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Camp DuBois |
William Clark arrived here in December 1803 and said this was a beautiful area. Lewis and Clark had their winter encampment on the Illinois side of the river because the other side was not yet the United States, as the Louisiana Purchase had not been completed. The Vaughn family provided beef and vegetables to Lewis & Clark during their winter encampment at Wood River’s Camp DuBois. On December 12, 1803, the Lewis and Clark flotilla pulled into Wood River where they set up a camp site on high ground not too far from the keel boat and wagon trail to Cahokia. Significant, indeed for the huge success of the mission was the five month wintering at Camp DuBois – in addition to training, the troops learned teamwork, pride in accomplishments, and esprite de corps. The current Camp DuBois site has a small fragment of the old “Wood River” camp where Lewis and Clark set up their camp.
The first weekend in May Camp DuBois hosts "The Rendezvous" history buffs, campers, and Wood River residents mingle and learn about their pioneer roots.
