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St. Louis, Missouri
Lewis and Clark set out on their expedtion. The expedtion was called the "Corps of Discovery." They departed at 4 P.M., beginning their voyage to the Pacific Ocean. -
Sioux Tribe
Lewis and Clark entered the Sioux territory. The Teton Soiux lived in tepees and hunted buffalo. Some tribes had never seen white men before Lewis and Clark. A council was held with the Yankton Soiux. According to legend, Lewis wrapped a Soiux baby in an American flag and declared him "an American." -
Peaceful Trading with the Indians
The Corps of Discovery met with the Oto and Missouri Indians. The captains held out peace medals, 15-star flags, and gifts. They showed off their technology of magnets, compasses, telescopes, and Lewis's air gun. They promised the Indians peace and prosperity without making war. -
Sergeant Charles Floyd- Causality
Charles Floyd was a member the the Corps of Discovery. He took ill during the expedition. He was diagnosed with a ruptured appendix. He was very ill and died shortly after the expedition began. He was the only man who died on the expedition. His funeral and burial were held near the Missouri River. -
Shoshone Tribe
Lewis and Clark met met Toussaint Charbonneau, who was a French-Canadian fur trapper where they met his two wives, Sacagawea and Little Otter. Sacagawea was pregnant with her first child when she was only a teenager. She acted as a guide to Lewis and Clark and saved their journals and records. They named the Sacagawea River in her honor. -
How Snow Affected the Expedition
Snow profoundly afffected the expedtion by making the weather extremely cold. Clark noted that the temperature was 45 degrees below zero! Because of the snow, people got frostbite when out looking for food and Lewis and Clark had to stay the winter in Fort Mandan because of the weather. -
Fort Mandan
Lewis and Clark spent the winter in Fort Mandan. They met the Mandan chief, Big White. The village was made of log houses and the captains decided to build Fort Mandan across the river from the village. The construction of Fort Mandan happened during their stay. -
Illness in Fort Mandan
The winter in Fort Mandan experienced frostbite. The Indians and explorers went buffalo hunting and many of them suffered frostbite. Lewis even had to amputate an Indian boy's toes without any anesthesia! -
A Baby Boy is Born
Sacagawea gave birth to a son, named Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Lewis helped with the delivery by making a potion made out of crushed rattlesnake rattle and giving it to Sacagawea. Clark gave Jean Baptiste the nickname "Pompy." -
How Buffalo Affected the Expedition
There was a vast amount of buffalo in Montana. The explorers were astounded by the many herds of buffalo. There was at least 10,000 herds! This affected the expedtion by giving huge amounts of food to the people. On average, men ate 9 pounds of buffalo meat a day! -
How the Shoshone Indians Helped Lewis & Clark
The Shoshone Indians significantly helped Lewis and Clark on their expedition. Not only did Sacagawea act as a guide to them, Lewis and Clark also bought horses from them to navigate over the Rocky Mountains. They bought 29 horses, and also uniforms, rifles, powder, and a pistol. They also hired Old Toby, a Shoshone cheif to guide them. -
How Pine Trees Affected the Expedition
Lewis and Clark came to the Nez Perce tribe and the people there befriended them. The cheif of the Nez Perce, Twisted Hair, showed them how to use fire to hollow out pine trees into canoes. With the supply of the pine trees they were able to sail to the ocean. -
Snake River-Discovery in Idaho
Lewis and Clark discovered the Snake River below Shoshone Falls. Many Native Americans lived along the Snake River, It is interesting how the Snake River got its name. A hand sign made by the Shoshone people represented a fish was misinterpreted to represent a snake and the Snake River came to have that name. -
Fort Clatsop
The Corps of Discovery came to Fort Clatsop. They decided to spend the winter there. During their winter residence, Fort Clatsop sewed 338 pairs of moccasins (leather shoes) to keep their feet warm! -
Blackfeet Warriors
Lewis and Clark had an encounter with the Blackfeet warriors. They set up camp and camped together, but the next morning the Blackfeet warriors were trying to steal their horses and guns. A fight followed and two of the Blackfeet warriors were killed. This event was the only bloodshed that happened during the expedition.
