HISTORIC TRAILS
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Fascinating Facts About David Thompson
- David Thompson arrived at Hudson Bay in 1784 as a 14-year-old clerical apprentice.
- Between 1784 and 1850, Thompson explored and mapped about 1.5 million square miles of North America.
- He was fluent in the languages of English, French and Native peoples.
- Thompson’s achievements included surveying many of the townships of Ontario and Quebec; determining large sections of the boundary between Canada and the United States; establishing the Columbia basin fur trade; exploring and mapping of a vast area of western North America; and documenting the nature, history, and cultures of much of the continent.
- Thompson also traveled through Montana [MONTANA PAGE LINK], Washington [WASHINGTON PAGE LINK], and Idaho [IDAHO PAGE LINK] – and was the first to explore and map out the entire Columbia River system.
- Thompson appears to have gained the respect of most First Nations. He was given the name "Koo Koo Sint" (Star Gazer) by the Salish-Flathead peoples, since he habitually performed his astronomical observations at the end of the day.
- Thompson had careers as a writer, scientific explorer, cartographer, naturalist, and fur trader.
- Thompson died at age 86 in 1857.
Drive The David Thompson Highway To See Stunning Sights Like Kootenai National Forest
Drive the David Thompson Historic Route through several U.S. states and Alberta and British Columbia. Use the Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies to plan your trip.
David Thompson Historic Route
David Thompson, Perhaps The Greatest Canadian Explorer
Explorer David Thompson traversed and mapped more of North America than any other trader or mapmaker. Between 1784 and 1850, Thompson explored about 1.5 million square miles of the continent. His achievements included surveying many of the townships of Ontario and Quebec; determining large sections of the boundary between Canada and the United States; establishing the Columbia basin fur trade; exploring and mapping of a vast area of western North America; and documenting the nature, history, and cultures of much of the continent. Thompson also traveled through Montana, Washington, and Idaho – and was the first to explore and map out the entire Columbia River system. Learn more by following the route through Alberta, Kootenai River Country, and British Columbia.
Explore Several States, Alberta, British Columbia & The Kootenai National Forest
Travel the David Thompson Historic Route through several U.S. states and Alberta and British Columbia. Use the Top 10 Scenic Drives in the Northern Rockies to plan an unforgettable Rocky Mountain vacation.