Ice Age Floods Institute to explore unlikely catalyst for Oregon rush

WENATCHEE—The Wenatchee Valley Erratics Chapter of the Ice Age Floods Institute has announced its upcoming meeting. The meeting will explore an intriguing intersection of 19th-century history and geological discovery.

The meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, October 8, at 7:00 p.m., to be held at the Wenatchee Valley Museum and Cultural Center. A virtual attendance option will also be available via Zoom.

Dr. E.F. Cater, Director of the Douglas County Museum in Waterville, will present a talk titled "The Rush to Oregon Territory." The presentation aims to examine how societal developments in the 1800s intertwined with the legacy of Ice Age floods.

The talk will challenge common narratives about Western Expansion and Manifest Destiny. It will focus on an unusual event involving a delegation of Salish men from the Walla Walla area who traveled to St. Louis to meet with General William Clark, their "old friend."

The presentation suggests that this encounter sparked a rush to the Oregon Territory for reasons that differ from conventional historical accounts. Additionally, Dr. Cater will discuss how this movement led to the discovery of significant geological features, including the Grand Coulee.

The Wenatchee Valley Erratics Chapter invites interested parties to attend either in person or via the provided Zoom link (https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84520197937). This event offers an opportunity to explore the complex interplay between human history and natural phenomena that shaped the American West.