Day 12 Fort Mandan and the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

Today we drove about 40 miles north to the town of Washburn, ND to visit the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Exhibit. 

Adam got right into it, by putting on the costumes and playing one of the explorers.

We learned what supplies, tools, equipment, medicines, foods, etc. they had to pack.

Lewis & Clark hoped to utilize the extensive trade network the Indians already had in place.

We tried on buffalo robes.

They were very heavy.

How they made dugout canoes from the Cottonwood trees...

A statue of Seaman, the Newfoundland dog, that Lewis bought to take along on the trip.

The view of the Missouri River 

The journals noted extensive details of the local plants, and animals and well as the Indians and route.

For being in the middle of nowhere, it sure was pretty and well maintained.

Inside the Visitor's Center at Fort Mandan, Adam once again found clothes for role play. He likes Seaman.

This is a recreated fort, built in a triangular shape. The original is thought to be under water.

Quarters for the men. Most of whom would sleep upstairs, leaving a few to tend to the fires at night.

Lewis & Clark's room would have been in the corner of the Fort.

Their desk for note writing.

The blacksmith's area. The expedition exchanged repair work on the Indian's tools and such for meat and vegetables during the winter. 

Natalie and I also sat in on a nature talk about the birds that Lewis & Clark mentioned in their field notes as they passed through North Dakota. There were 29 mentioned, and several that were new to the explorers. They captured some and sent them back to President Jefferson. 

Unlike today, the American Bald Eagle was not protected, so they even killed them and made quill pens out of their feathers. They raided their nests and had scrambled eggs.

It was actually hot today. 91 degrees for the high, 55 for the low. We did not have to bundle up last night. 

The drastic changes in the weather is confusing as we don't know whether to turn on the heat or the air before going to bed. 

Oh well... it's supposed to be high of 77 tomorrow and low of 39 tonight. 

Keep praying as the RV continues to have engine problems, and we have limited options for service.

The sage continues...

We have an appointment at a service center tomorrow morning at 9:00 to see if they can help us figure out what's going on with the RV engine.

 After calling about 7 or 8 different places first thing this morning, we finally found one that could see us on Tuesday. The Ford service center couldn't work us in til next week. 

Some RV places advertise "service for all your needs" but obviously don't mean it as they don't work on engines at all.

Several didn't have the right equipment or didn't work on gasoline engines. 

and on and on and on...

to be continued,...

we'll let you know tomorrow what they say.