The prominent monolith across the river was named Beacon Rock by Lewis and Clark on November 2, 1805. It marked the beginning of tidewater for early river explorers, who used it as a landmark in their journeys. Indian tradition says that when the Chinook winds blow softly up the river, one can hear the wailings of unhappy, beautiful Wahatpolitan, the Indian maid who climbed the rock and perished with her child when given to a chief other than the one she loved.