A Jeffersonian Medal Found in the River
A rare silver 'Peace and Friendship' medal from the Lewis and Clark era is discovered on an island in the Columbia River.
Recently O. Cummings, of Wallula, found on an island in the river above that place, a silver medal that had evidently lain in the sand undisturbed for many years. The medal is of silver, round, and about two inches in diameter and quite heavy. On one side is a medallion of Thomas Jefferson, and encircling it the words: 'Th. Jefferson, President of U. S., A. D. 1801.' On the obverse side in relief is a tomahawk and pipe crossed and below this a pair of clasped hands, while in raised letters are the words 'Peace and Friendship.' In all likelihood the medal was given to some noted chieftain of the Yakima, Walla Walla, or Cayuse Indians by the explorers Lewis and Clark on their first visit to this section.
“In all likelihood the medal was given to some noted chieftain of the Yakima, Walla Walla, or Cayuse Indians by the explorers Lewis and Clark.”
This artifact serves as a physical reminder of the early encounters between Indigenous nations and U.S. government representatives. The discovery reflects the ongoing intersection of local geography, history, and the legacy of the Lewis and Clark expedition in Eastern Washington.
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