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Starting point: St. Louis, Missouri
The rainy weather made for a wet start to the voyage. Some of the 40 days worth of supplies were wet. The trip up the lower Missouri River finally started at 4:00 pm. with lots of people watching the group leave. They were able to travel 4 miles the first day. William Clark and the Corps of Discovery left Camp River Dubois, and were joined by Meriwether Lewis in St. Charles, Missouri, a week later. -
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Corps of Discovery Expedition
28 month long trip to discover a northwest passage via the Missouri River and the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean. They were to study the wildlife, the plants, draw maps, make friends with the Indian tribes, discover who traded what and with who. President Jefferson wanted to know as much as he could know about the newest part of their nation. -
A spot where the expedition experiences a casuality
Near modern-day Sioux City, Iowa, Sgt. Charles Floyd who was liked by many fell ill the day before and was in pain. Nothing could be done for him and he died the next day. It is believed that he died of a burst appendix. -
Experience with a Sioux Tribe
The Teton Sioux Tribe had a reputation for being quite powerful. Unhappy with the presents offered to them, they wanted a boat for payment to allow the expedition to move farther up river which they had control of. After sword and gun appeared, Black Buffalo the Sioux chief, stopped bloodshed from happening between the two groups. The expedition stayed for three more days before heading further upstream. -
Experience at Fort Mandan
To prepare for winter, the Corp began to build Fort Mandan across the river from the Mandan villages. They hunted and traded goods for food and learned about the terrain. Lewis often sketched the wildlife. They also first met Sacagawea and her husband who made good interpreters. At one point during the winter the temperature got down to 45º below zero. At this point they had travelled 1600 miles. -
A spot where a baby is born
Sacagawea, the Shoshone Indian interpreter and guide to the Lewis and Clark expedition, gives birth to her first child, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Lewis, who would often act as the expedition's doctor in the months to come, was called on for the first and only time during the journey to assist in a delivery. Lewis was anxious to insure his new Shoshone interpreter was in good shape for the journey to come, and he reported that her labor was tedious and the pain violent. -
A spot where an animal profoundly affected the expedition
The Mandan Indians’ gave a formidable description, of the grizzly bear, but Clark didn't believe it until his life was in danger. Clark faced a 600 lb grizzly bear, and it took 10 shots to kill him. They realized that without a gun, the bear had the upper hand. The entire party became intimidated by how hard it was to kill the bears. -
A spot where a member of the expedition becomes ill
Near Great Falls, Montana. Sacagawea was sick with a very high fever and near death. "Great care was taken of her, knowing, what a great loss she would be, if she died, she being our only interpreter, for the Snake Indians, who reside in those mountains lying West of us, and from whom we expect assistance, in prosecuting our voyage" -
Experience with the Shoshone Tribe
The Great Chief Cameahwait of the Shoshone nation proved to be the brother of Sacagawea and the Indians were pleasant. They were able to trade presents and medals for horses and information about the Columbia River which scared the travelers. -
A spot where the expedition experienced a peaceful trade exchange with a native tribe.
The officers laid out merchandise in different piles, in order to trade with the Salish Indians for horses. They purchased twelve horses from the Indians, for merchandise, & exchanged 7 more horses that were lame with them, & gave them the difference in Goods. They also purchased some pack saddles from them. -
An experience that occurred in present day Idaho
Facing the formidable Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho, the expedition was rescued from starvation and befriended by the Nez Perce tribe. After the expedition recuperated, they entrusted their horses to the Nez Perce and set off in cottonwood canoes for their epic journey to the Pacific Ocean. -
A spot where the expedition was significantly aided by the help of a native tribe.
The expedition gets help from the Nez Perce Tribe who taught them how to make canoes by using fire to hollow out pine trees. The trees they cut down were thought to be 4 to 5 feet in diameter. Often they would have to carry the canoes along the land until they could find water again. -
An experience at Fort Clatsop
The expedition celebrated Christmas in their new home Fort Clatsop, named for a neighboring Indian tribe. The two captains handed out handkerchiefs and the rest of their tobacco supply as presents. -
A spot where weather profoundly influences the expedition.
Near the west coast. The rain continued with tremendous gusts of violent wind. Trees falling in every direction, whorl winds, with gusts of rain. Hail and thunder, the weather lasted all day. Clark wrote "Certainly one of the worst days that ever was!" -
A spot where a plant or tree profoundly affected the expedition
Eldorado Creek, Idaho. The Nez Perce Indians set some fir trees on fire, a spectacular show which reminded Lewis of a display of fireworks. The Indians did this as a good omen for favorable weather during their journey. -
An incident where someone from the expedition killed a person from a native tribe.
Lewis told the Blackfeet Indians that he had mediated peace between warring Indian nations. This was upsetting news. He had just informed them that not only did he organize their worst enemies but that he intended to supply them with weapons. The next morning the Indians were stealing their weapons. After a chase and a struggle one of the Indians was stabbed. The Indians then tried to take the explorers' horses. This struggle also ended in the death of another Indian at the hands of Lewis.
