Lewis & Clark

The story of Lewis and Clark has fascinated Americans for nearly two centuries. The Corps of Discovery expedition consisted of approximately 48 men and took nearly two years to complete. Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the expedition, but often it is said that there was a third noble leader — Thomas Jefferson. The visionary president was fascinated with the territory west of the Mississippi River, which was not part of the United States when he took office in 1801. Like many Americans, Jefferson hoped for a Northwest Passage, a water route that would link the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean. Paying France $15 million, Jefferson completed the Louisiana Purchase, the largest land acquisition in the history of the United States. The acquisition amounted to more than 800,000 square miles of territory west of the Mississippi.

Jefferson commissioned Lewis and Clark's great expedition along the Missouri River, which he named "The Corps of Discovery." He directed them to explore the land and make scientific observations of the flora and fauna. They were told to learn from any cultures they met on their way. And, of course, they were to seek the Northwest Passage water route.

The group of four dozen men camped in present-day St. Charles, Mo., then set out on May 14, 1804. The team took one large keelboat and several smaller boats and carried a vast quantity of supplies as they made their way up the Missouri River. The journals of Lewis and Clark provide a history of their travels and take us back to the experience of seeing a land before European Americans settled it. The writings tell us of observation, wonder and effort. On their way, the expedition found beautiful vistas, miles of rolling plains and many American Indian societies. There was no Northwest Passage; instead they found the Rocky Mountains, through which they made an arduous trek. When they finally reached the Pacific Ocean in November 1805, the team had accomplished the largest part of the mission -- the exploration. But to report their findings, they needed to turn back and trace their route home. The group arrived back in St. Louis on Sept. 23, 1806. They instantly became heroes as a curious nation heard tales of their travels, and learned about the western frontier.

Resources on York