Discovered first by the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery, The Snake River most likely received its name from the S-shaped motions the Shoshone Indians made to describe the salmon in the river to passing explorers.

The Corp of Discovery used the Snake River to travel down from the Rocky Mountains towards their ultimate goal of the Pacific Ocean. However, they were not the only explorers to avail themselves of the route.

The Astor expedition, led by Donald McKenzie and cataloged by William Price Hunt, travelled down the river from the Rockies, mapping the area in greater detail and noting potentially good areas for trapping beaver pelts. As settlers traveled further west under the Manifest Destiny movement, steamboats began to appear along the lower end of the Snake River.

The more pronounced settler incursions led to greater conflict with the local Indian tribes. Attacks by Native American tribe confederations like the Yakimas increased over dissatisfaction with their treaties with the US. The Snake River facilitated the transportation of troops, equipment and cavalry to suppress the attacks on settlers and local outposts.

The improvement of rail lines from coast to coast decreased the need for expedient water transportation. Less traveled upon than the Columbia River, its many rapids made transportation perilous and sometimes arduous. In contemporary times, the Snake River serves as a leisure spot for rafting, kayaking and even publicity stunts like Evel Knievel’s famous failed jump across the Snake River Canyon.

Researched, written, and narrated by University of West Florida Public History Student James Steele