> On a vaguely related note, we visited the "Lewis and Clark interpretive
> center" at the mouth of the Columbia river (WA state) as part of our
> summer vacation this year, and it brought home some of the difference
> between "discovered" and "explored" (and also "documented"!)  It's
> strange to think that in 1800, 300+ years after "discovery", we weren't
> clear on things like "is there a workable land route from the east to
> the west."  And what a nicely run and even "politically correct"
> expedition as well (although, perhaps that's partly the presentation.)

I have family ties in Bismarck ND, through which L & C passed on the
way in and out, and just north of which they camped over one winter
(big sign that says "Lewis and Clark slept here...147 times").  There've
been some pretty heated but very civil discussions between the native
and immigrant populations there what with this being the 200th
anniversary.  A lot of the native people's descendants are kind of
amused by the whole thing:  we see L&C as adventurers and explorers,
but their great great great grandparents just saw a bunch of white
guys, lost in a land they considered to be a wonderful place to live!

Mike H.

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