Before Lewis took off, President Jefferson gave him detailed instructions to seek out, meet with, and learn from the American Indian nations along the journey. On July 28, 1804, the expedition passed this overlook early in the morning and noted this area as “a bluff on starboard side as the first high land above the river.” They observed a site below these bluffs where the Iowa Indians formerly lived.” Five miles downstream, and on the other side of the Missouri River, they had passed an old Indian camp where the Otoe Indians had once lived.
In this vicinity to the west of the Missouri River, principal hunter George Drouillard met a “Missouric Indian” while out hunting in the prairie. Approachable and informative, he was one of the few remaining of his tribe and the first native person the Corps of Discovery encountered since their departure.
On August 3, approximately 20 miles upriver, a council was held with the Otoe and Missouria tribes. This council was the first major meeting between a tribe and the Corps of Discovery. They gave speeches, smoked a pipe, awarded peace medals, and exchanged gifts. As a result, the whole region has become known as “Council Bluff.”
In 1935, these monuments were completed commemorating Lewis & Clark’s historic meeting with the Oto and Missouria Indian tribes.
Here’s our view of the Missouri River from the bluffs. We’ll see more about the importance of these views in the next post.
During the summer of 1804 when the expedition was traveling the length of the Missouri River that today is the border between Iowa and Nebraska. Both Lewis and Clark studied the river, forests, and prairies, and hiked along the riverbanks, exploring inland while other crew members kept the keelboat and pirogues moving upriver.
Once while hunting elk, Clark found the endless prairie “so entertaining” that he forgot the promise of fresh game for dinner. He spent several hours studying the plants and soil instead. Clark also described the yellow clay of the Loess Hills. While he did not refer to them by that name, he may have been the first American to write about this steep ridge of hills that begins in northwestern Missouri and continues for 200 miles along the western edge of Iowa.
If you want to read more about the Loess Hills, click on the link and see what Wikipedia has to say about them. But here’s a hint, they’re a result of glaciers from the most recent Ice Age.
Next is a beyond Louis & Clark post about this area’s part in the first transcontinental railroad.
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