Traveler's Rest was a stopping point of the

Lewis and Clark Expedition The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was the United States expedition to cross the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. The Corps of Discovery was a select gro ...

, located about one mile south of

Lolo, Montana Lolo is a census-designated place (CDP) in Missoula County, Montana, Missoula County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Missoula Metropolitan Area, Missoula Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 4,399 at the 2020 United States ...

. The expedition stopped from September 9 to September 11, 1805, before crossing the

Bitterroot Mountains The Northern and Central Bitterroot Range, collectively the Bitterroot Mountains (Salish: čkʷlkʷqin), is the largest portion of the Bitterroot Range, part of the Rocky Mountains and Idaho Batholith, located in the panhandle of Idaho and west ...

, and again on the return trip from June 30 to July 3, 1806. Traveler's Rest is at the eastern end of the

Lolo Trail Lolo can refer to: Places United States * Lolo, Montana, a census-designated place * Lolo Butte, a summit in Oregon * Lolo Pass (Idaho–Montana) * Lolo Pass (Oregon) * Lolo National Forest, Montana * Lolo Peak, Montana Elsewhere * Lolo, Cameroon ...

. It was declared a

National Historic Landmark A National Historic Landmark (NHL) is a building, district, object, site, or structure that is officially recognized by the United States government for its outstanding historical significance. Only some 2,500 (~3%) of over 90,000 places listed ...

in 1960 and added to the

National Register of Historic Places The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic v ...

in 1966. and The boundaries were subsequently revised, and mostly lie within the Traveler's Rest State Park, which is operated by the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. Significant archeological findings made in 2002, including latrine sites with traces of

mercury Mercury commonly refers to: * Mercury (planet), the nearest planet to the Sun * Mercury (element), a metallic chemical element with the symbol Hg * Mercury (mythology), a Roman god Mercury or The Mercury may also refer to: Companies * Merc ...

and fire hearths, make this the only site on the

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is a route across the United States commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806. It is part of the National Trails System of the United States. It extends for some from Pittsburgh, Pen ...

that has yielded physical proof of the explorers' presence. Records made by Lewis and Clark often spell "Traveler's" as "Traveller's". This spot is largely unchanged from the days of Lewis and Clark. From this location, Lewis and Clark split up to explore Montana during their return trip, not reuniting until they reached

Sanish, North Dakota Sanish is an unincorporated community in Mountrail County, North Dakota, Mountrail County, North Dakota, United States. Sanish is located along North Dakota Highway 23 and Lake Sakakawea, west of New Town, North Dakota, New Town. Description Th ...

. At the time of landmark designation in 1960, the exact location of the expedition's campsite was unknown. Boundaries were formalized on December 12, 1983. Subsequent investigations revealed that errors had been made in setting the boundaries of the landmark. Detailed historical and scientific investigations resulted in a 55-page request for boundary corrections, submitted on May 10, 2004, and approved on March 21, 2006. A new road and bridge were built in 2006. After departing here in 1806, Lewis' part of the expedition traveled to what is now the

Alice Creek Historic District The Alice Creek Historic District is a historic district in the Lincoln Ranger District of Helena National Forest, Lincoln, Montana, Lewis and Clark County, Montana. Lichenometry was used for the process of nominating it for inclusion on the N ...

References

External links

Travelers' Rest State Park
Travelers' Rest Preservation and Heritage Association
Travelers' Rest State Park
Montana Fish, Game, & Parks
Travelers' Rest State Park
AllTrips: Missoula, Montana
Old Map of Travelers' Rest area
* {{authority control National Historic Landmarks in Montana Lewis and Clark Expedition Protected areas of Missoula County, Montana History of Missoula, Montana State parks of Montana Historic American Engineering Record in Montana National Register of Historic Places in Missoula County, Montana 1960 establishments in Montana Protected areas established in 1960

See also

References

External links