Lewis and Clark Expedition

Lewis and Clark expedition

This picture is found at the website lehrman.isi.org. It shows Meriweather Lewis, 29 years old and William Clark, 33 years old.

When the purchase of the "Louisiana Territory" was purchased on May 2, 1803, Thomas Jefferson wanted the area explored. He arranged for Lewis and Clark to find out all they could about the area. As Jefferson's instructions to the Expedition said, in part:

"The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri River, and such pricipal stream of it, as, by its course and communication with the ater of the Pacific Ocean may offer the most direct and practicable water communication across the continent, for purposes of commerce.

Beginning at the mouth of the Missouri, you will take observations of latitude and longitude at all remarkable points on the river, and expecially at the mouths of rivers, at rapids, at islands, and other places and objects distiguished by such natural marks and characters of a durable kind, as that they may with certainty be recognied hereafter..."

Jefferson gave them $2500 for equipment, supplies, and expenses for the expedition. He instructed them to find out about minerals, soils, land forms, vegetation, and tributary stream courses. Also, if there was any danger from hostile forces to turn back.

Also, in the picture above, is a Shoshoni woman named Sadadawea. Lewis and Clark employed her as an interpreter in their journey. She knew about plants and food sources, and was very valuable to them.

In their travels, they met French and Spanish owners of the territory, who helped them make their maps.

The map above shows the route they took. The first part of the trip was slow, allowing time for organizing and repacking of their supplies. Sometimes they travelled by boat. By winter of 1804 they reached North Dakota and could go no further. They stayed with the Mandan and Hidatsa. They would wait for spring time to cross the mountains to the Pacific.

The expedition of Lewis and Clark took much courage. Their journal was published in 1814 and provided information about geography. It is truly a wonderful story of exploration and is fascinating to learn about what they found.

Sources:

Biddle, Nicholas,ed. 1814:History of the expedition under the command of captians Lewis and Clark, to the Sources of the Missouri, Thence across the Rock Mountains and Down the River Columbia to the Pacific Ocean; 2 vol.Philadelphia

Foner,Eric, ed.2005:Give Me Liberty;vol.1.New York, pages 263-264

Devoto,Bernard,ed.1953:The Journals of Lewis and Clark;Mentor Books