Seaman

Seaman

Canine Member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Seaman

Canine Member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
📍 Ovando, Powell County🧭 47.03993, -113.21969
Nature & Wildlife

Marker Inscription

Seaman, Meriwether Lewis's faithful Newfoundland dog, often earned special attention in the journals of the Corps of Discovery.

"Last night we were alarmed by a large buffaloe Bull, which swam over from the opposite shore and coming alongside of the white perigee (canoe), climbed over it to land, he then alarmed ran up the bank in full speed directly towards the fires, and was within 18 inches of the heads of some of the men ... my dog saved us by causing him to change his course."

Meriwether Lewis, May 29, 1805

Lewis purchased "Seaman" in 1803 and the dog proved to by worthy enough to name this creek after him in his journals.

"... 3 miles to the entrance of a large creek 20 yds wide (which) Called Seaman's Creek

Seaman's Creek was eventually renamed to honor George Monteur. A skilled frontiersman, Monteur (Monture) worked as an interpreter for the Hudson Bay Company and safely guided settlers through the western mountains and valleys. He died near this site in the fall of 1877.

Erected by

Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Further reading

Seaman — full narrativeSeaman

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