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The Adventure Begins
After the Louisiana Purchase, President Jefferson decided to explore the land the country had just aquired and chose for this mission Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Therefore, around January 1803, the president requested permission from the Congress to fund the expedition. Finally, around August 31, 1803, the Corps of Discovery departed Pittsburgh on a kio boat along with 42 men. -
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Lewis and Clark Journey
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A sad day
In the month of August, after many days of being sick, an explorer named Charles Floyd, died from what is seemed to be appendictis. This map shows where he was buried calling it Floyd's Bluff. -
The Soux tribe
As Lewis and Clark went up North, near the present border of of South Dakota, they were introduced to the Sioux tribe. They met with the Yanktons tribe and had a peaceful confrontation and trade. Clark and Lewis gave them medals and invited them to meet the President. -
Fort Mandan
During the month of October, Lewis and Clark set camp and built a Fort for the winter near the tribes of Hidatsa and Mandan. Both of these tribes were peaceful and this is where Sacagawea was hired as an interpreter who was 14 years old and pregnant. While the winter lasted, the men prepared for their expedition. -
A new member
The newly hired interpreter, Sacagawea,the wife of the french explorer and trader, Toussaint Charbonneau,gave birth to a boy named Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. She then waited in this Fort with her baby until the expedition continued in the spring. -
The Reunion with Shoshone
Shoshone indians were not afraid of white men because they had a history of trading with the spanis. Later Lewis and Clark were able to go to the indian camp and they called Camp Fortunate. After arriving and being introduced to the Shoshone tribe , Lewis and Clark realized something unexpected. The chief of the tribe was the brother of Sacagawea. -
A very important trade
The Shoshone people provided a guide and traded horses that were very much neede for the Rocky Mountains crossing. Lewis and Clak had experienced what is was like to carry all the provisions and realized that horses were crusial to succeed. -
New Food
This plant was used by the Shonone tribe very commonly. Although useful and nutritious, this food was new to the Lewis and Clark men and because they were not used to it made them ill. -
The Starvation
After leaving the Montana and Idaho border area, Lewis and Clark went into the Bitteroot ranges in the Rocky Mountains. There they encountered steep hills and mountains. This made the expedition take longer and they were running out of food. The situation turned so bad, they had to eat some of the horses they brought along. -
Weippe ID
After crossing the rockies this is where Lewis and Clark encountered the Nez Perce people. Here is where the corps obtaned food, horses, supplies and finally began their to the Pacific via the Clearwater river. -
After the feast
The Nez Perce tribe provided very generously Camaroots, berries, dried salmon and buffalo meat but some reason the men became very ill. Some of the tribe members helped with the canoe making until the explores got better -
Much needed help
After surviving the Bittertoot Mountains, the corps finally reached the Nez Perce tribe. They happily help Lewis and Clark to find logs to build canoes to continue their expedition and provided food for their men. -
Fort Clatsop
On December, Lewis and Clark finally reach the Pacific Ocean. With this found, they begin a vote for which place to camp that would involve a black and female person. When they did decide where to camp which was Fort Clatsop, they began to construct the camp and prepare for their journey back home. This camp was going to rain most of the days giving a sad impression, making Lewis' and Clarks group feel homesick -
The Blackfeet tribe
During the month, July Lewis and Clark seperated for their journey back home. They wanted to cover as much land as possible. When Lewis and some few members of the group were introduced to Blackfeet tribe, they were saddened from the need to shoot a few warriors because they stole horses and objects and ignored Lewis' advice to back down the next morning.
