Plant
Western Red Cedar
Thuja plicata
Photo: Walter Siegmund, CC BY-SA 3.0
Common Names
Arborvitae / Large Cedar
Habitat
Moist lowland and mountain forests of the Pacific Northwest
First Observed
1805-09-15
Observed At
Lolo Trail, near present-day Lolo Pass, Idaho-Montana border
Lewis and Clark encountered the western red cedar as they crossed the Bitterroot Mountains and descended into the Pacific Northwest in September 1805. They called it “arborvitae” after the similar northeastern white cedar, though the western species was far larger. The wood was critical for the expedition — they used it to build dugout canoes for the Columbia River descent. The western red cedar was also central to Northwest Native cultures, used for longhouses, canoes, clothing, and art.
Journal Excerpt
Lewis, September 15, 1805: "we found the trees to be of a very large size, some of them appeared to be 6 feet in diameter; the timber is sound and it's bark thin. the bark of the arborvitae when rotten is soft light and makes good tinder."
Journal References
15 journal entries mention Western Red Cedar
Mar
19
1806
Lewis: March 19, 1806
...s of
the Sea Otter net together with the bark of the white cedar or silk-grass.
these strips are first twisted and laid parallel with each other a little
distance...
Mar
30
1806
Lewis: March 30, 1806
...e discribed in the neighbourhood of Fort Clatsop; the white cedar is
also found hereof large size; no white pine nor pine of any other kind. we
had a view of mount...
Apr
3
1806
Clark: April 3, 1806
...t 30 feet square.
this house is built of bark of the White Cedar Supported on long Stiff
poles resting on the ends of broad boads which form the rooms &c. back
of...
Apr
5
1806
Clark: April 5, 1806
...ts and gave
us wappato in exchange for them. Fir and White Cedar is the common growth
of the up lands, as is the Cotton wood, ash, large leafed Ash and Sweet
Will...
Apr
6
1806
Lewis: April 6, 1806
...d
with broad boards and covered with the bark of the white cedar or
arborvita; the floor is on a level with the surface of the earth and the
internal arrangement ...
Apr
7
1806
Clark: April 7, 1806
...lly of wide Split
boads and Covered with bark of the White Cedar which is the entire length
of the one Side of the roof and jut over at the eve about 18 inches. at...
Apr
9
1806
Lewis: April 9, 1806
...arth; they are generally built with boards and covered with Cedar bark.
most of them have a devision in their houses near the entrance wich is at
the end or in the...
Apr
12
1806
Clark: April 12, 1806
...3
of the way down. the growth is principally fir and White Cedar. the
bottoms and low Situations is Covered with a variety Such as Cotton, large
leafed ash, Sweet...
Apr
12
1806
Lewis: April 12, 1806
...they are covered with fir of several
speceis and the white cedar. near the river we find the Cottonwood, sweet
willow, broad leafed ash, a species of maple, the pu...
Apr
14
1806
Lewis: April 14, 1806
..., are high broken, rocky, partially covered with fir white
cedar, and in many places exhibit very romantic seenes. some handsome
cascades are seen on either hand t...
Apr
14
1806
Clark: April 14, 1806
...high broken
rocky, particularly Covered with fir and white Cedar, and in maney places
very romantic scenes. Some handsom Cascades are Seen on either Side
tumbling...
Apr
20
1806
Lewis: April 20, 1806
...ufacturing their fishing nets and
bags, the bear grass and cedar bark are employed in forming a variety of
articles. they are poor, dirty, proud, haughty, inhospit...
May
13
1806
Lewis: May 13, 1806
...also wear a cap or cup on the head formed of
beargrass and cedar bark. the men also frequently attatch some small
ornament to a small plat of hair on the center of...
Jun
15
1806
Lewis: June 15, 1806
...ong leafed pine, some
pitch pine, larch, white pine, white cedar or arborvita of large size, and
a variety of firs. the undergrowth principally reed root from 6 to...
Jun
16
1806
Lewis: June 16, 1806
... side of the main branch of Collins's creek, and
the white cedar not further than the branch of hungry creek on which we
dined. I killed a small brown pheasant tod...
