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Washington, DC -- Today, Congressman David Wu announced the passage of H.R. 3819, legislation to rename several state parks and the Fort Clatsop National Memorial as the Lewis and Clark National and Historical Park.
"With the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial upon us, the expansion and renaming of Fort Clatsop National Memorial Park is important not only to commemorate the historical significance of these sites, but also for the economic impact it will have on Oregon," said Congressman David Wu.
The Lewis and Clark National and Historical Park will host one of 15 nationally sanctioned events taking place along the Lewis and Clark trail. The celebration, scheduled for November 11th-15th 2005, is a bi-state collaboration between Washington and Oregon and will include an event to officially dedicate Oregon's second National Park.
"Local businesses, national and state park staff, and volunteers are working tirelessly to make our signature event a success," said Congressman Wu. "I am pleased that my colleagues and I can help in this effort by moving forward with the establishment of the Lewis and Clark National and Historical Park."
During the summer of 2002, Congress passed, and the President signed H.R. 2643, the Fort Clatsop National Memorial Expansion Act of 2002, sponsored by Congressman Wu, which authorized expanding the park from 130 to 1,500 acres.
Fort Clatsop National Memorial, located near Astoria, marks the spot where Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery spent 106 days during the winter of 1805 - 1806. It is the only unit of the National Park System solely dedicated to the Lewis and Clark expedition. The National Park Service estimates that well over one million people will visit Fort Clatsop during the Bicentennial years.
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