Lewis & Clark, National Historic Trail Interp. Center, Montana

As I mentioned the WIN group is making their way to Oregon following the Lewis & Clark trek.  This major center was chock full of items depicting the trails, trials and triumphs of the Corp of Discovery as the group was called.

This shows how they had to forge over land when the river was not navigable such as when they discovered the 5 falls.  You will see two more below.

History states that at all times the men were in uniform, even after their original ones wore out.  They used them for patterns and cut leather to sew to make uniforms.

These next 4 photos are of models depicting what the boats looked like from written descriptions.  This is the likeness of the one Lewis and Clark rode in.  While Lewis was recruiting men Clark had the protective cabin made.

Each of these boats carried several "tons" of baggage and cargo and the men.

Can you imagine having to haul boats, tons of cargo and supplies overland like this.  The description of the adventures they had and what the men had to do indicates these men nothing but solid muscle.  The Journals also indicate the men ate upward of 9 to 10 pounds of food a day.

A sample of the cargo they carried.

Not everything ended well for everyone.

Charles M. Russell, Great Falls Montana

CM Russell, in my opinion, was one of the best artists for showing the old west and the Indians.  The tour of his home and studio was very interesting and I was lucky enough to be there during the heritage celebration.  We even had live country music entertainment on the grounds. 

Of course a photo of his art work does not do it justice, sorry, but enjoy anyway.

These are Russell's boots and hat and scarf.

Deep in thought over his painting.

His favorites subjects to paint were the Indians.

This is his studio.

His supplies and the area he painted in.

This is his some of his paint and brushes.

Nancy, his beautiful wife whom he had a son with.

CM Russell, the man himself in his younger years.

Nancy got tired of friends and the curious invading their privacy, so this home was built next to the studio.

CM Russell's desire to be taken to his grave with this horse drawn carriage was arranged by his wife Nancy.  He was dying from heart complications but was able to plan his burial.  He died in 1926 and his burial site is in a small cemetery south of town.

This is the actual wagon.

Medora ND Theodore Roosevelt NP

Rolling hills, beautiful grasses, Bison, horses, TR's own cabin and furniture, beauty hard to describe, I couldn't take enough pictures but I only put a few here.

If it wasn't for this man we would not have as much of this beautiful country preserved as we do today.

What a cute dog, prairie dog that is.

Close encounter from the truck window.

We were patient and they were slow.

TR's cabin he had built for his excursions into the wilderness away from Washington.

TR's personal rocking chair.

TR's personal trunk also.

This is the desk that TR sat at for hours at a time writing.

Not far from the TR land we find these "cannon ball concretions"

Amazing.  These are formed within rocks, shale, clay, sandstone, etc., by the deposition of minerals around a core.  As erosion continues more will be exposed.

This sign explains it all.

We saw Bison everyday.

Today's Bison are much smaller today than during the time Indians hunted them.

ND Joachim Reginal Dinosaur Musium

Wow, I can't believe how large some animals were eons ago.  And chefossils, amazing!

One bite equals one meal.

How lovely these are.

This is a "Trilobita"

"Cephalopoda"

Babies and more babies!

The massive size is amazing!

Now where did they find this one?

This egg was found in Mongolia.

Nice kitty, kitty?

Bizmark, North Dakota

Lots of interesting things to see and read were had in the ND Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.  I have been reading "Undaunted Courage" and am amazed at the physical condition the men had to be in.

Papoose carrying cradle

What Lewis and Clark's medical box would have looked like.

A typical cargo package of the many they carried on the boats.

Trading and barter items typically used when meeting with the Indians.

A great steel sculpture with one flesh sculpture  :)

A replica of the Mandan Fort.

Lewis and Clark in their quarters.

We are receiving a history lesson on the Mandan Fort and that time in history.

The tools for plotting the measurements for the map making.

A full photograph of a depiction of what Mandan Fort looked like.