Dismal Nitch
Encyclopedia
Dismal Nitch is the name of a cove along the lower Columbia River
in Washington State, notable as the Lewis and Clark Expedition
's last campsite before sighting the Pacific Ocean
. Today it is a rest stop on the Washington State Route 401 highway just east of the Astoria-Megler Bridge
.
Corps of Discovery were low on supplies and traveling rapidly down the Columbia River, intending to meet one of the last trading ships of the season, hoping to secure needed supplies and to send back journals and specimens home as requested by President Jefferson. On November 10, 1805, a severe winter storm struck the area, forcing them off the river for six days and preventing them from meeting the supply ships. The group landed in a cove on the north bank of the river that Captain William Clark called in his journals “that dismal little nitch.” After the storm passed the company moved to Station Camp on the west side of Point Ellice, and camped at that location for 10 days before relocating for the winter to the location of current-day Astoria
.
In the 1870s and 1880s, Joseph Megler operated a fish buying station on the east side of Point Ellice in Clark's "Dismal Nitch", and it in time became known as Megler Cove.
In 1921, increased tourism to the nearby Long Beach Peninsula
led to creation of a car ferry
between Astoria and the Megler dock. In 1946 the Oregon Highway Department purchased the ferry service and operated it until the Astoria-Megler bridge was completed. In 1956, Washington State Route 401 was constructed east of Megler, and construction of the Astoria-Megler Bridge began in 1962 and was completed in 1966. The last ferry run occurred in July of that year. In 1968 and 1969 the Washington Department of Highways demolished the ferry landing and constructed the Megler Rest Area in its place. The Megler Rest Area was built in 1968 – 1969. The Megler Rest Area was renamed the Dismal Nitch Rest Area in 2005.
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
in Washington State, notable as the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
's last campsite before sighting the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Today it is a rest stop on the Washington State Route 401 highway just east of the Astoria-Megler Bridge
Astoria-Megler Bridge
The Astoria–Megler Bridge is a steel girder continuous truss bridge that spans the Columbia River between Astoria, Oregon and Point Ellice near Megler, Washington, in the United States. The span is from the mouth of the river, and was the last segment of U.S. Route 101 between Olympia, Washington...
.
History
In 1805 the Lewis and Clark ExpeditionLewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
Corps of Discovery were low on supplies and traveling rapidly down the Columbia River, intending to meet one of the last trading ships of the season, hoping to secure needed supplies and to send back journals and specimens home as requested by President Jefferson. On November 10, 1805, a severe winter storm struck the area, forcing them off the river for six days and preventing them from meeting the supply ships. The group landed in a cove on the north bank of the river that Captain William Clark called in his journals “that dismal little nitch.” After the storm passed the company moved to Station Camp on the west side of Point Ellice, and camped at that location for 10 days before relocating for the winter to the location of current-day Astoria
Astoria, Oregon
Astoria is the county seat of Clatsop County, Oregon, United States. Situated near the mouth of the Columbia River, the city was named after the American investor John Jacob Astor. His American Fur Company founded Fort Astoria at the site in 1811...
.
In the 1870s and 1880s, Joseph Megler operated a fish buying station on the east side of Point Ellice in Clark's "Dismal Nitch", and it in time became known as Megler Cove.
In 1921, increased tourism to the nearby Long Beach Peninsula
Long Beach Peninsula
The Long Beach Peninsula is an arm of land in western Washington state. It is bounded on the west by the Pacific Ocean, the south by the Columbia River, and the east by Willapa Bay...
led to creation of a car ferry
Astoria-Megler Ferry
The Astoria–Megler ferry, also called the Astoria–McGowan ferry and the Astoria–North Beach Ferry, ran across the Columbia River between Astoria, Oregon and two ferry docks near the present small community of Megler, Washington from 1921 to 1966....
between Astoria and the Megler dock. In 1946 the Oregon Highway Department purchased the ferry service and operated it until the Astoria-Megler bridge was completed. In 1956, Washington State Route 401 was constructed east of Megler, and construction of the Astoria-Megler Bridge began in 1962 and was completed in 1966. The last ferry run occurred in July of that year. In 1968 and 1969 the Washington Department of Highways demolished the ferry landing and constructed the Megler Rest Area in its place. The Megler Rest Area was built in 1968 – 1969. The Megler Rest Area was renamed the Dismal Nitch Rest Area in 2005.