m. at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center. The whole community is invited to join Joel Nickels from the North Dakota Forest Service. Joel will be sharing with Washburn students and the community what Washburn’s Tree City Designation is and what it means to be a tree community.

5/4/2009

It’s that time of year, when suddenly the halls and galleries of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center echo with the laughter and chatter of students visiting us on school-sponsored field trips. It’s a wonderful time, as interpreters freshen-up their tour guide skills with new exhibits and stories to tell.

4/21/2009

The Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and the Headwaters Fort Mandan Center will be closing at 12 pm and re-opening at 2:30 pm. Sorry for any inconvinence.

4/2/2009

Two hundred and four years ago this week, the Lewis & Clark Expedition was preparing to leave Fort Mandan. They loaded up the keelboat to take plant and animal specimens and most importantly, their journals up to that point to St. Louis and eventually to President Jefferson. We can only imagine the excitment, combined with trepidation, they must have felt, venturing into the truly unkown portion of their journey.

3/13/2009

Lewis & Clark Foundation takes over Centennial Farm program BISMARCK – The Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation has taken the North Dakota Centennial Farm Program under its wing.

3/9/2009

“When the Landscape is Quiet Again: The Legacy of Art Link,” a film documentary produced by The Dakota Institute, was honored with the “Prairie Spirit Award” at last week’s Fargo Film Festival. On hand for the film’s screening and award presentation was executive producer David Borlaug, representing filmmakers Clay Jenkinson and David Swenson.

3/5/2009

Last week, three new cases were placed in the Interpretive Center’s Lewis & Clark exhibit. These cases contain a portion of the books and tools from our recently acquired John Fisher Collection.

2/5/2009

We have an exciting future ahead of us! As many of you have read in the Leader News last week, the Interpretive Center is looking to expand! Our building has seen hundreds of thousands of visitors and with that also comes a lot of wear and tear. After 11 years it is time to have a face lift and some new space to expand and complement the existing world class exhibits. As we look to improve our facilities, we will have the visitors’ experience in mind as we make our way through this project.

1/8/2009

On the heels of an exciting 2008, the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation is looking forward to a spectacular 2009!

12/5/2008

The Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation's annual "Christmas Tea" is Saturday, December 13, with two sittings at 2:00 and 3:30 p.m. This year's event will be in the Headwaters Fort Mandan Visitor Center, west of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Washburn.

12/4/2008

It is THAT time of year once again. A time when we find ourselves caught up in the holidays; being thankful, readying ourselves for Christmas and looking forward to the New Year. Every year we celebrate these holidays with family and friends as we feast, exchange gifts, and party. The end of the year holidays bring us together, help us remember how blessed we are, and propel us into fresh new year.

12/3/2008

Artifacts from Germany and Thomas Jefferson letters from the Library of Congress are included in the new exhibit “Enlightened Travel: Price Maximilian in America, 1832-1834,” opening Friday, November 28 at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn.

11/27/2008

At a time when we all reflect on our blessings of the year, we have much of which to be thankful here at the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation. It has been our most exciting year since opening the doors of the Interpretive Center 11 years ago.

11/25/2008

The Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan will be closed on Thanksgiving. Normal hours will resume on Friday, November 28th.

11/20/2008

Ah, the ‘snow day’! What a gift! I did try to get to work but only made it about 10 feet into my driveway before my car got stuck. And STUCK it was. I tried to stay in the tracks my husband had made for me but no such luck. And since he was out trying to keep hundreds of miles of county roads open, I remained stuck all day.

11/13/2008

Did you know that the entire month of November is National American Indian Heritage Month? I found out from an email from a good friend of mine who works at the Fort Lincoln State Park in Mandan.

11/11/2008

“When the Landscape is Quiet Again: The Legacy of Art Link” was awarded Best Documentary at the Forx Film Festival in Grand Forks this past weekend. The film, which aired on Prairie Public in October, was directed by ClayJenkinson and David Swenson and produced by The Dakota Institute of the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation of Washburn, ND.

11/6/2008

“Here Comes the Sun,” the Beatles sang, and I’m wishing it were there for me now! I don’t know about you, but the arrival of autumn and the shortening of days do not work so well for me. I miss those long days of daylight which seemed to give me more energy and time to get things done after work. I dread waking up in the morning to sheer darkness, as if getting going in the morning isn’t hard enough for my family and me some days!

10/30/2008

This past week, North Dakota saw the return of Prince Maximilian and the Swiss artist Karl Bodmer. They arrived in the form of a new painting by Michael Haynes and lectures by well known scholars from across the country and Europe.

10/23/2008

It’s quite an honor to be invited to join the First Lady of the United States for dinner, so when the call came from the White House a few weeks ago, I was obviously thrilled. During her visit to Bismarck, Laura Bush took time for dinner with a small group and I was invited because of her interest in the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

10/16/2008

Autumn obsesses me with experiencing the season in a way that heightens my senses. I love to feel the soft warmth of my sweater as I dress for the crisp clean air. As I walk out the door I consciously stretch my senses to pick up the scent of a wood fire and I’m overtaken with the smell of gingerbread flowing from the slightly opened window in my kitchen. I hear the flock of geese flying overhead and notice the crackle of dry leaves beneath my feet. I watch a leaf dance by me as it is swirled by a light breeze. In front of me I am breathtaken by the colors of the leaves painted in front of the clear blue sky and the multitude of hues dancing in the grass.

10/15/2008

Attendees at this year’s annual meeting dinner of the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation will receive a DVD of the documentary “When the Landscape is Quiet Again: The Legacy of Art Link” courtesy of Great River Energy.

10/9/2008

We are very blessed to live in an area that is so culturally rich. There are so many that the significance of one piece of history may occasionally get overshadowed by another. For over 11 years the North Dakota Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan have been touting the relevance of Lewis & Clark. During the expedition Lewis & Clark recognized how important the people like the Mandan and Hidasta were to this area. They also saw the beauty in the vast Missouri River Valley and value of its resources.

10/2/2008

Thursday was a big night for the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation and The Dakota Institute! We held the premiere of “When the Landscape Is Quiet Again: The Legacy of Art Link” in Bismarck at the Belle Mehus. We had a full house that included Governor Link and his wife Grace.

9/30/2008

Former North Dakota Gov. Art Link and his wife, Grace, weren’t instantly sold on the project when filmmaker Clay Jenkinson told them he was interested in making a documentary about the governor. “In their characteristically modest way, they said maybe,” Jenkinson said Monday at a reception at Prairie Public before the film was shown at the Fargo Theatre.

9/25/2008

If you’re reading this by Thursday, September 25, drop whatever else you had planned for the evening and be at the Belle Mehus Auditorium in Bismarck by 6:30 p.m. to find a seat for the premiere screening of “When the Landscape is Quiet Again: The Legacy of Art Link.”

9/18/2008

A glance around us shows that a hint of gold is beginning to appear in the trees. The sounds of Canada geese and sandhill cranes can already be heard in the sky. Fall is nearly here and as long as I can remember it has been my favorite time of year. I remember standing outside and watching the seemingly endless flocks of migrating geese head south for the winter.

9/15/2008

Families are invited to have an outdoor adventure the weekend of September 19-21 in the Washburn area during “Wings n’ Things Nature Fest,” hosted by the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation. Co-sponsoring the event with the Foundation are the US Fish & Wildlife Service, Cross Ranch State Park and the Audubon Wildlife Refuge.

9/11/2008

Being a big fan of history and literature and working with both is a plus because learning history through literature has been a key point for me. But my favorite book growing up was not a history book or a comic book, it was my sister’s diary.

9/4/2008

I can tell that school is back in session by the number of phone calls coming in from teachers to schedule field trips to the Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan. The majority of the students that visit with their schools are fourth graders. Fourth grade is one of the years when they study North Dakota History, and for many of them, this is their first exposure to Lewis & Clark and the Expedition. Unless, of course, their grandmother just happens to work at the Interpretive Center!

8/28/2008

The next time you see a buffalo, try and see it as a life-sustaining animal for thousands of Native Americans before and after the arrival of Europeans in the new world. American Indians tried most of the time to use every part of the animal for one purpose or another. Hides made clothing and tipis; horns made cups and spoons; muscles and tendons provided glue and bowstrings.

8/21/2008

Last week I tagged along on a shoot for our Arthur Link documentary. We were going to film him at the capital, in the office he had while serving as governor of North Dakota. I felt very fortunate to be there on this particular day of filming because it was truly a magical day.

8/14/2008

I am writing this column from my hotel room in Great Falls, MT, where I have been attending the annual meeting of the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. Our Interpretive Coordinator Jeff Carlson is here with me and together we have been spending time in our booth, showing our friends from around the country what's new and different at Fort Mandan and the Interpretive Center.

8/7/2008

Ever since I was a little girl I have wanted a sister. I can remember begging my Mom and Dad for a little sister. I ended up with two brothers which wasn’t so bad. Occasionally I could con them to dress up and play house with me, nonetheless this did not satisfy my need to have a sister.

7/31/2008

This Sunday, we're hosting our first ever Watermelon Feed at Fort Mandan. Besides being a greats summertime activity, there is a historical context to this as well--imagine that!

7/29/2008

The first “Watermelon Feed” at Fort Mandan is Sunday, August 3 from 3:00 to 5:00 p.m. according to Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation Vice President Wendy Spencer. “Join us for a throwback to the good old days of watermelon, games and fun,” says Spencer. “We even have a seed-spitting contest for the kids,” she adds.

7/24/2008

If I were to describe what a typical July day in North Dakota is like, the weather this past Saturday was picture perfect example that would save me a thousand words. Even though the sun was shining and temperatures were approaching ninety, my thoughts were fixed on the coming winter. The overcast skies of those snowy November mornings were filling my mind’s eye and I imagined the chilly breeze washing over me as I stood in my treestand.

7/17/2008

When I was asked to write a newspaper column less than two weeks after beginning my position with the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, I thought it would be appropriate to briefly explain why I enjoy studying and researching the Lewis & Clark Expedition.

7/15/2008

The second annual Fort Mandan Pet Walk is set for Saturday, July 19, two miles west of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Washburn, beginning at 10:00 a.m.

7/10/2008

Ah summer, long warm days, fun in the sun, quality time with the grill and your friends at the Interpretive Center! It has been so great seeing so many of you at our events! The days have been cruising by as we have been busy planning and hosting many exciting and unique events. The old adage ‘time flies when you’re having fun’ sure is ringing true for us!

7/3/2008

This past Sunday provided a perfect example of how diverse and exciting our Foundation’s work is here in Washburn. The day started early, as I greeted a group of five writers, photographers and tour operators from France long before the Center doors were to open.

6/26/2008

This past Thursday we opened a new exhibit, “Karl Bodmer’s America.” We now have all 81 Karl Bodmer aquatints on display! These prints have been a part of our permanent collection thanks to a gift from Alvera Bergquist. Up until this time we have displayed only the images that showcase the Fort Clark and Fort Union areas.

6/23/2008

Fahlgren Pioneer Day, featuring the annual Rhubarb Festival, returns to Fort Mandan at Washburn Sunday, June 29, beginning at 1:00 p.m. Pioneer demonstrations, rhubarb cooking contest with free taste samples and music by The Radio Stars are all on the schedule.

6/19/2008

The other night, I was watching one of my all time favorite movies, the 1994 film Forrest Gump. The scene that I found hilarious was when Forrest was running through the jungle in Vietnam and said, “Ow. Something bit me!” It was not an insect or an animal, he was “bitten” by a bullet. From watching that movie and that specific scene, I then thought of the incident when Pierre Cruzatte accidently shot Captain Meriwether Lewis.

6/18/2008

“Karl Bodmer’s America,” a display of all 81 of the Swiss artist’s aquatints, goes on display June 19 at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Washburn.

6/12/2008

The middle days of June 1805 subjected the Corps of Discovery to one of the most trying experiences of their passage by way of the Missouri River. On the morning of June 13, Meriwether Lewis climbed the hills along the Missouri and gazed on a vast and level plain that stretched for miles. As he strode across this plain, the sound of falling water and a glimpse of what he first thought to be smoke rose from the valley of the river. They had arrived at the Great Falls of the Missouri.

6/5/2008

Visitors to Fort Mandan in Washburn will get an authentic glimpse of the colorful fur trade era Saturday and Sunday, June 7 and 8 during the annual Fur Traders Rendezvous. Special guest presenter this year is James Hanson, historian from the world-recognized Museum of the Fur Trade in Chadron, Nebraska.

6/5/2008

Henry Ward Beecher said in 1887, “Every artist dips his brush in his own soul, and paints his own nature into his picture.” This past weekend our community turned out to honor two of Washburn’s great artists, Bill Reynolds and Henry Lorentzen. Each in their own way, these two artists shared with all of us their nature.

5/29/2008

I have a confession to make. I hate to admit this but until I started working at the Interpretive Center I had been nearly oblivious to all the unique sites and historic places we have right in our backyard. What’s really sad about this is that I grew up here!

5/29/2008

Fort Mandan and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center at Washburn are kicking off the summer of 2008 with free admission, entertainment, food and prizes this Sunday, June 1.

5/22/2008

Our Foundation is making a dramatic move with the establishment of The Dakota Institute, with Clay Jenkinson as its director. We have a number of projects underway already, and among the most ambitious is our first symposium, “The Travels of Maximilian and Bodmer,” set for October 23-27. This is the 175th anniversary of the Maximilian expedition time spent at Fort Clark. Presentations by historians from across the country and Germany will take place at the Bismarck State College campus. BSC is co-sponsoring this symposium with us, the first of many future collaborations.

5/15/2008

How lucky I am to work in a facility where I get to meet people from all over the world! It is amazing to me that these visitors not only take the time to visit Washburn, North Dakota, but also make Washburn a destination to visit! When you enter our building we have a place for our visitors to list their home town and I am in awe daily when I read this board and see the places that these visitors are from.

5/8/2008

Have you read any good books lately? If you haven’t come on in and check out the books available at the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and at Fort Mandan. If you want to learn about the Lewis & Clark Expedition, we have best selection you can find anywhere.

5/1/2008

Friday, April 18, the Interpretive Center hosted its first ever “Middle Missouri History Bee.” Fourth grade teachers from around the area were invited to bring as many teams of four as they could and they competed for ribbons, prizes and even a traveling trophy. The event was co-sponsored by the American Legion, Victor B. Wallin Post #12 of Washburn.

4/24/2008

This column is being written from the North Dakota Tourism Conference in Bismarck, where Senator Byron Dorgan opened the event Monday morning with news that his bill to create a “National Heritage Area” here is moving forward in Congress.

4/17/2008

On Tuesday the 16th of April 1805, Sgt. John Ordway wrote, “a clear pleasant morning, we set off early as usual. Proceeded on, the wind gentle from S. E. The trees are putting out Green. The Grass begins to grow in the bottoms & plains which look beautiful. We sailed some with a Southerly wind. The river crooked so that we could not sail much of the time”.

4/10/2008

Next Friday, April 18, our Foundation will be hosting the first ever “Middle Missouri History Bee” at the Interpretive Center. Planned by Events Coordinator Laura Gardner and Interpretive Coordinator Kevin Kirkey, the Bee is for fourth grade students from our area.

4/3/2008

When you think of explorers of North Dakota, you immediately think of Lewis & Clark, the dynamic duo of exploration of the early 1800’s. Half of that duo was a brilliant man whose life was both interesting and a mystery.

3/27/2008

Oscar H. Will was born near Syracuse, New York on September 9, 1855. By the age of 15 he was employed by his older brother William, where he gained experience in the Fayetteville Nursery and by the age of 22 he was operating his own business.

3/20/2008

June 19 will mark the beginning of another anniversary year for our region. It was on that date, 175 years ago, that Prince Maximilian and Karl Bodmer arrived at Fort Clark on their Upper Missouri Expedition.

3/18/2008

The annual Fort Mandan Easter Egg Hunt, sponsored by the Washburn Convention & Visitors Bureau, is this Saturday, beginning at 2:00 p.m. According to CVB Director Laura Gardner, “hundreds of eggs will again be hidden on the grounds of Fort Mandan, waiting to be discovered by kids.”

3/13/2008

National Geographic recently published a story by Charles Bowden entitled “The Emptied Prairie” that caused a bit of an uproar. Many residents thought it portrayed our state in an unfavorable light. The governor, commerce commissioner and many others commented that the article was “off the mark”. While the feeling is mutual, I also agree with the comments by a huge promoter of our state, Clay Jenkinson, who said "This is yet another in a long, long series of dying town stories, and we all need to take a deep breath."

3/6/2008

Wendy Spencer has been named Vice President of the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, according to Foundation President David Borlaug. Spencer, who has been employed the past seven years at the Foundation, has been the Visitor Services Manager.

3/6/2008

Last Friday was a great day for the Foundation, with the dedication of Erickson Gallery at the Interpretive Center. Bismarck artist Vern Erickson recently donated five paintings to our Foundation, and we have created a gallery to display them on a permanent basis, giving us the opportunity showcase works by Vern on a rotating basis, along with other traveling displays from other artists.

2/28/2008

I am very much not a morning person. However, I really am starting to enjoy mornings a lot more, but not for reasons one may think. It is a little harder for me, than the average person, to get out of bed and moving for the day. Then to also have the challenge of it being so dark outside, makes me feel as though it is the middle of the night! I am definitely one of those people that needs the sunlight to wake up and get moving!

2/21/2008

I’m feeling a little like Lewis and Clark—off on an Expedition. My family and I are heading out to Washington DC next week. It will be a chance for us to experience some of the unknown as the men sent by President Jefferson experienced on their quest.

2/14/2008

For three weeks in January, the Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan offered free admission to its facilities. More than 750 people took us up on the offer, and they were among the last folks to have the opportunity to see the exhibit “An American Family: The William Clark Family Collection” before it closed.

2/7/2008

Many of us like to venture out to historic sites to see and hear information that you may not have heard before, something new to share with others. You want to learn everything about everyone that is related to the site.

1/31/2008

There I stood in the comfort of my bathroom, preparing for Drill, sporting my ACU’s (Army Combat Uniform) complete with tan steel-toed boots. As I placed the last rubber band around my tightly tucked bun I couldn’t help but think about how much the Army has changed since Lewis & Clark’s time.

1/24/2008

Walking into a crowded reception, Agnes Sheldon Griffin would likely be the last person you would notice. She would be the one stepping back from the center of the room, taking in the scene with a shyness that you would later find surprising—because, after all, the reception was to honor her.

1/17/2008

I read an article this past weekend about an argument over the claim to “Ice Box of the Nation”. Fraser, CO and International Falls, MN are suing each other over use of the dubious motto. It was reported that an attempt was made to settle the situation with a duel, but one contestant wanted a snowball fight and the other a snowshoeing contest.

1/10/2008

As I began to think about writing this column my mind began to turn to many different topics. I just could not come up with one idea. So I have decided to do some rambling on many topics, and I hope they will be of interest to our readers. Have you seen the movie “Field of Dreams” staring Kevin Costner? And do remember the line from the film, “If you build it they will come?”

1/10/2008

Joe Hauer, Bismarck, Chairman of the Board of United Printing and Mailing was recently elected to the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation Board of Directors. Hauer also serves on the board of directors of American Bank Center of Bismarck and its parent corporation, American Bancor and is a University of Mary Trustee.

1/10/2008

The Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation at Washburn is offering free admission through January 27 at both the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan. Both are located just west of Washburn.

1/3/2008

This past Sunday I had the privilege of meeting a wonderful woman that traveled all the way from Chicago, Illinois to come and visit our American Family Exhibit before it’s closing mid January. As I visited with her, she had told me of her interest with Lewis and Clark and that it started during the Bicentennial.

12/27/2007

• Meriwether Lewis • William Clark • Sacagawea • Prince Maximilian • Karl Bodmer • Chief Four Bears • Yellow Feather • Two Ravens • Art and Grace Link • Oscar Will • Clay Jenkinson • The North Dakota Farmer Quite a list, isn’t it? It’s just a sampling of the cast of characters driving the future direction of the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation.

12/20/2007

Most of us are caught up in the holiday season, readying ourselves for Christmas and the New Year. There is another season on the horizon, election season. Media coverage of the candidates is a daily occurrence. Campaigners are busy lining up support, making public appearances and debating issues with fellow candidates.

12/13/2007

Those of you who have been to my house recognize that I am a Christmas fanatic. I have a holiday tree I keep up all year which I decorate for every holiday, birthday, celebration, etc. I keep my Christmas village out throughout the year and change the trees for the different seasons. It is fun when someone new comes into our home in June and looks in wonder at what they may consider Christmas decorations at such an odd time of year.

12/6/2007

This past week David and I had the opportunity to travel to Omaha, Nebraska for a visit to the Joslyn Art Museum. It took nine and a half hours to drive. The weather was very cooperative and the time went by quickly. As we were driving, I did actually think to myself that I was so glad to be traveling this stretch by car rather than on foot or by horseback. I wasn’t going to have to set up camp somewhere for the night under the stars in the cold! I guess those thoughts popped into my head because of the reason I was on the road trip to begin with. Next year we will be celebrating the 175th anniversary of the Maximilian-Bodmer Expedition in North Dakota.

11/22/2007

Thanksgiving wasn’t a national holiday in 1804 when the Lewis & Clark Expedition members were nearly finished with their construction of Fort Mandan. Although Congress proclaimed an official Day of Thanksgiving for November 28, 1782, the day did not become recognized nationally as an official federal holiday until President Lincoln proclaimed it so in 1863. And then came Macy’s and the rest is truly history.

11/15/2007

Today I had the opportunity to sit in on orientation and training for new interpreters. We have a bumper crop of fresh new faces, eager to learn more about the history of our area and share it with others. Their enthusiasm is contagious and it reminds me of when I started working here three years ago. Not being a native of Washburn, I had never really paid much attention to things that happened around here in the past 200 years. When I started reading about Lewis & Clark , Sacagawea and the Indian peoples who lived along the Missouri River, I was fascinated and couldn’t get enough of it!

11/8/2007

Did your parents ever tell you that it is not very polite to point? I don’t think the parents of Lewis and Clark and also Sakakawea ever discussed it with them. The actual definition of pointing is the act of designating as a position or direction of some sort. But as interpreters for the Interpretive Center and Fort Mandan, we feel almost like the pictures of Lewis and Clark and Sakakawea sometimes. Whether we’re pointing to our exhibits or to the restrooms, we’re often in that position.

11/1/2007

In late October of 1804, the men of the Corps of Discovery approached the villages of the Mandan and Hidatsa. Winter was near and the Missouri would soon freeze; they discharged their French boatmen and searched for an appropriate place for their winter quarters in the neighborhood of these friendly tribes.

10/25/2007

Last night our Foundation had its 10th annual meeting, with a dinner attended by nearly 300 in Bismarck. It was a fantastic event, with displays of Karl Bodmer, Michael Haynes and artifacts from Fort Mandan and an inspiring presentation by Clay Jenkinson.

10/19/2007

Upon reaching the Mandan Villages on the 14th of August 1806, (Clark) wrote, “ we were opposite the Minetares Grand Village, we saw a number of the Natives viewing us, we directed the Blunderbusses fired several times.” The Expedition was at last back among their friends the Mandan and Hidatsa. It was here that one of the men. John Colter expressed a desire to join some trappers and return upstream. (Clark) Aug.15th “ we gave to Jo Colter some small articles which we did not want and some powder and lead.”

10/12/2007

Change: “to make different or to replace with another”. How lucky we are to experience the personal growth that comes from change. During my employment with the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation over the past eight years, I have been in awe of the growth that has occurred in our employees that have been with us through the many changes we have encountered.

10/5/2007

As I was preparing to write this article, a list was running through my mind. That list was of important events in the past year that need to be added to the scrapbook before 2008 rolls around. Milestone birthdays, births, weddings, trips, and lazy days with the nephews all need to be organized so we can look back and remember the “little” things when the boys are 25 and I am 50. I have often wondered if Meriwether Lewis was conscious ...

10/1/2007

Laura Gardner of Washburn has been named Events Coordinator for the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, according to Foundation President David Borlaug. Gardner, who previously was an interpreter for the Foundation,....

9/28/2007

The 23rd of September this year marked the fall equinox and the first official day of autumn. This past Sunday was also the 201st anniversary of the return of the Lewis & Clark Expedition to St. Louis. Throughout history, this time of the year has been cause for celebration.

9/21/2007

As we grow older in this world, the more we leave behind like memories, legacies and a part of our former selves. I believe it was A. Sachs who once said, “Death is more universal than life; everyone dies but not everyone lives.”

9/13/2007

For the past 10 years, I’ve been trying to convince my husband that we should move to the country. And although he has presented every conceivable argument against it, and some very good ones, I might add – my persistence has finally paid off. (I may have just been lucky enough to catch him in a rare weak moment!)

9/6/2007

Is anyone else shocked by the fact that it is September, and that 2007 is nearly over? It seems as though yesterday was Christmas, but we’ve already passed Labor Day! Time always seems to go so much faster when you have something to look forward to, but it also makes it difficult to plan all the details. 2007 has been a very busy year, and it’s no wonder that it has just slipped past. It really is the little details that help make an event, and they are what help to tell the story behind anything.

8/29/2007

It is time for sweet corn again. I don’t know about you but I can’t pass by a farmers market without stopping and buying a dozen ears of that special corn. In fact this year I have already gone through at least two dozen of them.

8/23/2007

I’ve been on a “sentimental journey” of sorts the past few weekends, driving the countryside watching for the dust of combines lumbering their way through fields of wheat, with my camera on the seat next to me. I’ve been working with the McLean Growth Coalition on both tourism and economic development brochures, helping out by taking photographs, including some showcasing agriculture in our area. You may have noticed that I shared some of those photos with Editor Cory Neumiller last week, and they appeared on the front page.

8/15/2007

I spent last Friday afternoon at the North Dakota Heritage Center and had the pleasure to attend a program presented by Jim Dow. Dow has been traveling to North Dakota from Boston for 30 years and photographing the “human presence upon the land”. His book, Marking the Land, is a tribute to the landscape of North Dakota and contains photos of folk art such as murals, carvings, sculpture and many more symbolic expressions that have been added to the scenery along our highways and dirt roads.

8/9/2007

Just inside the doors of the Interpretive Center is a board for visitors to write down their hometowns. On any given day, when I walk past the board, it’s not unusual to note that we’ve had visitors from several different states, and often from foreign countries as well. Today, August 6th for example, visitors have signed in from Michigan, California, Manitoba, Missouri, Mississippi, Connecticut, Minnesota, Washington, Wisconsin, Montana, Kentucky, Delaware and London, England, UK. Of course, these are in addition to several from North Dakota, including the towns of Harvey, Anamoose, Jamestown, Carrington and Bismarck. And it’s only 2 o’clock! It just blows my mind to think that people from 15 different states and countries have been in this building today!

8/2/2007

I cannot believe that it has already been a year since we opened our exhibit, An American Family: The William Clark Family Collection at the Interpretive Center. It seems like just yesterday we were planning the exhibit- what it was going to look like, what kinds of artifacts were going to be in it, and what the exhibit was going to represent. They were big decisions that we needed to make to help ensure that the story William Clark and his family was told in the best way possible. This exhibit may just seem like a little family thing, but when you get right down to it, those little things often have the biggest impact.

7/27/2007

Clay Jenkinson, humanities scholar, author and presenter, has been named to the Board of Directors of the Lewis & Clark Fort Mandan Foundation, according to Board Chairman Al Christianson, Washburn.