1853 Surveys; Transcontinental RR

Our Blog with A Little Bit of History

B. Sullivan

Sep 5, 2023

#32 Falls of the Spokane

We pick up with Stevens and his teams on October 16, 1853 as they are traveling through the Cœur d’ Aéne prairie. In his narrative,...

B. Sullivan

Aug 29, 2023

#31 The Coeur d’Alene Mission

General Report Plate # 35, Coeur d’Alene Mission St. Ignatius River by Stanley Del. Reading Isaac Stevens's reports are engaging because...

B. Sullivan

Mar 31, 2023

# 30 From the Mountains to the Mission.

October 9-12, 1853. Before breaking camp near the Bitter Root river, Stevens found that one of his best riding horses had died during...

B. Sullivan

Mar 31, 2023

#27 Conference with the Flatheads

The earlier editions of this series can be read on our website: www.thejamesmadisonmuseum.net. In the prior segment, Stevens’s narrative...

B. Sullivan

Feb 11, 2023

#28 Awaiting the Return of Mr. Tinkham

October 6, 1853. “Lieutenant Donelson moved off this morning on to the route of the Jocko river and Clark’s Fork. Mr. Lander, who had...

B. Sullivan

Jun 21, 2022

#29. From the Bitter Root River Heading to Fort Walla-Walla

I've been breaking up the series of the 1853 surveys and explorations to determine the most practicable route for the railway system,...

B. Sullivan

Feb 26, 2022

#26. Blackfoot Valley to Fort Owen.

Before rejoining Isaac Stevens’s narrative of 1853, I want to share a little information. The surveying team was about reach the...

B. Sullivan

Feb 24, 2022

#25. Fort Benton Toward the Bitteroot River

Fort Benton Toward the Bitteroot River On September 23, 1853 the surveying groups headed off in their separate directions. Lt. Saxton...

B. Sullivan

Oct 22, 2021

#24. The Council With the Blackfeet (continued)

While a number of Native Americans had been skirmishing with Americans, “the Blackfeet, had been conducting an unofficial war on...

B. Sullivan

Oct 22, 2021

# 23: Council With the Blackfeet

From the 7th through the 11th both Tinkham and Lt. Saxtons teams traversed, in different directions, over rather rough terrain with no...