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Spring 1803
Meriwether Lewis picked as commander of expedition. Writes to ask William Clark to join him and share command. Clark accepts. -
Announcement of Louisiana Purchase.
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Summer 1803
Large keelboat constructed in Pittsburgh, overseen by Lewis. After its construction Lewis took it down the Ohio River and picked up Clark and the recruits along the way. -
Expedition sets of from St. Louis
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Expedition's first 4th of July west of the Mississippi
Expedition marks first 4th of July west of the Mississippi by firing the keelboat's cannon, and naming Independence Creek. -
Corps of Discovery meet with representatives of the Oto and Missouri Indians.
They exchange peace medals fifteen star flags and other gifts. -
The first and only death on the expadition.
Sgt. Charles Floyd dies of a probable burst appendix. Captains name hill where he is buried Floyd's Bluff and a nearby stream, Floyd's River. -
Construction of Fort Mandan
Expedition discovers earthlodge villages of the Mandan and Hidatsas Indians. The captains decide to build Fort Mandan across the river from the main village. -
Period: to
Time at Fort Mandan
Fort Mandan was completed on December 24, 1804 and the expadition moves in for the winter. Then Toussaint Charbonneau, a French Canadian traper and interpreter is hired on to the expadition along with his "wife" Sacagawea. (A Shoshone who had been captured by the Hidatsas and sold to Charbonneau.) On Febuary 11, 1805 Sacagawea's baby is born. -
The expadition comes to a fork.
Lewis and Clark believe the south fork is the Missouri, while all of the other men believe it is the north fork. Eventhough the men are not convinced the captains decide that the south fork is the Missouri. -
The expadition comes to three forks in the Missouri River.
The expedition reaches the three forks of the Missouri River, and name them the Gallatin, the Madison, and the Jefferson. -
Village of the Shoshones.
Lewis finds a village of Shoshones and tries to negotiate for horses. Clark and the rest of the expedition arrives as well, and it is discovered that the Shoshone chief Cameahwait is Sacagawea's brother. Lewis and Clark name the site Camp Fortunate. -
The expedition sets out with a Shoshone guide called Old Toby, along with 29 horses and a mule.
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The expedition prepares to cross the Rocky Mts.
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Emergeing from the mountains.
After nearly starving in the mountains the expedition emerges in Idaho. -
The expedition reaches the Columbia River.
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Clark spots the ocean.
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Period: to
The expadition reaches the Bitterroot Mts.
The expadition has to wait to cross the mountans untill the smow melts. -
The expadition returns to Fort Mandan.
Charbonneau, Sacagawea, and Pomp bid farwell to the expadition. -
The expadition comes to an end.
