Spotlight onAffiliates Edited by Richard H.Engeman byCarolyn Purcell Columbia Gorge Discovery Center Wasco County Historical Museum Columbia Gorge Discovery Center and Wasco County Historical Museum 5000 Discovery Drive The Dalles, OR 97058 Phone 541-296-8600 Web site:www.gorgediscovery.org OHS Affiliate since 1998 The Columbia gorge discovery center and Wasco County Histori calMuseum opened inMay 1997 as the official interpretive center for theColumbia River Gorge National Scenic Area. The multimedia, interactive museum inspires appreciation and stewardship of the natural and cultural treasures of the gorge andWasco County. Exhibits focus on the volcanic upheaval and raging floods that created the gorge, the unique flora and fauna of the region, and eleven thousand years of cultural history. Collections include hundreds ofAmerican Indian baskets from throughout the Pacific Northwest, photo archives partially available on line, and local genealogical files available in the William G. Dick Library. The fifty-four-acre grounds, including paved trails, a pond, and scenic overlooks, complement themuseum's historic message and stewardship mis sion. Restored native vegetation promotes soil and water conservation while drawing attention to thenumerous species found only in the gorge. From early spring to late fall, the grounds are graced with ninety blooming native plant species that are adapted to thedry,windblown environment of the eastern end of the gorge. A wildflower database helps visitors identifyplants. The Discovery Center's executive director,Ken Karsmizki, isthe leading Lew is and Clark archaeologist in the country.A Space Act Agreement through the Remote Sensing Directorate ofNASA's Stennis Space Center provides technical 500 OHQ vol. 105, no. 3 ? 2004 Oregon Historical Society CourtesyColumbia Gorge Discovery Center / Wasco County HistoricalMuseum JenniferAshley, a living history performer, portrays a laundress who worked at Lewis and Clark s Wood River Camp prior to the overland journey. Ashley engages visitors in conversation about themen of the expedition as she mends their clothes. She works in theCargo exhibit, interpreting the thirty tons of equipment thatmembers of the expedition carried with them. support and access to high-resolution remote sensing data that aid Karsmizkfs efforts to identifyexpedition sites.Visitors can access Karsmizki's cutting-edge research through a touch-screen presentation on the exhibit floor. An exhaustive examination of thematerial culture of the expedition, origi nally aimed at assisting in the archaeological search, resulted in a unique new exhibition, Cargo. An examination ofwhat Lewis and Clark took with them on the expedition and why provides a vehicle for interpreting politics, social structures, cultural differences,medicine, science, technology, habits, and cus toms in the early 1800s. From mathematical instruments to trade goods, each object tellsus something about what Thomas JeffersoninstructedMeriwether Lewis to do and invites contemplation of the expectations of both theAmeri cans and the indigenous groups theyencountered. The Kids Explorer Room offershands-on interactive activities for all ages. During the bicentennial the interactive components will exclusively address the Lewis and Clark Expedition, allowing children to tryon period clothing, solve puzzles, find archaeological treasures, and sewmoccasins. A video-con ferencing andWeb site education project isunderway thatwill bring research, exhibits, and museum educators into classrooms across the state by January 2005. Spotlight on Affiliates 501 ...