Artist Chosen

The Montana Senate Art Legacy Project took a major step forward on Friday, January 23, 2004. The Senate Advisory Committee chose an artist from a finalist pool of six very qualified artists to create the bronze bas-relief art that will hang in Montana’s Senate Chambers. Anticipated to be approximately 18 feet wide and 8 feet in height, the artistic creation will truly be a legacy that will make Montanans proud. The project will be financed by the sale of miniature bronzes and medallions depicting the selected design. Please contact the state Commission office or the Montana Historical Society for more information. A completion date of mid-summer, 2005 is projected for an official unveiling of the completed Senate Chambers art piece. A press release will be issued in the very near future to announce the artist’s name.

Upcoming Meetings

MT L&C Bicentennial Commission:
- June 17, 2004, 8:00 am-3:30 pm, Livingston, MT

RBC/Tribal Reps Meeting:
- June 17, 2004, 11:00 am – 1:00 pm, Livingston, MT

Performing Arts Showcase:
- June 17-18, 2004, Livingston, MT

MT L&C Bicentennial Commission:
- Oct. 2004, Polson, MT

2004 Project Grant Award Winners Announced:

The Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission announced during its February 10th meeting that eleven Project Grants totaling $129,641 will be awarded to very deserving recipients this year. Partnering with the state Commission to fund these Project Grants was the Qwest Foundation, the Montana Department of Commerce/Travel Montana, and the USDA Forest Service. Additionally it was announced that 17 Organization and Planning Grants totaling $32,398 will be funded through the Commission’s current budget to assist Regional Bicentennial Commissions and Indian Tribes in 2004. The following were selected to receive 2004 Project Grant funding:

• Neither Empty Nor Unknown: Montana at the Time of Lewis & Clark – sponsored by Montana’s Museum, the Montana Historical Society ($24,991)
• Montana Geology and Geography through the Eyes of Lewis & Clark – sponsored by The Mineral Museum, Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology ($13,000)
• Montana Committee for the Humanities Lewis & Clark Speakers Bureau – sponsored by the Montana Committee for the Humanities ($15,000)
• Camp Fortunate Interpretive Center – sponsored by Beaverhead County ($25,000)
• The Caras Park Signage Project – sponsored by the Western Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission ($6,000)
• Fishing with Lewis & Clark – sponsored by the Federation of Fly Fishers ($11,500)
• Native Perspectives on the Trail: A Contemporary American Indian Art Portfolio – sponsored by the Art Museum of Missoula ($17,000)
• Milk River Lewis & Clark Festival – sponsored by the Nashua Community Development Association ($6,100)
• Supplementary/Localized Information at Dearborn Rest Area(s) – sponsored by the Reaching the Rockies Chapter ($5,000)
• Echoes of Discovery – sponsored by the Myrna Loy Center ($4,500)
• Miles City’s “Clark on the Yellowstone” – sponsored by the Miles City Chamber of Commerce ($1,500)

Tower Rock Soon To Be Newest State Park:

The National Park Service recently announced that eighteen Montana communities and Tribes were selected to host the Corps of Discovery II. (Slight modification of dates may occur as the NPS strives to match Corps II set-up and travel time with community events.)

Recently speculation and discussion has centered on the ownership of Tower Rock, a well documented Lewis and Clark landmark located on the Missouri River between Helena and Great Falls. A land transfer is currently being finalized between the present owner, the Montana Department of Transportation, and the new landowner, the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. With the land transfer finalized, Tower Rock will become Montana’s newest state park. Public planning meetings will outline the details of local, on-site interpretation. Congrats to the Reaching the Rockies Chapter, and other key groups and individuals who worked diligently to make this historic site more readily available to the traveling public.

Welcome, Marcy Hamburg:

Marcy Hamburg is now the newest member of the Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission with Governor Judy Martz’s announcement this past October. Marcy, a resident of Sidney, is very familiar with the Yellowstone River corridor through her work with the Richland County Economic Development Corporation and the Lower Yellowstone Lewis & Clark Regional Bicentennial Commission. Unfortunately Marcy will have some long road trips to make numerous meetings, but we’re pleased to welcome her aboard!

Lewis & Clark Performing Arts Showcase:

Make plans now to attend (or participate) in the Lewis & Clark Performing Arts Showcase to be held in Livingston, MT on June 17t & 18th. A new endeavor of the state Commission, this “showcase of talent” will allow a variety of Lewis & Clark performers the opportunity to make others aware of their presentations and areas of expertise. With the Bicentennial nearing Montana, many groups will be searching for programs with a Lewis & Clark focus, while talented Lewis & Clark performing artists will be searching for compatible venues. For more information on performing in this showcase, please immediately contact the Commission office. Registration information to attend the showcase will be forthcoming in the next 30-45 days.

Corps of Discovery II News:

• The final Schedule for Montana’s 18 host locations for 2005 and 2006, the revised Corps II Footprint, and Community Checklist are all now available via the state Commission’s web site at: (www.montanalewisandclark.org/events).
• A Tent of Many Voices programming workshop will be held at the Billings Holiday Inn Grand on Wednesday, April 7, 2004. Patricia Jones, the Chief of Interpretation for Corps II, will present this day-long workshop for host communities, Tribal representatives, agencies and key private sector groups to fully outline programming expectations and processes.

An advance logistics planning team will tour Montana from early February to late Spring to personally meet with host communities to review in detail the Footprint and Community Checklist for hosting Corps II. Dick Basch, the National Park Service’s American Indian Liaison for the Tent of Many Voices, will be work directly with Montana’s Indian Tribes to secure their meaningful participation.

“Don’t Leave Home Without ….”

…. your very own Montana Lewis & Clark license plate! The Montana Department of Justice said they have plenty of material to make thousands more plates, so don’t delay in purchasing your license plate. Collector plates are available by contacting the state Commission office at: 406-443-2109, or rcortright@state.mt.us. Revenue generated from plate sales is a major funding source for Bicentennial activities statewide.

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Montana Lewis & Clark Bicentennial
P O Box 201203
Helena, MT 59620-1203
406-443-2109 ph.
406-444-2686 fax
www.montanalewisandclark.org

National Bicentennial Update:

• The much anticipated National Ad Council publicity program for the Bicentennial has now begun with TV spots being shown nationwide. Local Bicentennial planning groups are encouraged to contact their local media to ensure maximum airtime. Questions regarding this campaign should be directed to Tom Cook, Publicity Coordinator for the Montana Historical Society (406-444-1645).
• The National Council of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial recently announced the launch of their revised web site (www.lewisandclark200.org). Now more geared toward the traveling public, this site offers short descriptions of the National Signature Events in addition to hundred of other Lewis & Clark events and links to each trail state’s Lewis & Clark information. This national web site is featured on the National Ad Council’s Public Service Announcements.
• The Grand Opening of the Lewis & Clark: National Bicentennial Exhibit created by the Missouri Historical Society was held at the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis on January 17th. Representatives from many Indian Tribes from the trail joined in the festive activities. For more information on this exhibit and its many associated on-going educational programs, you may access www.lewisandclarkexhibit.org. This is a must see exhibit!

And Now There Are Three:

Missoula-area archeologist Dan Hall researching the authenticity of the Travelers’ Rest campsite, very recently announced there are now three officially documented L&C sites identified along the entire National L&C Historic Trail. Traveler’s Rest near Lolo, MT now joins the burial site of Sgt. Floyd, and Pompeys Pillar on that elite list. This announcement follows years of detailed field research by many individuals, and a very recent “peer review” of the research team’s data. Congratulations to Dan Hall and the entire Travelers’ Rest Chapter for a lengthy, but worthwhile endeavor to officially document the location of a second MT L&C site.

More Information… Faster?

Due to the significant investment of time and financial resources, the “journal notes” newsletter will continue to be published three times per year. If you want more timely information, access the Commission’s website at www.montanalewisandclark.org/whatsnew and subscribe to receive periodic electronic “list serve updates.”