Blogs from Williston, North Dakota, United States, North America

Today's travels took place with a single focus: seeing the South and North units of Theodore Roosevelt National Park. We had originally planned to include Lewis and Clark State Park (ND) but time precluded that visit. In 1883 a young Theodore Roosevelt, wealthy, educated, scientifically keen, and already a published ornithologist, came to North Dakota and established a cattle ranching operation there. Partners ran the ranch for him. Following the postpartum death of his wife and the death of his mother the same day, he came back out to North Dakota and spent considerable time. He became a fervent believer in the cause of conservation. When he became the 26th POTUS following the assassination of William McKinley, he used the legislative process and an unprecedented number of executive orders to create 5 new national parks, establish ... read more

Entry Twelve: Driving Da’ Tacoma tru’ Da’ Dakota! Friday, July 30th, 2010 I’ve always been a fan of the late-night driving, often opting to leave on trips from Chicago at mid-night. There’s less people on the road, less to look at, and easier to see cops (I’d only seen one the entire trip thus far). Leaving from Hibbing at 5:30 p.m. on Friday, I drove to Grand Rapids, and then picked up Hwy 2 heading west. In West Grand Forks, Minn., I grabbed some junk food (a luxury for long drives, as the thought of pulling out all the cooking materials is waayyy too much work). Veggie burger from Burger King for me, two plain double-cheese hamburgers for Sophie the dog. Entering my 49th state (only Hawaii to go—probably can’t drive there), memorably, I began to ... read more

The History On May 14, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark left St Louis, heading up the Missouri River on their 2 ½-year expedition to explore and chart the lands recently acquired through the Louisiana Purchase, and to seek a “Northwest Passage” to the Pacific Ocean. On April 17, 1805, almost one year later, they made camp at Short Creek, in what is now North Dakota, one mile from our campground at Lewis and Clark State Park. Sixteen months later on their return trip, they made camp at Tobacco Garden Bay, just across the Missouri River from the Park. It was here that Lewis was mistaken for an elk and shot right in the butt by Pierre Cruzatte, one of his men, who was blind in one eye and near-sighted in the other. While he survived ... read more