Christmas at Fort Mandan

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On December 20, 1803,
in the Sala Capitular - New Orleans, ,
two commissioners signed the transfer document , giving lower Louisiana
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Christmas at Fort Mandan 1804

During December 1804 the Corps of Discovery experienced intense cold weather:

December 8th - "Thermometer stood at 12 ° below zero with a northwest wind".

December 9th - "continued cold"

December 11th - "Mercury in thermometer stood at 21° below zero which is 53° below the freezing point and getting colder".

December 12th - "Weather so cold that we do not think it prudent to turn out to hunt".

December 13th - "Thermometer stands this morning at 20° below zero".

The extreme cold temperatures continued until the 19th of December, when the cold snap subsided.

Christmas Day - Tuesday December 25, 1804

The party had informed the Indians not to visit them as it was one of their great "medicine days".

Sergeant John Ordway writes: " we fired the Swivels at day break & each man fired one round. We enjoyed a merry cristmas dureing the day & evening untill nine oClock - all in peace & quietness".

Captain Clark writes: " I was awakened before Day by a discharge of 3 platoons from the party, the men merrily Disposed, I gave them all a little Taffia (rum)".

SPECIAL EVENTS:
December 1 - 31, 2007: "The William Clark Family Collection" at Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Washburn, North Dakota. The exhibit is made up of 12 cases and each case focuses on a different family member and embraces a different theme. Over 100 artifacts, some never put on display before. More Info call 701-462-8535.

December 15, 2007 from 2:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m: "Christmas Tea 2007" at Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, Washburn, North Dakota.. More Info call 701-462-8535.