Lewis & Clark National Historical Park

Native American, Chinook, Middle Village, Oregon, history, culture, story, interpretation, site, National Park Service, canoe, transportation,
Marker describing MIddle Village at the mouth of Columbia River, once home to the Chinook tribe of Native Americans for thousands of years.

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park – Chinook Middle Village Station in Astoria, Oregon.

This newly established site recognizes the Chinook people who lived along the mouth of the Columbia River for thousands of year. Artifact and inquiry-based lessons engage middle school students in a study of Chinook lifestyle and culture.

Did you know?  

Chinooks used a river-based economy and used canoes as the primary mode of transportation. Carving a canoe from a single cedar tree could take up to a year.  Large canoes were 50 feet long, held 20-30 people and could carry 8,000-10,000 pounds.