Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806)

Variant names
Dates:
Active 1804
Active 1806

History notes:

After elected president, Thomas Jefferson wanted a direct and practicable water communication across the continent and US sovereignty over the land occupied by the many different Indian tribes along the Missouri River. In 1803, Jefferson commissioned the Corps of Discovery and named Army Captain Meriwether Lewis its leader. Lewis selected William Clark as second in command.

The Corps of Discovery departed from Camp Dubois (Illinois) on May 14, 1804, and met up with Lewis in St. Charles, Missouri. During their expedition, Lewis and Clark established relations with two dozen Indian nations; some relations were good while others were not. They met French-Canadian Toussaint Charbonneau and Sacagawea, his Shoshone wife, both of whom became translators. The group reached the Pacific Ocean in November 1805. The Lewis and Clark Expedition gained an understanding of the geography of the Northwest and produced the first accurate maps of the area.

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Subjects:

  • Birds
  • Discoveries in geography
  • Voyages and travels

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