Arrival at the Mandan Villages
After nearly six months and 1,600 miles traveling up the Missouri, the expedition arrived at the Mandan and Hidatsa villages near present-day Washburn, North Dakota, a major Northern Plains trading hub of about 4,500 people living in five earth-lodge villages. Crowds of villagers came down to greet them, and Captains Lewis and Clark walked up to the village. The party planned to winter here, where they would later build Fort Mandan, gather geographic information, hire interpreter Toussaint Charbonneau and Sacagawea, and form an important alliance with Chief Sheheke.
After nearly six months and 1,600 miles on the Missouri, the expedition reached the Mandan and Hidatsa villages near present-day Washburn, North Dakota. This complex of five earth-lodge villages was one of the great trade centers of the Northern Plains, home to approximately 4,500 people.
“Many men, women & children flocked down to see us. Capt Lewis and my Self walked up to the village.”
The expedition would spend the winter of 1804-1805 here, building Fort Mandan near the villages. During this time they gathered invaluable geographic intelligence about the route ahead, hired Toussaint Charbonneau as an interpreter, and thus gained the services of his wife Sacagawea — whose presence would prove essential to the journey’s success.
Chief Sheheke (Big White) of the Mitutanka village became a particularly important ally, sharing detailed maps and geographic knowledge of the upper Missouri country.
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After nearly six months and 1,600 miles on the Missouri, the expedition reached the Mandan and Hidatsa villages near present-day Washburn, North Dakota. This complex of five earth-lodge villages was one of the great trade centers of the Northern Plains, home to approximately 4,500 people.
"Many men, women, and children flocked down to see us. Capt Lewis (Capt. Lewis) and myself walked up to the village."
The expedition would spend the winter of 1804-1805 here, building Fort Mandan near the villages. During this time they gathered invaluable geographic intelligence about the route ahead, hired Toussaint Charbonneau as an interpreter, and thus gained the services of his wife Sacagawea — whose presence would prove essential to the journey's success.
Chief Sheheke (Big White) of the Mitutanka village became a particularly important ally, sharing detailed maps and geographic knowledge of the upper Missouri country.
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