It is near the mouth of the Columbia River. During the winter of 1805-1806 Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery visited there at the end of their 4000 mile trek across the Louisiana Territory from St. Louis. It rained most of the time. Colds, flu, rheumatism plagued the people. Clothing rotted, and fleas infested the blankets and hides. Clatsop and Chinook Indians were friendly and they new some English. Their flat heads were a result of squeezing infants' heads between two boards. Lewis and Clark made salt. They boiled sea water to produce salt.