Final Project

As we are winding down our summer quarter, feel free to take a look at my project on the history of Pend Oreille County and the River. Follow the link over on the right for access to this. Thank you!

Peewee falls, near Boundary Dam (Washington-Canada border)

Pend Oreille River (last summer)

Standing on top of Box Canyon Dam (shhh, we are not suppose to be here!)

Well folks, sorry I have been away from here for so long. Busy last week with the Veteran Wheelchair Olympics. Worked some nice 12-14 hour days all week long. So this last weekend I went home to spend time on the Pend Oreille River, which happens to be the same area that David Thompson discovered back in 1809.

While many things have changed over the years, since David Thompson explored this area, the river, nestled in the Mountains of Northeast Washington is truly a mystical, beautiful place to visit, and call home. My parents still live in North Pend Oreille county near the present sight of Box Canyon Dam, which is one of four dams located on the river.

The Pend Oreille has a distinct title of being one of a few rivers in the world that flows mostly north. It comes out of Lake Pend Oreille, in Northern Idaho, and begins it flow from east to west, then takes a hard turn north right on the Washington Idaho border in the town of Newport. From there if flows almost due north past our border with Canada, until it eventually links up with the Columbia River.

Timeline so far

1809
-Fur trader David Thompson explores the Pend Oreille River in September and October 1809. David Thompson explored the river from Lake Pend Oreille up the Pend Oreille River looking for the Columbia River and exploring the northeast corner of Washington. Later in 1811 he visits the Kalispell Indians on the river, and crosses the Colville valley and makes his way from kettle falls, to Spokane house. He provides the first documented accounts of many different native Washington Indian tribes. He eventually becomes first white man to reach mouth of the Columbia.
http://www.davidthompsonthings.com/
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5097
1810
-The North West Company establishes Spokane House in 1810. First long term white people settlement where the Little Spokane river meets the Spokane river. This became the fur trading capital and social center for many years to come. The before mentioned David Thompson plays a large role in developing the Spokane House into what it became.
http://www.riversidestatepark.org/spokane_house.htm
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5099
Spokane House History
The countdown has begun....Spokane House BiCentennial2010David Thompson helped establish the Spokane House in 1810Help us re-create the fort for 2010!

1825
-Hudson's Bay Company opens Fort Vancouver on March 19, 1825. Becomes the leading non-Indian presence settlement in the region. Took over the Northwest trading company, and dominates the fur trade for years. Hudson Bay Company continues to grow and establishes more forts throughout future Washington like Fort Colville and Fort Nisqually
http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/timeline_view.aspx?s=1821&e=1840
http://www.historylink.org/index.cfm?DisplayPage=output.cfm&file_id=5251