This location is where the Lewis and Clark Expedition emerged from crossing the Bitterroot Mountains on the Lolo Trail and first met the Nez Perce tribe of Native Americans, in September 1805.

[3] There they encountered a large Nez Perce encampment, who were attracted to the area by the abundant hunting as well as the fields of camas flowers (Camassia spp.

Lewis and Clark reciprocated with presents of "beads and a few other articles", though the Nez Perce "later found the white man's gifts to be cheap.

According to oral tradition, this woman, named Watkuweis (meaning "returned from a faraway country"), when hearing of the arrival of Lewis and Clark, pleaded that they not be harmed.

Her tales of the kindness she had experienced from white people reportedly convinced the Nez Perce to offer friendship to the explorers.