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Fort Clatsop was the home of Lewis & Clark's "Corps of Discovery" after they reached the Pacific Ocean in 1805. It is named after the indiginous Americans living in the area. The fort was built during December of 1805 and the corps moved in on the 24th of that month. They wintered there, hunting, making clothing, foodstuffs, candles and other equipment in preparation for their return journey to St. Louis the following spring. The captains caught up on their journals and this period contains the best ethnographic and botanical information in Clark's journal. They interacted extensively with the Clatsop and Chinook indians. The Clatsops were already well aquainted with Europeans from ships plying the coast trading for furs and fish and were skilled traders. Clark complained more than once that the Clatsop drove a hard bargain. Their relations were generally good and Lewis & Clark gave the fort to the Clatsops when they left on March 23, 1806.

The fort measured 50' x 50' and was two parallel cabins connected by a stockade. One cabin had 3 rooms for the enlisted men. The other cabin had a room for the captains, one for the Charbonneau family (Toussaint, his American Indian wife, Sacagawea and their baby), a meat curing room and an orderly room. During their stay the corps was pretty miserable. It rained all but 15 days out of the 3 months and there was only one day with clear skies. They had various injuries and sicknesses from their long journey and their food spoiled quickly in the damp weather.

The present day fort is a replica built on the original site in 1955. It is based on the floor plan and descriptions from Clark's journal. The original fort was visited in 1811 by British traders who described it as being in ruins with a couple of Clatsop hunting lodges nearby.

Resized, levels, curves, usm.