By Victor Block
In the early 19th century, two men led an expedition through part of the unexplored western region of the United States. During their two-year journey, they covered more than 4,000 miles, discovered and cataloged hundreds of unknown plant and animal species, and interacted with members of Native American tribes.
I recently retraced part of the Lewis and Clark route, traveling aboard the American Cruise Lines’ Harmony. It’s one of that company’s fleet of luxury ships that follow more than 50 itineraries along rivers, bays, and oceans in, or just offshore of, the United States. The itinerary included the Columbia and Snake Rivers in Washington State and Oregon, with stops to explore towns and historic sites.
The Lewis and Clark Expedition was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson after the Louisiana Purchase of 1803 to check out the newly acquired territory and find a route through the western half of the continent to the Pacific Ocean.
Our introduction to the story came during a guided tour of the National Lewis and Clark Historic Park in Astoria, Oregon. Exhibits include a replica of Fort Clatsop, where the explorers spent the winter of 1805-06, and the Dismal Nitch, a cove where the expedition was pinned down for six days by a fierce storm.
Displays at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center are focused upon the travelers’ stay along the Pacific Coast during that winter. The story is told by timeline panels, paintings, photographs, and the words of members of the group who kept journals.
Equally absorbing displays await visitors to the Columbia Gorge Discovery Center. The life-sized replica of a Columbian mammoth provides evidence that those mammals once lived in the area. Exhibits trace 10,000 years of indigenous native history, which make the Columbia Gorge one of the oldest sites of human habitation in the Western Hemisphere.
The Columbia and Snake Rivers are tamed by dams that generate hydroelectric power, assist navigation, and provide flood control and irrigation. Our passages through eight of them were special events that prompted many passengers, including me, to observe the action. The captain guided the ship into the narrow locks, a massive door behind us closed, the vessel slowly rose as water flowed into the chamber and we resumed our journey much higher than when we had approached the dam.
Explanations of lock operations were among onboard presentations that kept passengers involved. Others included detailed descriptions of each day’s shore excursions and a tour of the ship’s pilot house.
One highlight was a series of presentations by David Stephens, an expert in natural history, native culture, and art, who combines information with entertainment. Dancing and sashaying across the floor, he elucidated topics as diverse as the Columbia River dams, the life of salmon, and traditions of Native Americans.
My favorite program was a demonstration by members of the Nez Perce people, descendants of Native Americans who were dominant in the region for thousands of years. The male presenter recounted historical tribal tidbits, while his female counterpart described adornments on her clothing, some of which were 200 years old.
This introduction to intriguing aspects of the life of indigenous people was one of many activities that added interesting information, and enjoyment, to the cruise. It was another pleasant surprise among many that made the trip a memorable one.
If you go
Outreach from American Cruise Lines began well before the voyage did. I received a flow of information, and when I checked into our hotel the night before boarding the ship, I was handed a folder with my name tag, the itinerary and a wealth of other helpful material.
The staterooms on the vessel have individual temperature controls and an outside seating veranda, and free clothes washers and dryers are available.
American Cruise Lines voyages include at least one daily shore excursion; a variety of on-board lectures, enrichment programs and other activities; gourmet meals and 24/7 snack availability; cocktail hours; gratuities, port charges and other fees, and pre- or post-cruise hotel stay if required.
For more information, log onto americancruiselines.com or call 1-800-460-4518.
