Clark's Tree
Clark's Tree is a bronze memorial sculpture in Long Beach, Washington commemorating Lewis and Clark's journey across North America. It sits on a dune above the Pacific Ocean beach at Breakers near where Clark carved a message on a living tree to establish United States precedence of discovery and occupation in what was then the Oregon Country. The memorial was created by Stanley Wanlass, a sculptor educated at Brigham Young University.[1] The sculpture marks the westernmost and northernmost point of Lewis and Clark's journey on the Pacific coast.[2][3]
| Clark's Tree | |
|---|---|
| Artist | Stanley Wanlass |
| Year | 2003 |
| Medium | Lost-wax cast bronze |
| Subject | Lewis and Clark Expedition 1805 arrival at the Pacific Ocean |
| Location | Long Beach, Washington |
| 46.37118°N 124.06182°W | |
The sculpture was built in Clarkston, then barged down the Columbia River in 2003 with stops for public viewing in Richland, Hood River, Portland and Vancouver,[4] then into the Pacific Ocean to reach Long Beach. In the process the sculpture was nearly lost at sea, according to Wanlass.[2]
Another marker with the same name was constructed in 1932 at 3rd and Pacific in Long Beach's downtown area.[5]
References
- Richard G. Oman, "Sculpting an LDS Tradition", churchofjesuschrist.org, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints
- Edward Stratton (April 10, 2014), "Famed bronze sculptor offers memorial for those lost at sea", The Daily Astorian, Astoria, Oregon
- Jennifer Ott (May 8, 2011), Captain William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition visits the future site of Long Beach on November 19, 1805, HistoryLink
- DEAN BAKER (October 2, 2003), "Lewis & Clark Bicentennial: Bronze tree honoring Lewis & Clark to dock here", The Columbian, Vancouver, Washington, archived from the original on November 19, 2018 – via HighBeam (subscription required)
- Saindon 2003, p. 530.
- Tom Laidlaw (January 2004), "William Clark, Master Graffitist" (PDF), Worthy of Notice, Washington State Chapter, LCTHF, 5 (1), p. 7
Sources
- Saindon, R.A. (2003). Explorations Into the World of Lewis and Clark V-2 of 3. Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. ISBN 978-1-58218-764-8. Retrieved 2017-03-26.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
External links
- Clark's Tree at Oregon Hikers
- Arrival at the Pacific Ocean, Discovering Lewis & Clark
- Clark's Tree on the sculptor's website
- Clark's Tree Odyssey, YouTube