Montana's DAR Markers . . . Honoring Where History Was Made

present.” The senator arrived via the morning Oregon Short Line train
to which the senator’s private rail car was attached.
C.A. Brigham called the gathering to order and drew the speakers
to the platform in the specially-decorated hall: DAR State Regent Mrs.
E.A. Morley, Mrs. Clinton H. Moore, Senator Clark, Olin D. Wheeler
of St. Paul, a Lewis and Clark Expedition author, and Rev. Edward
Smith (Armstead). “One of the most charming numbers on the
program, the singing of the Sacajawea lullaby by Mrs. Clarence Holt,
attired as Sacajawea, and singing to what represented a little Indian
papoose asleep.”
DAR member Mrs. Clinton H. Moore, a Montana historian,
presented the memorial to Armstead which was accepted by Mrs. J.W.
(Laura Tolman) Scott.
Historians say this site was the pivotal point of the Expedition’s
journey because without their loyal Indian guide, Sacajawea, the
Expedition might have ended there. Lewis and Clark had for months
toiled up the Missouri River, portaged around the Great Falls, through
the Gates of the Mountains, and the Three Forks of the Missouri.
They then chose the Jefferson River to continue their journey. But they
found their heavily laden canoes increasingly difficult to navigate. On
August 17, 1805, they reached the Two Forks of the Missouri (now the
Red Rock River and Horse Prairie Creek). The river they had been
following divided itself into two.
This was journey’s end as far as they could go with canoes and the
most serious obstacle of the entire journey. Fortunately, a band of
Shoshone Indians rode up and Sacajawea recognized her brother among
them. The Indians furnished the Expedition with horses and guides for
the difficult trek over the Continental Divide and the mountains on the
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