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The Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicenntenial Celebration |
In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased territory for the United States from France. The "Louisiana Purchase" (see our other website exhibition) was the largest land purchase in history. It effectively doubled the size of the United Sates. Eager to explore the new territory, President Jefferson decided to organize a formal, government-sponsored expedition. One of his major hopes was to find the fabled “Northwest Passage”- a riverway that linked the Pacific and Atlantic oceans. If this passage was found, Jefferson could use it to drastically shorten travel times and increase trade. In his Presidential Imperative, the President detailed the goals of the expedition:
”The Object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river & such principal stream of it as by it's course and communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean, whether the Columbia, Oregon, Colorado or any other river may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent for the purpose of commerce.”
Although the search for a Northwest Passage was paramount, the expedition was also a combined anthropological, diplomatic, and commercial mission to the Missouri River Indian tribes and other soon-to-be-discovered peoples. The expedition, coined "The Corps of Discovery" by a member of the group, was undertaken by ex-Army officers Meriwether Lewis and Willaim Clark. In additon, there were 31 other permanent party members- among the varied group was an African-American servant, a French fur trader with his American Indian wife (the famous Sacagawea), and Clark's dog, Seaman. The basic route was up the Missouri River, through what is now Missouri, Iowa, South and North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washinton and Oregon. The group eventually traveled all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis and Clark and party were expected to keep detailed notes, maps, records and specimens from their journey.The 3-year journey officially began on July 5th, 1803 in Washington D.C., and lasted over three years. They would not return home to U.S. territory until September of 1806. Although they didn't find a Northwest Passage, they did bring back invaluable information that would help open up the new lands and expand America's frontier.
1) Discovering Lewis and Clark
An excellent multimedia resource with map, journal entries and itenerary. Very detailed site, with special "hyperhistory" projects that feature various in-depth aspects of the expedition. Probably one of the most popular of the Lewis and Clark websites.
2) Lewis and Clark; The Journey of the Corps of Discovery
A companion site to the PBS presentation "Lewis and Clark" by Ken Burns. Has expediton-member biographies, and a very interesting interactive "You Lead the Expedition" game, which allows you to experience the leader's point of view, make choices, and see outcomes based on your decisions.
A NASA-sponsored site at the University of Montana that gives detailed maps and descriptions of the terrain covered by the Lewis and Clark expedition. Excellent if you are interested in the geography of the expedition.
Created by J. Hill 10.29.03