Research Database
Explore treaties, primary documents, historical artwork, weapons, key figures, and immersive 360° trail panoramas from the Corps of Discovery expedition.
The Lewis and Clark Research Database brings the national scope of the Lewis and Clark Story and Expedition into full view, a nexus of history and geography.
Through the compilation of print and digital resources, the first United States military exploration of the American West is presented in chronological order. Planning, equipping, escorting Sovereign Nation Tribal Chiefs, reporting to President Jefferson, and the Lewis and Clark Journal printing are all in the fabric of the Lewis and Clark Story. The referenced sources explain how the labors of the men and women of the Expedition are still guide posts for all people and ages.
The theoretical Northwest Passage and foreign financial rivalry was never far from Thomas Jefferson's mind. The first successful military exploration of the West by Lewis and Clark is clearly founded in planning, preparation, and recruitment of people with the "right stuff." The exploration included recording the findings and experiences as outlined in President Jefferson's Instructions to Meriwether Lewis.
This research database is the product of a sustained collaboration between historians, the National Park Service, dedicated interns, and professional researchers. Together, we have worked to compile, digitize, and cross-reference thousands of primary sources — journal entries, treaties, maps, artwork, and more — into a single searchable archive, making this unparalleled chapter of American history accessible to researchers, educators, and the public.
No human has ever read every journal in cross-reference.
An AI just did.
For every date with two or more expedition narrators writing, this database produces a side-by-side analysis comparing what each preserved. Every claim cites a specific journal entry. Every analysis is reviewed before publication. The result is a research layer no single-narrator reading can produce.
The Silence of Meriwether Lewis: What Clark and the Sergeants Preserved, August 1805–January 1806
For roughly 135 days spanning the Bitterroot crossing, the descent of the Columbia, and the founding of Fort Clatsop, Meriwether Lewis put down his pen. The…
Diet Across the Expedition: A Seasonal Analysis
From the bison-rich winter at Fort Mandan to the salmon and wapato of the Pacific coast, the Corps of Discovery's diet shifted dramatically with season, geography,…
Sacagawea: The Shoshone Interpreter of the Corps of Discovery
From her recruitment at Fort Mandan in November 1804 to her family's farewell at the Mandan villages in August 1806, Sacagawea — the young Shoshone wife…
Cameahwait: The Shoshone Chief Who Saved the Expedition
Brother to Sacagawea and chief of the Lemhi Shoshone, Cameahwait provided the horses and guidance without which the Corps of Discovery could not have crossed the…
The Black Cat Visits, and a Bastion Rises: Three Pens on December 4, 1804
On a raw, cloudy December day at Fort Mandan, Clark and Ordway record the visit of the Mandan chief Black Cat while construction continues. Gass, working…
Two Routes to the Pacific: Splitting the Party at Cape Disappointment
On November 18, 1805, members of the Corps of Discovery split into parties to glimpse the Pacific. Gass and Ordway record the same expedition from opposite…
Salutes at Bellefontaine: Two Views of the Expedition’s Return to Settled Country
As the Corps of Discovery neared St. Louis, John Ordway and William Clark recorded their arrival at the new Cantonment Bellefontaine. Their entries reveal how rank…
Sailing on Dry Land: A Day of Bears, Bark, and Borrowed Wind
While the portage party hauled canoes across the plains under sail-rigged trucks, Joseph Fields narrowly escaped a third bear. Five narrators preserve overlapping but distinctly weighted…
Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail
Explore 4,300 miles across 16 states with interactive 360° panoramic views of the historic route.
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A Digital Archive for the Corps of Discovery
The Lewis and Clark Research Database is a comprehensive digital archive preserving the historical legacy of the Corps of Discovery expedition. Our collection includes original treaties, translations, scholarly research, primary documents, period artwork, and expedition weapons — all searchable and cross-referenced for researchers, educators, and students.
Integrated with Terrain360's immersive trail mapping technology, this database connects historical events to the physical landscape through over 1 million panoramic images spanning 4,300 miles of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail across 16 states.
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