History is alive in this area. The highway we are living on is the Lewis and Clark Trail. Many have asked me where the name Lolo originated. It is believed that it is what the Indians called Lewis. But the spelling for today was changed by the Postal Service and it means " to carry" in the Chinook language

The first name for this creek was Tum Sun Tech which translates from the Nez Perce language which means "without Salmon".

Travelers Rest is in the Bitterroot Valley where Lolo Creek empties into the Bitterroot River, was such an idyllic spot that the Lewis and Clark Corp of Discovery camped here in September 1805 and again on their return in July 1806. A sign at the junction of US-93 and US-12 gives some of the story. But they have since found that this site is on private property and now are in the process of trying to save this area.

Lewis and Clark used this trail over the Bitteroot Mountains because it was the shortest route over the pass. It was shown to them by the Nez Perce Indians.

Here is Captain Clark as he looked during one of his visits to Traveler's Rest. He is pictured with two retired teachers. These teachers keep his story alive with their students in their class.

Here is a wonderful site on Lewis and Clark by a friends and the University of Montana. Please do not miss it.. Just Press Here to go to it.

Or for even more information on Lewis and Clark in the Rockies.

Another site of interest just one mile east of us is Fort Fizzle. This is a fort the soldiers set up to stop the passage of the Indians. They wanted the Indians to move to a reservation in order that the gold rich lands could be open for the prospectors. But the Indian outsmarted them and took a path over the mountain, thus the Fort Fizzled. For more information of Fort Fizzle Click here

More of the story of the flight of the Nez Perce Indian can be found here. Click here

The land that we are living on was homesteaded by Tom Magee. He arrived in the Bitterroot in 1885. He claimed a homestead on this area. After he received a patent to the claim he sold it for $500.

More information about this area can be found in the book Lolo Reflections, which was written by some wonderful ladies in our local Woman's Club