Dismal Nitch facts for kids
Dismal Nitch is the name of a small cove (a sheltered bay) in Washington state. It's located along the lower Columbia River. This spot is famous because the Lewis and Clark Expedition camped here. It was their very last campsite before they finally saw the Pacific Ocean. Today, Dismal Nitch is a rest stop on Washington State Route 401. It's also connected to the Lewis and Clark National Historical Park.
History of Dismal Nitch
Lewis and Clark's Stormy Stop
In 1805, the Lewis and Clark Expedition was exploring. Their group, called the Corps of Discovery, was low on supplies. They were quickly traveling down the Columbia River. They hoped to meet a trading ship to get supplies. They also wanted to send their journals and animal samples back home. President Thomas Jefferson had asked for these reports.
On November 10, 1805, a big winter storm hit the area. It was so bad that they had to stop traveling. They were stuck off the river for six days. This also meant they missed the supply ships. The group landed in a small cove on the north side of the river. Captain William Clark wrote about it in his journals. He called it "that dismal little nitch."
After the storm passed, the group moved on. They went to a place called Station Camp. They stayed there for 10 days. Later, they moved again to build Fort Clatsop for the winter.
From Megler Cove to Dismal Nitch Rest Area
Years later, in the 1870s and 1880s, a man named Joseph G. Megler worked here. He ran a station where people bought fish. This station was on the east side of Point Ellice. Because of him, the area became known as Megler Cove.
In 1921, more tourists started visiting the nearby Long Beach Peninsula. To help them cross the river, a car ferry began operating. This ferry traveled between Astoria and the Megler dock. The ferry service continued for many years.
In 1962, construction began on a large bridge. This was the Astoria–Megler Bridge. It was built to connect Astoria and Megler. The bridge was finished in 1966. After the bridge opened, the ferry service stopped.
In 2005, the Megler Rest Area was renamed. It became the Dismal Nitch Rest Area. This name honors the historic campsite of Lewis and Clark.
