May 1804 – November 1805
Westward Journey
The Corps of Discovery departed Camp Dubois on May 14, 1804, ascending the Missouri River through present-day Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, and the Dakotas. They wintered with the Mandan and Hidatsa, then continued west across Montana, over the Rocky Mountains with Shoshone and Nez Perce guidance, and down the Columbia River to the Pacific Ocean.
2,007
Journal entries
552
Dated days
7
Narrators
541
AI cross-narrator analyses
24
Heacock river features
5
Heacock writings
Tribal Nations Encountered
10 nations · click for figure essay where availableAI Cross-Narrator Analyses
541 in this phaseDeparture from Camp Dubois: Four Voices on a Single Afternoon
Four expedition journals record the Corps of Discovery's launch up the Missouri. Comparing Whitehouse, Floyd, Ordway, and Clark reveals striking patterns of borrowing, divergent details, and the distinct registers separating enlisted men from their commanding captain.
A Heavy Stern and a Rainy Morning: The Barge in Trouble Below St. Charles
On the second day out from River Dubois, the captains and the enlisted journalists record the same nine-mile push in strikingly different registers — Lewis diagnosing a near-disaster, Clark counting goslings, and the sergeants already drifting into shared phrasing.
Court-Martial at St. Charles: Discipline on the Eve of Departure
While three enlisted men reduce the day to weather and waiting, Clark's journal and Ordway's orderly book document a court-martial that tested the expedition's discipline before it had truly begun. The contrast between brevity and bureaucratic detail reveals much about narrator roles.
Three Registers at St. Charles: Cargo, Courtship, and a Single Line
On a fine May morning at St. Charles, three expedition journalists record the same day in radically different registers — Clark's logistical precision, Whitehouse's social ease, and Floyd's terse five-word entry — revealing how each narrator understood his task.
Captain Lewis Arrives at St. Charles in the Rain
Four narrators record the same rainy Saturday at St. Charles as Captain Lewis rejoins the Corps from St. Louis. Their entries — terse, social, administrative — reveal how rank and role shaped what each man chose to write down.
Lewis Joins the Party at Petit Côte
On a rain-soaked Sunday in St. Charles, Lewis finally rejoined Clark and the Corps. The five journals diverge sharply in scope — from Floyd's curt dismissal to Lewis's leisurely travelogue of his ride from St. Louis through a thunderstorm.
Three Cheers and a Violent Rain: Departing St. Charles
Four narrators record the same afternoon departure from St. Charles, but their accounts diverge sharply in detail, register, and emphasis—revealing how rank, role, and literacy shaped what each man thought worth preserving on the expedition's true westward beginning.
A Kickapoo Promise Kept at the Mouth of a Small Creek
On the second full day above St. Charles, the expedition passes Bonhomme Creek, encamps under cliffs, and receives venison from Kickapoo hunters who had pledged days earlier to provision them. Clark alone preserves the diplomatic backstory.
The Tavern Cave and a Captain's Near-Fall: Four Voices on a Missouri Landmark
On May 23, 1804, four expedition narrators record a stop at the Tavern Cave below the Osage Womans River. Their accounts diverge sharply in detail, register, and what each chose to preserve—including a near-fatal climb by Captain Lewis.
The Retrograde Bend: Four Voices on a Near-Disaster
When the keelboat's tow rope snapped in the Missouri's violent current, four expedition journalists recorded the same crisis in radically different registers — from Floyd's terse dismissal to Clark's vivid double account of a vessel that wheeled three times before grounding.
The Last Settlement: Four Voices at the Edge of the Known World
On May 25, 1804, four expedition journalists recorded the Corps of Discovery's arrival at a small French village marking the westernmost outpost of white settlement. Their nearly identical phrasings reveal patterns of shared observation — and the threshold of the unknown.
Detachment Orders Amid the Thunder
While four narrators record only rain, a creek, and a campsite, Lewis devotes the day to a sweeping reorganization of the Corps into messes and boat crews — the administrative skeleton beneath the journey's surface.
Most Mentioned in This Phase
Aggregated from journal entries via AI entity extractionMost mentioned people
- Capt Lewis (136)
- Capt. Clark (128)
- Capt. Lewis (115)
- Drewyer (84)
- Captain Lewis (79)
- Captain Clarke (77)
- Clark (59)
- Capt Clark (59)
- R. Fields (58)
- G. Drewyer (51)
Most mentioned tribes
- Indians (119)
- Mandans (101)
- Mandan (41)
- Sioux (40)
- Snake Indians (39)
- natives (35)
- Snake nation (22)
- Mahars (19)
- Souix (18)
- Ricaras (18)
Most mentioned places
- Missouri (235)
- Missourie (69)
- Fort Mandan (60)
- the falls (47)
- the River (41)
- the fort (36)
- S. S. (30)
- the river (28)
- island (28)
- Rocky Mountains (27)
Heacock Writings
5 writings in this date rangeMay 16, 1804
The boats set out early, pass the coal beds of Charbonier Bluff, and reach St. Charles, an early French settlement on the Missouri River. Many citizens come out to see the event and socialization commences.
October 21, 1805
Moving down the Columbia above present John Day Dam, the paddlers navigate several rapids while the non-swimmers walk around them. Pvt. Collins shares his camas-brewed beer, and Mt. Hood is in view.
October 29, 1805
Moving 35 miles down the Columbia, the expedition encounters many Sahaptin and Upper Chinook villages. They pass an island with numerous graves—Memaloose—and camp above the Little White Salmon River.
November 3, 1805
Moving down the Columbia River above present Portland, Oregon, Clark is unable to cross a river full of quicksand—today’s Sandy River. They continue to a large island full of ponds and waterfowl.
November 7, 1805
The expedition paddles around Columbia River islands and stops at two Wahkiakum villages. They reach a landmark presently named Pillar Rock where Clark mistakenly exclaims ‘Ocean in view! O! the joy’.
Heacock River Features
24 features in this date rangeRV park
Silcott- Alpowa Creek
Almota Cr. - grain elevator
River Mile 64.0
Cow Bar Canyon-red #14 / Sacajawea famous words
Island / Burr Canyon
Rd 76 -Carpet Island / Edison Street
Lewis view Mt Hood 142 m / Yellepit Pond descent
Long Walk Island
Alder Creek
Wood Gulch- N. Roosevelt
Preachers Eddy / Beer Camp
Wishram
Power Lines / Power Lines
Horsethief Lake
Rock Fort
Taylor Lake
Little W. Salmon Ri- Drano Lake
Dougs Beach-Friendly Village
Home Valley
Island Camp
Upper RR land. both sides / Ashes Lake-upper portage
Crown Point- Vista House
West Sandy River / Camas - CRGNSA Boundary
2007
Journal Entries
45
Key Figures
28
Wildlife & Plants
30
Artwork
26
Weapons & Equipment
5
Treaties
13
Documents
1
Research Articles
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Journal Entries
2007 itemsSetting Out from Camp River Dubois
I Set out at 4 oClock P.M. in the presence of many of the neighbouring inhabitents, and proceeded on under a jentle brease up the Missourie. Rained the greater part of the night. We made the mouth of Cold water Creek, about a mile below the first Island. The Course of this day nearly West, and we proceeded 4 Miles.
Sgt. Ordway Describes the Departure from Camp Dubois
Showery day. Capt. Clark Set out at 4 oClock P.M. for the western expedition. One Gun fired. Under a gentle breeze we went up the Missouri River. Several people from the country Saw us Start.
Charles Floyd: May 14, 1804
Showery day Capt Clark Set out at 3 oclock P m for the western expidition the party consisted of 3 Serguntes and 38 working hands which maned the Batteow and…
Joseph Whitehouse: May 14, 1804
hard Showers of rain. this being the day appointed by Cap! Clark to set out, a number of the sitizens of Gotian Settlement came to see us Start. we got…
Clark: May 15, 1804
Tuesday 15rained all last night and this morning untill 7 oClock, all our fire extinguished, Some Provisions on the top of the Perogus wet, I sent two men to the…
Lewis: May 15, 1804
Tuesday May 15th It rained during the greater part of last night and continued untill 7 OCk. A.M. after which the Prarty proceeded, passed two Islands and incamped on the…
Camp River Dubois, Illinois — Charles Floyd: May 15, 1804
Rainey morni[n]g fair wind the Later part of the day Sailed som and encamped on the N. side some Land Cleared the Soil verry Rich. Sal ewensday may 16″ 1804…
Camp River Dubois, Illinois — Joseph Whitehouse: May 15, 1804
hard rain. we set out eairly. the current Swift, & water muddy. passed Islands & Some inhabitants &c. the aftir part of the day proved pleasant. we Camped on the…
Camp River Dubois, Illinois — John Ordway: May 15, 1804
of the day. Sailed Some, encamped on N. Side Some land cleared, the Soil verry Rich, &c. Wensday May 16th 1804. Set out eairly, this morning pleasant, arrived at S*…
Clark: May 16, 1804
Wednesday May 16th A fair morning, Set out at 5 oClock passed the Coal hill (Call by the natives Carbonear) this hill appears to Contain great quantytes of Coal, and…
Clark: May 17, 1804
Thursday the 17th 1804 a fine Day 3 men Confined for misconduct, I had a Court martial & punishment Several Indians, who informed me that the Saukees had lately Crossed…
St. Charles, Missouri — Joseph Whitehouse: May 17, 1804
a pleasant morning. we are waiting here the arival of Cap! Lewis, the evening rainy.
St. Charles, Missouri — John Ordway: May 17, 1804
occured worthy of notice this day
St. Charles, Missouri — Charles Floyd: May 17, 1804
a fair day but Rainey Night
Clark: May 18, 1804
Friday May the 18th 1804 a fine morning took equal altitude and made it 97° 42′ 37″ M. A I had the Boat & Pierogue reloded So as to Cause…
St. Charles, Missouri — Joseph Whitehouse: May 18, 1804
a fair morning. we bought some acceseries &c. for the voiage. passed the evening verry agreeable dancing with the french ladies, &c.
St. Charles, Missouri — Charles Floyd: May 18, 1804
we Lay at S’ Charles
Clark: May 19, 1804
Satturday May the 19th 1804 a Violent Wind last night from the W. S W, Suckceeded by rain with lasted Som hours, a Cloudy Morning, many persons Came to the…
St. Charles, Missouri — Joseph Whitehouse: May 19, 1804
a rainy wet morning. Cap! Lewis and Some of the officers from S! Louis arived here this afternoon. we made ready for a Start &c.
St. Charles, Missouri — John Ordway: May 19, 1804
Cap* Stoddard1 & Sergts Worrell2 came with him
St. Charles, Missouri — Charles Floyd: May 19, 1804
a Rainey day Capt Lewis Joined us
Clark: May 20, 1804
Sunday 20th May a Cloudy morning rained and a hard wind last night I continue to write Rolls, Send 20 men to Church to day one man Sick Capt Lewis…
Lewis: May 20, 1804
Sunday May 20th 1804 The morning was fair, and the weather pleasent; at 10 oCk A M. agreably to an appointment of the preceeding day, I was joined by Capt.…
St. Charles, Missouri — Joseph Whitehouse: May 20, 1804
Several of the party went to church, which the french call Mass, and Sore [saw] their way of performing &c.
St. Charles, Missouri — John Ordway: May 20, 1804
to the Mass, & saw them perform &C.
St. Charles, Missouri — Charles Floyd: May 20, 1804
nothing worth Relating to day
Clark: May 21, 1804
Monday 21st May Dine with Mr. Ducete & Set out from St. Charles at three oClock after getting every matter arranged, proceeded on under a jentle Breese, at one mile…
St. Charles, Missouri — Charles Floyd: May 21, 1804
Left S’ Charles at 4 oclk. P m Showerey encamped on the N Side of the River
St. Charles, Missouri — Joseph Whitehouse: May 21, 1804
Some rainy. we took on board Some more provision bread &c. about 4 oclock P. M. we Set out from this place. fired our bow peace and gave three cheers,…
St. Charles, Missouri — John Ordway: May 21, 1804
Showery, the men all in high Spirits. George Drewyer & Willard3 Stayed on business Encamped on the N. Side of the River
Clark: May 22, 1804
Tuesday May 22nd delayed a Short time for the three french men who returned and we Set out at 6 oClock a Cloudy morning rained Violently hard last night Saw…
Missouri River near Tavern Cave — Charles Floyd: May 22, 1804
Set out after a verry hard Rain and passed Bonnon [Bon- homme] Creek on the South Side of the River came 15 miles encamped on the N. side of the…
Missouri River near Tavern Cave — Joseph Whitehouse: May 22, 1804
a fair morning. we Set out eairly proceeded on verry well passed canon Creek on the Star‘ Side. Several Indians came to us this evening. Gave us some venison.
Missouri River near Tavern Cave — John Ordway: May 22, 1804
Side of the River, came 15 miles encamped on N. Side of the River, at clifts Some Indians came to us &C. Wendsday May the 23d 1804. we Set out…
Missouri River near Tavern Cave — Patrick Gass: May 22, 1804
creek on the south side, and having made fifteen miles, en- camped at the Cliffs on the north side of the river. Here we were visited by some Indians.
Clark: May 23, 1804
Wednesday May 23rd 8 Indians Kick. Came to Camp with meat we recved their pesents of 3 Deer & gave them Whisky. Set out early run on a log under…
Key Figures
45 itemsAlexander Willard
Served as one of the expedition's blacksmiths alongside John Shields. He was court-martialed and sentenced to 100 lashes for sleeping while on sentinel duty — a capital offense. He was the second-to-last surviving member of the expedition, dying in California at age 86.
Arcawecharchi (The Half Man)
A Yankton Sioux chief who spoke with dignity at the August 1804 council, declaring "I am a man and a chief of some note." His eloquent speech impressed the captains.
Arikara
A Caddoan-speaking agricultural people along the Missouri River in present-day South Dakota. The expedition held councils with Arikara chiefs in October 1804. The Arikara were notable for refusing alcohol, saying it "made people into fools."
Baptiste Deschamps
Served as the "patron" (boss/skipper) of the French pirogue crew. He oversaw the group of French-Canadian boatmen hired to navigate the Missouri River from St. Louis to Fort Mandan.
Buffalo Medicine
A Brule Teton Sioux chief present at the council on September 25, 1804 alongside Black Buffalo and the Partisan.
Cameahwait
Chief of a Lemhi Shoshone band and Sacagawea's brother, whose emotional reunion with his sister was one of the expedition's most dramatic moments. He ultimately traded several dozen horses to the expedition for their mountain crossing. Killed in a battle with the Blackfeet in 1812.
Flathead Salish
An Interior Salish people of western Montana. The expedition were the first whites to encounter the Salish in person at Ross's Hole in September 1805. The Salish provided horses, food, and directions despite having no common language.
Francois Labiche
An experienced boatman and Indian trader who spoke English, French, and several Native American languages. Labiche served as one of the expedition's key translators and was assigned alongside Pierre Cruzatte to man the bow of the keelboat.
George Drouillard
Son of a French-Canadian father and Shawnee mother, Drouillard was the expedition's premier hunter and sign language interpreter. He was the highest paid member after the captains, and the only man Clark referred to by first name in the journals. Killed by Blackfeet warriors while trapping near Three Forks, Montana in 1810.
George Gibson
Born in Pennsylvania and recruited in Kentucky, Gibson was a skilled hunter and fiddle player who entertained the Corps alongside Pierre Cruzatte. He served as an interpreter using sign language and was one of Clark's most trusted men.
George Shannon
The youngest enlisted member of the Corps, Shannon famously got lost twice during the expedition, once for 16 days surviving on grapes and one rabbit. After the expedition, he studied law, assisted Nicholas Biddle in compiling the official expedition history, and served in the Kentucky and Missouri legislatures.
Hidatsa
Close neighbors of the Mandan living at the Knife River villages. The Hidatsa were the tribe from whom Sacagawea had been captured as a girl. The expedition had complex diplomatic dealings with Hidatsa chiefs, particularly the powerful Le Borgne.
Hugh Hall
Born in Massachusetts and recruited from the 2nd Infantry Regiment. Court-martialed alongside John Collins for being drunk on duty, receiving 50 lashes. Despite this early trouble, he completed the entire expedition.
Hugh McNeal
Accompanied Lewis on the first crossing of the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass in August 1805, where he reportedly straddled a small stream and declared that he had "lived to bestride the mighty Missouri."
Jean Baptiste Lepage
A French-Canadian trapper who had lived among the Mandan and explored the Black Hills. Hired at Fort Mandan on November 2, 1804 to replace the expelled John Newman. At 43, the oldest member of the permanent party.
John Collins
Born in Maryland, Collins was a reliable hunter ranked in the top five of the Corps. He was court-martialed and received 100 lashes for tapping the expedition's whiskey barrel. Believed killed by Arikara warriors in 1823 during the Ashley-Henry fur trading expedition.
John Colter
Considered one of the Corps' best hunters and scouts, Colter was discharged early on the return journey to join fur trappers. He became the first person of European descent to enter the Yellowstone region and is widely regarded as America's first mountain man. He famously escaped a Blackfeet ambush by outrunning his pursuers naked and barefoot.
John Potts
Born in Germany and formerly a miller. After the expedition, he returned to the upper Missouri as a fur trapper. He was killed by Blackfeet warriors near Three Forks while trapping with John Colter, who narrowly escaped the same ambush.
John Thompson
Clark praised him as "a valuable member of our party." He served the entire journey without significant incident and was among the most quietly dependable members of the Corps.
Kakawissassa (Crow at Rest)
Leading civil chief of the first Arikara village. Among the Arikara chiefs who patiently explained they did not want any alcohol because "it turned people into fools."
Le Borgne (One Eye)
The powerful principal chief of the Hidatsa-proper who initially scoffed that his warriors could handle Lewis and Clark's soldiers like "so many wolves." He generally favored British traders over Americans.
Lemhi Shoshone
A band of Eastern Shoshone led by Cameahwait (Sacagawea's brother) near the Lemhi Pass on the Continental Divide. Their trade of horses was absolutely essential to the expedition's ability to cross the Rocky Mountains in August 1805.
Mandan
Sedentary agricultural people living in earth lodge villages along the Missouri River in present-day North Dakota. The expedition built Fort Mandan near their villages and spent the winter of 1804-05 among them. The Mandan provided food, shelter, and critical geographic information, and it was here that Charbonneau and Sacagawea joined the expedition.
Nathaniel Hale Pryor
A cousin of Sergeant Charles Floyd, Pryor led the First Squad of six privates during the expedition. Lewis praised him as one of the most capable men on the journey. After the expedition, he served in the War of 1812, became a fur trader, and eventually settled among the Osage Nation.
Nez Perce
The Nez Perce people of present-day Idaho saved the expedition from starvation when the Corps descended from the Bitterroots in September 1805, feeding them roots and dried fish. They helped build canoes, watched the expedition's horses, and provided guides.
Old Toby
A Lemhi Shoshone guide hired in August 1805 to lead the expedition over the treacherous Bitterroot Mountains via the Lolo Trail. His knowledge of mountain passes was critical to the Corps' survival during the most difficult overland portion of the journey. He departed without collecting his pay after guiding them to the Nez Perce.
Omaha
A Siouan-speaking people of the eastern Great Plains in present-day Nebraska. They had been devastated by smallpox and warfare with the Teton Sioux. Pierre Cruzatte was half Omaha.
Otoe-Missouria
Two allied tribes that held the expedition's first formal council with Native Americans on August 3, 1804, at "Council Bluff" near present-day Fort Calhoun, Nebraska.
Peter Weiser
Served reliably throughout the expedition. Afterward worked for fur trader Manuel Lisa, returning to Montana in 1807. He traveled alone through western Idaho during winter 1807-1808; the Weiser River in Idaho now bears his name.
Pierre Cruzatte
Half French and half Omaha, Cruzatte was recruited for his expert skills as a Missouri River boatman and his fiddle playing, which provided entertainment and facilitated diplomacy with Native peoples. Blind in one eye and nearsighted in the other, he accidentally shot Meriwether Lewis while hunting elk in August 1806.
Pierre Dorion Sr.
A French-Canadian who had lived among the Yankton Sioux for over twenty years. Lewis and Clark hired him as their Sioux language interpreter. He facilitated the critical diplomatic councils with the Yankton Sioux and later escorted a Yankton delegation to meet President Jefferson.
Reubin Field
One of the "Nine Young Men from Kentucky," Reubin was among the Corps' finest hunters. During the encounter with the Blackfeet on July 27, 1806, he fatally stabbed a warrior through the heart while defending the expedition's weapons and horses.
Richard Windsor
Best remembered for a harrowing incident on June 7, 1805, when he nearly fell from a 300-foot cliff along the Missouri River. Lewis, who was on the same narrow trail, talked him through the crisis. A reliable hunter throughout the expedition.
Robert Frazer
Joined the permanent party on October 8, 1804 after Moses Reed's expulsion. He kept a journal and created a map of the expedition route that, while crude, provided an early cartographic record. His journal manuscript was lost.
Seaman
A large Newfoundland dog purchased by Lewis in Pittsburgh for $20. Seaman accompanied the expedition for its entire duration, serving as a hunter, guard against grizzly bears and buffalo, and valued companion. The only animal to complete the entire trip.
Shoshone
Sacagawea's people. The Lemhi Shoshone's trade of horses was absolutely essential to the expedition's survival and ability to cross the Rocky Mountains in August 1805.
Wildlife & Plants
28 itemsAmerican Badger
Lewis and Clark described the badger as "an animal of the Civit genus" inhabiting the open plains of both the Columbia and Missouri River regions.
American Bison
While the American bison was already known to science, Lewis and Clark documented the vast herds of the Great Plains in unprecedented detail. The first signs were noted near Boonville, Missouri, on June 6, 1804,...
American Crow
Listed among the "Birds most Common" by Clark, the American crow was a familiar presence in woodlands and river bottoms along the route.
American White Pelican
On August 8, 1804, the expedition encountered a flock of several hundred white pelicans on a sandbar about two miles north of the mouth of the Little Sioux River. Lewis shot one and conducted meticulous...
Bald Eagle
Bald eagles were frequently sighted fishing along the Missouri and Columbia Rivers throughout the expedition journey.
Black-billed Magpie
The black-billed magpie was first encountered on September 17, 1804, near the mouth of the White River in South Dakota. The expedition captured four magpies, and one survived the long journey from Fort Mandan to...
Black-tailed Prairie Dog
The prairie dog was among the most celebrated discoveries of the expedition. Clark described a "Village of Small animals" on September 7, 1804, in present-day Boyd County, Nebraska. The men spent hours trying to dig...
Bullsnake
Lewis and Clark killed and described a bullsnake on August 5, 1804, on the bank of the Missouri River in present-day Harrison County, Iowa. Lewis noted it had no poison teeth and described its characteristic...
Canada Goose
Canada geese were a constant presence along the rivers, providing food for the Corps especially when the birds were flightless during molting season.
Channel Catfish
On July 24, 1804, near present-day Bellevue, Nebraska, Private Goodrich caught a channel catfish. Clark described it as having "eyes Small & tale much like that of a Dolfin." The channel catfish was commonly encountered...
Common Poorwill
The common poorwill was among the Great Plains birds described for the first time by Lewis and Clark. This nocturnal bird, related to the eastern whippoorwill, is remarkable as the only bird known to enter...
Common Raven
Ravens were a common sight in the western territories, frequently listed alongside hawks and crows in Lewis's daily bird observations.
Coyote
Lewis and Clark provided the first detailed descriptions of the coyote for Western science, calling it a "prairie wolf" or "small wolf." Clark first mentioned the animal on August 12, 1804, noting a smaller wolf...
Gray Wolf
The gray wolf followed bison herds across the Great Plains and was a constant presence throughout the expedition, heard howling at camps nearly every night.
Greater Short-horned Lizard
Lewis and Clark encountered the short-horned lizard (which they called "horned toad" or "horned lizard") in present-day Missouri as early as May 1804. One specimen was collected and sent back to President Jefferson with other...
Long-tailed Weasel
Lewis identified the weasel as the "genuine ermine" prized in the fur trade, and its white winter pelts decorated Shoshone garments.
Mallard Duck
Ducks were among the most frequently mentioned waterfowl, observed on virtually every river, lake, and wetland along the route.
Mosquito
No creature tormented the expedition more - Seaman howled from bites along the upper Missouri, and Clark called them the worst he had ever seen.
Mountain Lion
Lewis noted the "Panther" was found throughout the western territories, and its skins were prized by Native peoples for war garments.
Mule Deer
Lewis and Clark were the first to recognize the mule deer as distinct from the white-tailed deer they knew from the East. The species was first mentioned on September 5, 1804, near the Niobrara River,...
North American Porcupine
Porcupines were encountered in the northern forests, and their quills were prized by Native tribes for decorating garments and ceremonial items.
Prairie Sagebrush
Lewis and Clark collected prairie sagebrush specimens as early as September 2, 1804, near Springfield, South Dakota. The sagebrush-covered plains became one of the defining landscapes of the western expedition. Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) and...
Pronghorn
Lewis and Clark provided the first scientific description of the pronghorn, which they variously called an "antelope," "wild goat," or "speed goat." Clark killed the first specimen on September 14, 1804, and Lewis recorded detailed...
Red-tailed Hawk
Hawks were among the most frequently noted raptors, observed soaring over the Great Plains and river valleys throughout the journey.
Sandhill Crane
Sandhill cranes were observed in grasslands and river valleys, their distinctive calls echoing across the Great Plains and mountain meadows.
White-tailed Jackrabbit
Lewis and Clark encountered the white-tailed jackrabbit in September 1804 in present-day South Dakota, providing the first scientific description. They noted its enormous ears and powerful hind legs, comparing it to the eastern cottontail rabbit...
Wild Bergamot
Lewis and Clark documented wild bergamot along the Missouri River corridor during the early stages of the expedition in 1804. This aromatic member of the mint family was already known to eastern botanists but was...
Wild Turkey
Wild turkeys were found in the forested river bottoms, their appearance on the return journey signaling the Corps' approach to settled country.
Artwork
30 itemsBird's-Eye View of the Mandan Village
Catlin's painting shows a fortified Mandan village on the upper Missouri River viewed from an elevated, slightly oblique angle that flattens the settlement into a readable pattern. Earthen lodges, dome-shaped and packed closely together, fill…
Buffalo Chase, Mouth of the Yellowstone
George Catlin's Buffalo Chase, Mouth of the Yellowstone depicts a group of mounted Plains hunters pursuing bison across open prairie near the confluence of the Yellowstone and Missouri Rivers. The composition centers on a hunter…
Bull Dance, Mandan O-kee-pa Ceremony
Catlin's painting depicts the central public day of the Mandan O-kee-pa, the four-day ceremony held annually in the earth-lodge villages on the upper Missouri. In the foreground, eight male dancers move in a circle around…
Captain William Clark Meeting Indians of the Northwest
Russell's painting shows Captain William Clark in a moment of formal encounter with a group of Northwest Indians, likely Chinookan or Salish peoples encountered during the expedition's passage through the Columbia River drainage in late…
Cliffs of the Upper Colorado River, Wyoming Territory
Moran's canvas shows a stretch of eroded sandstone cliffs rising above a curve of the Colorado River in what was then Wyoming Territory. The composition places the river in the middle ground, leading the eye…
Floyd's Grave
Catlin's painting shows a conical earthen mound topped by a wooden marker on a high bluff above the Missouri River. The composition is dominated by the sweeping curve of the river below and the expanse…
Fort Clark on the Missouri
Bodmer's view of Fort Clark looks across a wide, snow-flecked bottomland on the upper Missouri River toward the small American Fur Company post, which sits on a low bluff above the water. The fort itself—a…
Fort Union, Mouth of the Yellowstone River
Catlin's view shows the American Fur Company's Fort Union, completed in 1828 at the confluence of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers in what is now western North Dakota. The painting presents the post from a…
Indians Discovering Lewis and Clark
Russell's painting presents the encounter from the Native perspective, a compositional choice that distinguishes it from most expedition imagery of its era. Mounted Plains Indian scouts occupy the foreground on a rise of open prairie,…
Junction of the Yellowstone River with the Missouri
Bodmer's aquatint shows the broad flat confluence where the Yellowstone River empties into the Missouri in what is now western North Dakota, near the Montana border. The composition is dominated by sky and water, with…
Landscape with Buffalo on the Upper Missouri
Bodmer's watercolor depicts a stretch of the Upper Missouri River with a small herd of bison in the middle distance, set against the eroded bluffs and sediment terraces characteristic of the river's course through present-day…
Lewis and Clark at Three Forks
Paxson's mural shows the Corps of Discovery at the headwaters of the Missouri River in present-day southwestern Montana, where the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers converge. The composition centers on Meriwether Lewis and William Clark…
Lewis and Clark Meeting the Flatheads at Ross' Hole
Russell's mural shows the encounter between the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Salish (then commonly called Flathead) people on September 4–5, 1805, in the Bitterroot Valley of present-day Montana, at a spot the captains…
Lewis and Clark Reach Shoshone Camp
Russell's oil depicts the moment in mid-August 1805 when the Corps of Discovery met the Lemhi Shoshone near the Continental Divide in present-day Idaho. The composition is built around the encounter on horseback: Shoshone riders,…
Lewis and Clark with Sacajawea at the Great Falls
Seltzer's small oil shows the Corps of Discovery at the Great Falls of the Missouri, with Lewis and Clark in the foreground accompanied by Sacagawea and a portion of the party. The composition uses the…
Mah-to-toh-pa, Four Bears, Second Chief in Full Dress
Catlin's three-quarter-length portrait shows Mah-to-toh-pa (Four Bears), second chief of the Mandan, in formal regalia. The subject faces the viewer directly, painted against a plain, atmospheric ground that throws the figure forward. He wears a…
Mato-Tope, A Mandan Chief
Bodmer's portrait shows Mato-Tope (Four Bears), second chief of the Mandan, in full regalia. The figure stands in three-quarter view, his face painted with vertical stripes and a yellow hand mark across the mouth signifying…
Meriwether Lewis
Charles Willson Peale's portrait shows Meriwether Lewis from the chest up, turned slightly to the viewer's right against a plain dark background. Lewis wears civilian dress: a dark coat over a high-collared white shirt and…
Meriwether Lewis (Profile Portrait)
This small engraving by Charles Balthazar Julien Févret de Saint-Mémin presents Meriwether Lewis in strict left profile, a format the artist used for nearly all his American sitters. Lewis appears bust-length against a plain ground,…
Mih-Tutta-Hangkusch, A Mandan Village
Bodmer's view of Mih-Tutta-Hangkusch shows the principal Mandan village on the west bank of the Missouri River in present-day North Dakota. The composition is structured around the cluster of domed earthlodges that rise from the…
Pehriska-Ruhpa, Moennitarri Warrior in the Costume of the Dog Dance
Bodmer's full-length portrait shows Pehriska-Ruhpa, a Hidatsa (Moennitarri) warrior, in the ceremonial regalia of the Dog Society, one of the men's military and dance associations of the upper Missouri tribes. The figure stands frontally, arms…
Pipestone Quarry on the Coteau des Prairies
Catlin's painting depicts the red pipestone quarry on the Coteau des Prairies in what is now southwestern Minnesota, a site sacred to numerous Plains tribes as the source of the soft red stone used for…
Sacagawea at Three Forks
Paxson's painting depicts Sacagawea at the Three Forks of the Missouri River in southwestern Montana, the headwaters formed by the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison, and Gallatin rivers. The Shoshone woman stands as a central…
Snags (Sunken Trees) on the Missouri
Bodmer's watercolor depicts a stretch of the Missouri River cluttered with snags—the partially submerged trunks and root masses of fallen cottonwoods that lodged in the riverbed and presented the gravest navigational hazard on the upper…
Weapons & Equipment
26 items1792 Contract Rifle (Expedition Primary Rifle)
The primary long arm of the Corps of Discovery was not, as long believed, the Model 1803 Harpers Ferry Rifle, but rather the 1792 Contract Rifle — a Pennsylvania-style, single-shot,…
Battle Axes (Shields's Fort Mandan Manufacture)
During the winter of 1804-1805 at Fort Mandan, expedition blacksmith John Shields and fellow smith Alexander Willard devised an ingenious economy: they cut a burned-out stove into small squares and…
Blunderbusses (Pirogue-Mounted)
Two blunderbusses were mounted on swivel pivots on the sterns of the two pirogues (large open boats) that accompanied the keelboat upriver. A blunderbuss is a short, heavy smoothbore firearm…
Buffalo Hide Shield
Buffalo hide shields were among the most important defensive weapons and spiritual objects of the Plains nations. Made from the thick hide of a buffalo bull’s hump or neck —…
Bullet Molds
Fifteen pairs of bullet molds were obtained at Harpers Ferry Arsenal, one for each rifleman. These were scissor-type iron molds that clamped together to form a spherical cavity. Molten lead…
Clark's Elegant Fusil
Clark brought what the expedition journals describe as “an elegant fusil” — a lightweight gentleman’s sporting smoothbore. A fusil (from the French) was a lighter, more refined version of a…
Clark's Squirrel Rifle
William Clark brought a personal small-caliber rifle of .36 caliber, commonly known as a “squirrel rifle.” These were light, accurate Pennsylvania-style long rifles designed for small game hunting and target…
Coup Stick
The coup stick was a ceremonial weapon unique to Plains Indian warfare, used to “count coup” — the act of touching an enemy in battle without killing him, which was…
Espontoon (Spontoon)
The espontoon was a traditional officer’s polearm, a descendant of the pike, carried as both a symbol of rank and a functional weapon. It featured an elaborate spear-like head, often…
Girandoni Air Rifle
The Girandoni air rifle was arguably the most significant weapon of the entire expedition, serving more as a diplomatic instrument than a weapon of war. Designed by Italian-Tyrolean watchmaker and…
Indian Peace Medal (Jefferson)
The Indian peace medals carried by Lewis and Clark were among the most important diplomatic tools of the expedition, second only to the air rifle in their impact on Native…
Keelboat Swivel Gun
A small naval cannon mounted on a swivel in the bow of the keelboat (the 55-foot vessel that carried the expedition up the Missouri River from May 1804 to April…
Kentucky/Pennsylvania Long Rifle
Several members of the Corps of Discovery carried personal Kentucky (or Pennsylvania) long rifles, the iconic frontier weapon of early America. These rifles were known for their exceptional accuracy at…
Lance / War Spear
War lances were prestige weapons carried by prominent warriors and military society leaders among the Plains nations. Unlike bows and clubs, which were primarily practical weapons, the lance was often…
Lewis's Fowling Piece
Lewis brought a personal fowling piece — an extra-long smoothbore shoulder gun used primarily for bird hunting. Fowlers were common sporting arms of the era, with long barrels (typically 42-48…
Model 1795 Springfield Musket
The Model 1795 was the first standard U.S. military musket, closely copied from the French Charleville Model 1763/66 that had been imported during the American Revolution. Since there were approximately…
Model 1799 Horseman's Pistols
In 1803, Lewis requisitioned a pair of horse pistols from the Schuylkill Arsenal in Philadelphia. These were large-caliber, single-shot flintlock pistols designed to be carried in saddle holsters. Using the…
Native Tomahawks (Traditional and Trade)
The tomahawk existed in two broad categories during the Lewis and Clark era: traditional stone-headed versions (a shaped stone lashed to a wooden handle) and European-manufactured trade versions (iron or…
Northwest Trade Gun (Fusil)
By the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Northwest trade guns were the most common firearms among Native peoples of the Upper Missouri and beyond. Lewis described the tribes…
Officers' Swords
Both Lewis and Clark carried swords as commissioned officers, though the exact pattern each carried is unknown. The 1787 U.S. regulations called for iron or steel mounted sabers of 36…
Plains Indian Bow and Arrows
The bow and arrow remained the primary ranged weapon of most Native American nations encountered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition, even as trade guns became increasingly available. The short,…
Plains Indian War Club
War clubs were among the most important weapons and status symbols of the Northern Plains nations encountered by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Styles varied widely among nations: the Sioux…
Pocket Pistols with Secret Triggers
On May 21, 1803, Lewis purchased a pair of pocket pistols from Robert Barnhill’s gun shop at 63 North Second Street in Philadelphia for $10. The surviving receipt reads: “Bot.…
Powder Horns and Shot Pouches
Each of the 15 riflemen was issued a powder horn and shot pouch. The powder horn was a hollowed-out cow or ox horn, sealed at both ends, with a measuring…
Treaties
5 itemsTreaty with the Chickasaw, 1805
Land cession by the Chickasaw. Region: Tennessee and Alabama (Portions Of). Covering 13 counties across TN. Present-Day Tribes Chickasaw Nation, Oklahoma Citations Fogelson 492-94 Tiller 611
Treaty with the Chippewa et al., 1805
Land cession by the Chippewa, Delaware, Munsee, Ottawa, Potawatomi, Shawnee, Wyandot. Region: Ohio. Covering 9 counties across OH. Present-Day Tribes Absentee-Shawnee Tribe of Indians of Oklahoma Bad River Band of…
Treaty with the Delaware et al., 1804
Land cession by the Delaware, Miami, Piankishaw. Region: Indiana. Covering 13 counties across IN. Associated dates: 1804-08-18, 1804-08-27, 1805-08-21. Present-Day Tribes Delaware Nation, Oklahoma Miami Tribe of Oklahoma Peoria Tribe…
Treaty with the Delaware et al., 1805
Land cession by the Delaware, Eel River, Miami, Potawatomi, Wea. Region: Indiana. Covering 12 counties across IN. Present-Day Tribes Citizen Potawatomi Nation, Oklahoma Delaware Nation, Oklahoma Forest County Potawatomi Community,…
Treaty with the Sauk and Fox, 1804
Land cession by the Sauk and Fox. Region: Illinois 1 and 2, Missouri 1 and 2, Wisconsin 1 and 2. Covering 43 counties across IL, MO, WI. Associated dates: 1804-11-03,…
Documents
13 itemsCouncil with the Oto and Missouri Nations
At this first council, Lewis and Clark established the diplomatic protocol they would follow throughout the expedition: raising the American flag, delivering a speech about the “Great Father” in Washington,…
Council with the Teton Sioux at Bad River
The encounter began with a council on September 25, 1804, where communication was hampered by the lack of a competent Sioux interpreter. After distributing gifts, tensions escalated when warriors seized…
Court Martial Proceedings of the Expedition
Military discipline was essential to the expedition’s survival, and Lewis and Clark maintained a formal court martial system throughout the journey. Private Moses Reed was found guilty of desertion in…
Lewis's Astronomical Observations and Calculations
Lewis was trained in celestial navigation by Andrew Ellicott and Robert Patterson before the expedition. Using a sextant, chronometer, and artificial horizon, he recorded observations of the sun, moon, and…
Lewis's Description of the Great Falls of the Missouri
Lewis wrote: “I wished for the pencil of Salvator Rosa or the pen of Thompson, that I might be enabled to give to the enlightened world some just idea of…
Lewis's Descriptions of New Animal Species
Among the most notable species described were the grizzly bear (Ursus arctos horribilis) — which nearly killed several expedition members — the pronghorn antelope, the black-tailed prairie dog (live specimens…
Lewis's Descriptions of New Plant Species
Lewis received botanical training from Benjamin Smith Barton at the University of Pennsylvania before the expedition. Throughout the journey, he collected and described specimens including Lewis’s monkey-flower (Mimulus lewisii), bitterroot…
Lewis's Letter to Jefferson from Fort Mandan
This letter accompanied the keelboat returning from Fort Mandan with a crew of soldiers, traders, and the Arikara chief. Lewis described the expedition’s encounters with Native nations, the geography of…
Private Whitehouse's Journal
Two versions of Whitehouse’s journal exist: an original rough journal and a later paraphrased version that Whitehouse apparently prepared for publication (which never occurred). The journal provides unique observations about…
Sergeant Floyd's Journal
Floyd’s journal is the shortest of the expedition journals, ending abruptly as his illness worsened. His entries record the daily progress up the Missouri, encounters with the Oto and Missouri…
Sergeant Gass's Journal (Published 1807)
Gass’s account was published as “A Journal of the Voyages and Travels of a Corps of Discovery” in 1807. As the expedition carpenter, Gass provided unique details about the construction…
Sergeant Ordway's Journal
Ordway’s journal is particularly valuable because it covers the entire expedition without the gaps found in Lewis’s journal. It documents daily routines, hunting results, weather observations, and events in camp…
The Journals of Lewis and Clark
Lewis and Clark each maintained separate journals, though Lewis’s entries are notably absent for long periods (leading to enduring speculation about what he was doing during these gaps). Clark was…
