Facts About Lewis and Clark

One of the most famous duos in early America was the exploration team of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Their expedition from 1803 to 1806 was the first trip made to the Pacific Ocean and back, over land.

In the map of their western expedition was provided the first truly accurate description of the Columbia and Missouri river sources, and the Rocky Mountains. In 1803, the signing of the Louisiana Purchase generated a great interest in expanding the country toward the west coast. The United States wasn't sure what it was purchasing, and even France admitted that they weren't sure exactly how much land they were selling. Shortly after the purchase, Thomas Jefferson, then President, asked Congress for 00 to fund an expedition westward.

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Jefferson had learned of France's plans to explore the Pacific Northwest, and he dearly wanted to reach the west coast of America first. There were several influential groups in the European world who wanted to stake claim to the western areas. The American northwest expedition was sent to study the tribes of Indians there, and to learn of the geology and the botany of the area. They also wanted to study the possible interference by French Canadian and British trappers who had already established settlements in the area.

President Jefferson selected half of what would be one of the more famous duos in exploration to lead his mission westward. Captain Meriwether Lewis then brought aboard William Clark. Their mission, as penned by Jefferson, was to explore the Missouri river and its tributaries, along and to the Pacific Ocean. Clark was actually only a Second Lieutenant at the time, due to paper snafus, but Lewis always referred to him as "Captain".

Lewis and Clark left Pittsburgh with soldiers and other young men, who were chosen to join them on this most important expedition. Lewis actually declared that the mouth of the river DuBois was the beginning of the expedition, but they had already spent two and a half months descending the Ohio River, so that can be considered the actual departure point for the expedition.

In late summer of 1804, the expedition (called the "Corps of Discovery" by Thomas Jefferson) suffered its only death. Sergeant Charles Floyd died that day, from what they assume to be acute appendicitis. He was buried near present-day Sioux City, Iowa. In the last week of August, Lewis and Clark also arrived at the edge of the Great Plains, which abounded with beavers, bison, deer and elk. This was also the land of the Sioux Indian. They would reach the Great Ocean within months.

Facts About Lewis and Clark

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