MORE THAN MEETS THE EYE

[HostDave]

We’re just one month away from the first voyage of our newest addition, the American Empress, on her 9-day Pacific Northwest cruises on the Columbia and Snake rivers between Portland, Oregon and Clarkston, Washington. If you’ve read our blogs, visited our website or ordered a brochure, you’ll notice that just as Mark Twain has become a touchstone for our Mississippi River cruises on the American Queen, the intrepid explorers Lewis and Clark have come to define the historical context of our American Empress voyages.

In fact, they do more than that: the port of Clarkston, Washington is directly across the river from Lewiston, Idaho and both are important components of each American Empress journey. A key attraction in Lewiston that relates to Lewis and Clark is part of our complimentary Hop-On, Hop-Off shore excursion program, a great value-added feature of sailing with the American Queen Steamboat Company. On all American Queen Steamboat Company voyages, both on the American Empress as well as the American Queen, we offer a complimentary shore excursion in every port of call.

In Lewiston, we take guests to the Nez Perce National Historical Park where they are invited to learn about the people of the Nez Perce Tribe. The Nez Perce people are well-known for their involvement and assistance with the Lewis and Clark expedition. Sacajawea, the Native American guide who acted both as interpreter for the explorers in addition to helping them prepare for the hardships of the frontier, was a Shoshone but became instrumental in obtaining the assistance of the Nez Perce.

Like so many things related to Native Americans, even the name of the Nez Perce is an anglicized variation of what the members call themselves. While Niimíipu is the actual tribal name, the designation Nez Perce is so recognized that the tribe can go by either designation. Nez Perce dates back to the French fur traders who came down from Canada in the 1700s and named the native people after the term for pierced noses, even though it was the Chinook tribe, and not the Nez Perce, that sported this distinctive facial adornment. Lewis and Clark took a different approach, calling them the Chopunmish when writing about the expedition in their journals.

Regardless of their name, the Nez Perce were an important tribe during the days of Lewis and Clark, inhabiting more than 17 million acres in what is now Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. At the time of the Corps of Discovery’s journey into their territory, the Nez Perce nation had more than 100 settlements, each with as many as 600 people although most were far smaller. From this peak of around 12,000 members, the Nez Perce declined to less than 2,000 a century later.

The Nez Perce were hunters who roamed throughout the Pacific Northwest, pursing buffalo as far as Montana and the Pacific and catching salmon along the Columbia River. Despite their migratory lifestyle, the Nez Perce didn’t meet anyone from the rest of America until Lewis and Clark arrived. As one could imagine, the journey of Lewis and Clark was fraught with danger and difficulties, one of which manifested itself when they began to run out of food in the Bitterroot Mountains in 1805. They came across the Nez Perce who assisted them greatly, provided guidance that led to the team continuing their journey by boat rather than horseback, and even looked after the expedition’s horses until they reclaimed them for the return trip eastward.

About 70 years later after the Nez Perce split into two factions, one of which signed a treaty with the United States Government and one that did not, things got ugly. The group that signed the treaty was relocated to a reservation while the remaining Nez Perce waged a battle for their native lands and were ultimately defeated in 1877 by the U.S. Cavalry at great cost in human lives on both sides.

Today, the Nez Perce National Historical Park tells the story of these proud people, their history, their courage and the legacy of America’s policy toward Native Americans in the 1800s. The park was created in 1965 and though our complimentary Hop-On, Hop-Off tour visits the main site and its museum, the park actually consists of nearly 40 separate sites in four states. The Nez Perce Historic Trail links several of the locations. A visit is a poignant reminder of the native history of the United States and is certain to become a much-anticipated stop on our upcoming American Empress Columbia and Snake river cruises.

If you’ve considered visiting the Nez Perce National Historical Park, now is the best time of all and the American Empress is the best way to take you there. Just make your reservations and pay-in-full before March 31, 2014 and choose to save up to $400 per stateroom* on any American Empress voyage from June through October, 2014 or instead select a two-category upgrade** on any 2014 departure of the American Empress in the Pacific Northwest or the American Queen on the Mississippi, Ohio, Tennessee and Cumberland rivers in 2014.

* Book by March 31, 2014, pay-in-full and Save $400 per stateroom ($200 per person) on any 2014 June-October American Empress voyage. Full payment is required at time of booking to redeem this offer. Offer expires on March 31, 2014. This offer cannot be combined with other offers, promotions or discounts; not valid on Group bookings or existing reservations. Savings are only on the price of the cruise, not valid on taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, or airfare. Promotional fares and amenities are capacity controlled, may vary by sailing and category of accommodations and may be withdrawn without notice. Fares quoted are in U.S. dollars, are per person and do not include air or land transportation. Port Charges of $69 to $159 per person are additional and not included in the fare. Additional terms and conditions may apply – call for details.

** Offer expires March 31, 2014 and is valid on new, paid-in-full bookings only. Full payment at time of booking is required to redeem this offer. Estimated savings of up to $3200 ($1600 per person) is based on double occupancy for a standard American Queen 9 day voyage. Offer is not valid on Group bookings or existing reservations and cannot be combined with other offers, promotions or discounts. The free 2 cabin category upgrade means that guests will be placed in cabin(s) that are 2 sequential categories above initial cabin(s) requested at time of reservation. This offer is not valid on cabin upgrades into American Queen categories LS, AAA, SO and SI; and American Empress categories LS, A and CS. This offer is based on cabin availability and only while inventory lasts. Cruise fare does not include taxes, port charges, insurance, gratuities, or airfare. Additional terms and conditions may apply - call for details.