Exploration
Lewis Sees the Rockies; Sacagawea Falls Ill, 1805
near Fort Benton, Chouteau County
On June 12, 1805, Meriwether Lewis walked the plains ahead of the boats below the Great Falls of the Missouri. He killed two grizzlies at a cottonwood bottom, then climbed to a sweeping view of snow-covered ranges—the Rocky Mountains the expedition would have to cross.
Behind him, William Clark nursed a worsening crisis. Sacagawea was so sick he moved her into the cooler covered section of the pirogue and gave her medicine while the current and rattlesnakes tested the canoes.
The day’s journals split the Corps in two: Lewis looking west at the mountains, Clark fighting illness on the river. Both stories would shape the weeks of portage that followed.
Frequently asked questions
What happened on June 12 in Montana history?
Lewis Sees the Rockies; Sacagawea Falls Ill, 1805. On June 12, 1805, Meriwether Lewis walked the plains ahead of the boats below the Great Falls of the Missouri. He killed two grizzlies at a cottonwood bottom, then climbed to a sweeping view of snow-covered ranges—the Rocky Mountains the expedition would have to cross.
Where did this take place?
This June 12 event is associated with near Fort Benton, Chouteau County.
When did this event happen?
It took place in 1805, on June 12.
Why does this day matter in Montana history?
The day’s journals split the Corps in two: Lewis looking west at the mountains, Clark fighting illness on the river. Both stories would shape the weeks of portage that followed.
Topics: Lewis and Clark · Sacagawea · Great Falls · Rocky Mountains · 1805