Lewis and Clark  

    In many ways the Lewis and Clark Expedition is the emblematic American journey.  It represents an America that was still young and optimistic, that could accomplish anything it set out to do, that was destined for great things. 

    In reality the men of the Corps of Discovery knew less about where they were going on their great adventure than NASA knew when the United States first sent men to the moon.

    On the following pages you will find articles recounting the expedition's ups and downs which were published originally in Show-Me Missouri magazine.  And if the retelling of the epic journey inspires you to re-trace the explorers' steps, you'll also find the opportunity to do just that.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition

Explore the Lewis and Clark Trail by following the tracks of the Corps of Discovery as they "discovered" a continent very much inhabited.  The experience helps us understand who we are, where we have been, and how we as a society might approach the future.

The Journey Begins

Thomas Jefferson's instructions to Meriwether Lewis expressed a "hopeful geography" based on his belief that the territory west of the Mississippi mirrored that to the east. His instructions reveal the West as Jefferson hoped it would be - a region of navigable rivers, easily portaged mountains, and vast, empty, fertile spaces.

Winter at Wood River

Many of the men who eventually navigated the continent gathered for the winter of 1803-04 at Camp DuBois on the current Illinois side of the Mississippi River while the Captains made final preparations and made purchases for their journey.

Setting Out

The departure from St. Charles was exhilarating as the men pushed off upstream.  The little French village had embraced the men as they completed the thousands of tasks necessary for their long journey.

Under a Gentle Breeze

The journey continues as the 55-foot keelboat and two pirogues laboriously make their way upstream.  They encounter their first natives and handle discipline problems among the rowdy young men.

A Carrot of Tobacco

As the party proceeds they enter territory dominated by the mighty Teton Sioux.  The Sioux were the only tribe mentioned by Jefferson in his letter of instruction. He perceived them to the most powerful and important to the success of future trading (and in fact, the Sioux nation was the seat of power on the American plains of 1804.)

Winter at Fort Mandan

The Corps' second winter on the trail was probably the most peaceful and pleasant season passed on the entire journey.  There was time for socializing between the fort and the nearby Mandan Villages, male bonding on the hunting trail, and long evenings of trading stories around a campfire in the snug earth lodges.  This is where the Corps providentially acquired the services of Sakakawea, whose interpreter husband would turn out to be so much excess baggage while the teen-aged mother would prove invaluable to the Corps' survival.

Into the Unknown

The spring of 1805 would prove to be one of the least difficult and most beautiful parts of the journey.  The cumbersome keelboat had been shipped back to St. Louis with the specimens collected so far and the journals recounting the expedition's first year.  There was every expectation that they would reach the Pacific Ocean by summer and spirits were high.  But Jefferson's "hopeful geography" was about to have its first major setback and the mettle of the men would be tested as never before.

Crossing the Falls

The falls were expected.  The Mandan had acknowledged that a half-day portage would be required to skirt the magnificent falls to the west.  However, they had indicated one fall, not the five which greeted the men.  And the difficult portage around them consumed nearly a month of precious time before they had even reached the mountains. 

Ocean in View

More surprises await the Corps.  The one range of mountains expected before the final push to the ocean, turned out to be what must have looked like endless peaks of the American Rockies.  The weary men were tested once again.  However, their luck held when by incredible coincidence the chief of the Shoshones (from whom Lewis and Clark desperately needed to procure horses) turned out to be the brother of Sacagawea!

No Rest for the Weary

They had made it.  They had crossed the continent and seen more of it than any other people on the planet.  But they also had learned the hard way that there was no Northwest Passage - the main purpose of their expedition.   How would they ever explain this to Jefferson?  Worse yet,  the hoped-for ship waiting to take them home via a comparatively easy water route, proved to be a mirage.  But there was no time to despair.  A miserable, wet winter was ahead, and they needed shelter, food and clothing to survive.

Going Home!

In actuality, the journey was only half over when they reached the Pacific.  The Corps now had to retrace the exhausting route - with a few detours to fill in the blanks on Clark's map.  The men were traveling lighter now, but challenges were still numerous.  They encountered daunting weather, hostile Natives, and those "troublesome mosquitoes", but this time they were heading home.  The adventure of a lifetime ended just six months after their departure from Fort Clatsop.

To experience the Lewis and Clark Trail for yourself: