Clark's Tree facts for kids

Clark's Tree is a special bronze sculpture located in Long Beach, Washington. It was created to remember the amazing journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition across North America. This sculpture stands on a sand dune right by the Pacific Ocean beach. It's near a place called Breakers.

This spot is very important in history. It's where William Clark (from the Lewis and Clark Expedition) carved a message on a living tree. He did this to show that the United States had discovered and claimed this land. At that time, this area was known as the Oregon Country.

What is Clark's Tree?

The Clark's Tree sculpture is a memorial. It marks the farthest western and northern point that Lewis and Clark reached on the Pacific coast during their famous journey. The artist who created this bronze artwork is Stanley Wanlass. He studied art at Brigham Young University.

The Sculpture's Journey

The Clark's Tree sculpture was first built in a city called Clarkston. In 2003, it began an exciting journey to its final home. It was loaded onto a barge and traveled down the Columbia River. Along the way, it stopped in several cities for people to see it. These cities included Richland, Hood River, Portland, and Vancouver.

After its river journey, the sculpture continued into the Pacific Ocean to reach Long Beach. This part of the trip was quite adventurous! According to the sculptor, Stanley Wanlass, the artwork was almost lost at sea during its ocean voyage. Luckily, it arrived safely and was placed in its current location.

Another Clark's Tree Marker

It's interesting to know that there is another marker with the same name. This other "Clark's Tree" was built much earlier, in 1932. It is located in the downtown area of Long Beach, at the corner of 3rd and Pacific streets.