Confluence – defined as ‘a flowing together of two or more streams, rivers, or the like.’

Therefore the Confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers is where the two rivers flow together. I have been there, and you have not.

The confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone rivers was first reached by the Lewis and Clark expedition in the Spring of 1805. After having spent the winter with the Mandan’s the Corps of Discovery was anxious to get underway.  They followed the Missouri on their way to the Columbia, not knowing at the time they would use the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone as a rendezvous a year later. 

What I do know, that you did not until you read this, is that there is a very nice interpretive center on the shore of the Missouri where the two rivers come together.  It is small, well-maintained and visited by very few people.  In fact I have been there twice. On one occasion I was the only visitor there, on the other I was one of three.

 

The most interesting about the site from my perspective is how the rivers have changed course over the 200 years since Lewis and Clark passed through the area.  There in an interpretive sign outside of the structure which shows where the banks of the river where when the expedition came through the area. This is the only way to try to visualize what the men actually saw as they made their key decision.

The only disappointment I had with the confluence center is that it is difficult to get an overview of the confluence itself. As you can see from this photo, it’s hard to see the actual joining of the waters.  It would be nice to have a tower or lookout created where a person could have a better, more complete view of this historic confluence.

But that is not the case. Perhaps it is better this way after all.  It isn’t today what it was 200 years ago, so you wouldn’t see what the captains saw when they first came to this site.  Like the captains themselves, the confluence of their day is no more.

So though I have been there, I arrived too late to the site the way the captains saw it.  But at least I have been there.  Add as we now both know, that puts me ahead of you, for I have been there and you have not. GPS Coordinates are 47.58.37.27 N 103.58.51.90 W.

It is a sad day today, Saturday November 7th.  As you can see in the photo below, there is The Camping Machine, parked on the RV pad next to our home.

Why should this be sad, you ask? Well, consider the photo below, taken only 20 minutes after the first one...

 

Yes, it is sad when you realize there are no more camping trips to be taken this year.  

Sleep well, my trusty camper.  Come next spring, you will need all of your energy - we have some fun adventures planned!