Lewis and Clark Salt Works

Seaside, Oregon | National Historic Site
 

In the winter of 1805–1806, the Lewis and Clark Expedition set up a salt-making operation near present-day Seaside, Oregon. With dwindling supplies and no reliable way to preserve meat, the captains dispatched a team of men to the Pacific shore to make salt—an essential resource for the return journey.

For nearly 50 days, a rotating crew boiled seawater in large kettles over open fires, enduring cold coastal storms and wet conditions. By mid-February, they had produced roughly 3½ bushels of salt, enough to help sustain the Corps through the final leg of their journey.

The salt camp stood about 15 miles southwest of Fort Clatsop, the expedition’s winter quarters. While working there, the men were occasionally visited by members of the Clatsop and Tillamook tribes, who were friendly observers—curious about the salt-making process, as their own people did not harvest salt.

“I directed Bratten [Bratton], Gibson to proceed to the Ocean... form a camp and commence making salt...”
—William Clark, December 28, 1805
 

Expedition Timeline: In Search of a Salt-Making Site

🔸 December 8, 1805
Captain Clark scouted the Pacific coast, searching for a suitable location to make salt. He led a small party—including George Drouillard and George Shannon—through the forest, blazing a trail toward the ocean.

🔸 December 9, 1805
Clark reached the Necanicum River near modern-day Seaside and described a Clatsop village of sunken cedar-plank homes. The residents offered a warm welcome, sharing food and friendship.

🔸 December 10, 1805
Clark returned to Fort Clatsop and confirmed the Pacific shore was within a day's journey.

🔸 December 28, 1805
Joseph Field, William Bratton, and George Gibson were sent to the coast with large kettles to begin boiling seawater. They were soon joined by additional men to carry supplies and maintain the camp.

🔸 February 21, 1806
The salt works were officially shut down, having produced enough salt to meet the Corps’ needs.

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📍 Plan your Visit

Today, the Lewis and Clark Salt Works is preserved as a National Historic Site in Seaside, Oregon. A small interpretive display marks the location of the original camp, offering a glimpse into this vital—and gritty—chapter of the Expedition’s story.
 

➡️ Tip: Visit during the winter months to truly imagine the soggy, smoke-filled scene the salt makers endured — or plan a trip in the fall during the Lewis & Clark Saltmakers Return event in Seaside, Oregon, presented by the Seaside Museum. Historical interpreters in period dress recreate the salt-making process right on the beach!