The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission seeks public comment through March 31 on the new “Gaia in Your Backyard” interpretive panels on display at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center located in Cape Disappointment State Park near Ilwaco.
Once finalized, the panels will be placed along an interpretive trail connecting the five artwork pieces of Confluence Project located at Cape Disappointment State Park. “The panels will balance the historical themes of the Confluence artwork by providing insight into the unique ecology of Cape Disappointment’s fog forest.”, said Aaron Webster, interpretive specialist for the center. Three-dimensional models and photographs of the Confluence Project also are on display to help visitors understand the context of the interpretive panels.
“Gaia in your Backyard” refers to the exhibit’s main theme, the Gaia hypothesis, which states that the conditions of the Earth’s surface are actively influenced by life on the planet.
Initiated in 2000 through the collaboration of a group of Pacific Northwest Native American tribes and civic groups from Washington and Oregon, the Confluence Project was envisioned to evoke the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, highlight the tremendous changes it brought to the Pacific Northwest, and encourage action to create a future that preserves and protects the area’s natural and cultural resources. When complete, the project will have transformed seven places along the historic Columbia River Basin with significant landscape restoration and environmental enhancements, all of which complement permanent art installations by world-renowned artist Maya Lin.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center tells the overall story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. It concentrates on the journey through Washington state, especially the days spent at the mouth of the Columbia in November 1805. It also provides more opportunities to learn about the recent history of the area, including shipwrecks, lighthouses, life-saving stations and jetty construction.
Cape Disappointment State Park is a 1,882-acre camping park on the Long Beach Peninsula, fronted by the Pacific Ocean. Located two miles southwest of Ilwaco off Highway 101, the park offers access to an ocean beach, lighthouses and hiking trails.
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission thanks the public for supporting state parks. Donations made to State Parks through the vehicle license tab renewal program will keep state parks open in the 2009-2011 budget cycle, provided adequate revenues are collected. The Commission manages a diverse system of more than 100 state parks and recreation programs, including long-distance trails, boating safety and winter recreation. The 96-year-old park system will celebrate its 100th anniversary in 2013.
