Wheelchair Accessibility
Wheelchair users will find this a fun and accessible cache, too! The loop is paved and mostly flat with only a limited number of slightly sloping sections. Parking at the provided trailhead waypoints will allow for shorter travel distances from parking to the cache waypoints.
Local History
On November 4th, 1804 Captain Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clark hired a French-Canadian fur trapper Toussaint Charbonneau as an interpreter. His pregnant wife Sacagawea, an Agaiduka - Shoshone, also joined the expedition. This young lone woman was instrumental as an interpreter, gathering food, trading and guide throughout the trip. Three months later, at the young age of 17, she gave birth on February 11, 1805 to her son Jean Baptiste and was nicknamed Pompy by Capt. Clark. The Corps of Discovery reached the confluence of the Columbia River and the Snake River on October 16th, 1805. They stayed for two nights before continuing their journey down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. This area was the traditional gathering, fishing and trading of the Sahaptian speaking Indians. As the corps trudged home in the spring and summer of 1806, Sacagawea, her husband and son would remain with the Mandan villagers on the Missouri River in Mid-August 1806. The Lewis and Clark expedition would return home to St. Louis on September 23, 1806. The last that was heard of Sacagawea was of her death at only 25 years old of “putrid fever” at Fort Manuel in northern South Dakota. In 1927 Thomas and Stacie Carstens donated the point of land where Lewis and Clark stayed on the confluence of the two great rivers to the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington. The local Chapter of Pasco under the direction of chapter leader Mrs. Chute helped preserve the original campsites and planted trees. The land was then donated in 1931 to Washington State which established Sacagawea State Park. With the help of the Works Progress Administration (WPA) in 1938, the museum was constructed and further development of the park.
Sacajawea State Park and Interpretive Center
To learn more about Sacajawea, visit the Sacajawea State Park and Interpretive Center just east of Pasco on Sacajawea Park Road. The park requires a Discovery Pass for vehicle but walking in on foot is free. The museum is free but a small donation is asked since it is run by volunteers of the Daughters of the Pioneers of Washington.
Sacagawea Heritage Trail
To commemorate the park and to experience an environmentally sound and unique shrub-steppe habitat and gain a greater awareness and appreciation for the experiences of the Corps of Discovery in the Mid-Columbia region, the Sacagawea Heritage Trail and cycling trail began planning the construction in December, 1999 through the joint jurisdictions of the Cities of Kennewick, Pasco and Richland; Benton and Franklin Counties; and the Ports of Benton, Kennewick and Pasco. Overall coordination for the planning process was provided by Visit TRI-CITIES.
Pasco
Pasco founded in 1891 – named after Cerro de Pasco a city in central Peru where silver was discovered in 1630. Beginning at Sacajawea State Park, the trail heads westward through the industrial section of Pasco, going past the Port of Pasco and passing under the Cable and Blue Bridges. Beyond the Blue Bridge, the trail goes through Wade Park, where lanes are marked distinguishing between eastbound and westbound bicyclist lanes as well as a lane for walkers. These lane markings end when you exit the park and climb onto the levee. At the west end of the levee travelers go through Chiawana Park before the trail goes onto Court Street with dedicated bike lanes in each direction for 1.1 miles (1.8 km) before crossing the Interstate 182 Bridge into Richland.
Richland
Richland founded in 1910 – named after Nelson Rich. At the base of the bridge the trail has its junction with Riverfront Trail and continues westward until SR 240 where the trail turns south and parallels the highway until it nears the Columbia Park Trail Exit. During this time travelers cross the Yakima River. When you approach Columbia Park Trail the trail turns east onto a levee until coming to a parking area. Following this first parking area, the trail passes by Bateman Island and enters Columbia Park at the Kennewick City Limit.
Kennewick
Kennewick founded in 1904 – “Kone Wack” meaning a grassy pace or glade. The trail runs the entire length of Columbia Park with dedicated bike lanes on Columbia Park Trail. At the east end of the park the trail again passes under the Blue Bridge and again goes onto a levee and passes Clover Island before crossing the Cable Bridge and ending the loop. An alternate route takes riders across the Blue Bridge. There are bike lanes separated from the highway on both bridges.
How Log this virtual Cache.
To log this virtual cache, locate all 10 Pompy's Lesson (9 stages and final ) as you travel the Sacagawea Historical Trail Loop and email me in order the titles of each lesson. Each lesson is located at each stage and at the final stage. Lessons are printed on aluminum placards and attached to small granite monuments. Also please upload one unique photo taken along the way to this cache's page.
Pompy's Lessons
Pompy's Lessons is a Columbia Center Rotary project tasked with placing a string of educational and informative signs along the Sacagawea Heritage trail of Tri-Cities, Washington. The signs are placed at every 1/4 mile, with 96 signs in total. The signs are meant to teach kids about the local flora, fauna, events, organizations, climate, and more, and help to encourage kids to use the trail and learn more about the area.
Repeatable Cache
Columbia Center Rotary members rotate the sign several times a year from location to location. There are over 80 different signs. Geocachers may repeat the trail and find different signs along their way. Geocachers may log another find to this virtual by just leaving a note to the log. Sorry but no extra finds will be accrued. Just send the cache owner a new list of signs and another picture.
Historic Trails Award
The Boy Scouts of America promotes scouts to learn about Historical Trails in their area. The Sacagawea Heritage Trail qualifies for this award. See www.Scouting.org for a few addition requirements that are required.
Virtual Reward - 2017/2018
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between August 24, 2017 and August 24, 2018. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards on the Geocaching Blog.