March – September 1806
Return Journey
Departing Fort Clatsop on March 23, 1806, the Corps retraced their route eastward, splitting into separate parties to explore the Marias and Yellowstone Rivers. Lewis survived a shooting accident and a confrontation with Blackfeet warriors. The expedition reunited and arrived triumphantly in St. Louis on September 23, 1806.
678
Journal entries
188
Dated days
5
Narrators
183
AI cross-narrator analyses
24
Heacock river features
8
Heacock writings
Tribal Nations Encountered
10 nations · click for figure essay where availableAI Cross-Narrator Analyses
183 in this phaseDeparture from Fort Clatsop: Two Sergeants Watch the Canoes Push Off
Sergeants Gass and Ordway both record the expedition's departure from Fort Clatsop after 106 days of coastal winter. Their parallel entries reveal sharply different registers — Gass terse and logistical, Ordway expansive and reflective on the season endured.
Shells Mistaken for Teeth: Four Voices Leaving Fort Clatsop
On the first full day ascending the Columbia after departing Fort Clatsop, four expedition journalists record the same Cathlahmah village with strikingly different eyes — from Gass's stranded canoe to Clark's correction of Captain Cook to Lewis's notes on Native sculpture.
Four Pens, One Sturgeon Camp: Ascending the Columbia
On the second day after leaving Fort Clatsop, four expedition journalists record the same wind-bound progress, the same Cathlahmah fishing lodge, and the same sea otter trade — but in registers that reveal sharply different observational priorities.
Tobacco Running Short, Eagles in Hand: Four Voices on the Columbia's Return
On the second full day of the homeward voyage, four expedition journalists record the same diplomatic gift, the same dwindling tobacco supply, and the same eagles — yet each narrator catches details the others miss, revealing distinct habits of observation.
Four Voices on the Skillute Welcome: Hospitality, Ethnography, and the Cowlitz River
On the homeward leg up the Columbia, the expedition halted at a Skillute village whose hospitality drew strikingly different responses from its four diarists — ranging from Gass's brisk logistics to Lewis and Clark's near-identical ethnographic essays.
Deer Island: Four Narrators, One Snake-Covered Camp
On a rainy stop to repair leaking canoes, four expedition journalists describe the same Deer Island camp — but each fixes on a different detail, from a duck's beak to a woman's dress to vultures stripping carcasses to the bone.
Entering the Columbian Valley: Four Pens at Cathlapotle
On 29 March 1806, the returning expedition reached the Cathlapotle village on the lower Columbia. Lewis, Clark, Ordway, and Gass each recorded the encounter — but with strikingly different priorities, vocabularies, and degrees of ethnographic ambition.
Departing Fort Clatsop: Four Voices Ascend the Columbia
On the first full day of the homeward journey, four expedition journalists record the same passage past Wappato Island in strikingly different registers — from Gass's brisk admiration to Clark and Lewis's near-identical ethnographic catalog of riverside tribes.
A Deserted Village and the Shrinking of the Quicksand
On the return passage past the mouth of the Quicksand River, four expedition journalists record the same encounter with Shah-ha-la informants — yet only Lewis and Clark grasp that a river they once thought considerable in fact heads in Mount Hood.
The Missing River: Four Journals Reckon with a Geographic Puzzle
On a hunting day above Fort Clatsop, the captains interrogate Native informants about Quicksand River and conclude a major southern tributary of the Columbia must exist — unseen. The enlisted journals record the same day in starkly different registers.
The Multnomah Revealed: A River Missed Twice and a Plan Reconsidered
On April 2, 1806, the captains resolve to lay in elk meat for the journey east, while Shah-ha-la informants sketch on a mat the great southern river the expedition had twice passed unseen. Four narrators record the day with telling differences in scope and emphasis.
Two Camps, Two Rivers: Discovery and Hunger on the Columbia
On April 3, 1806, the expedition's narrators record divergent experiences: Clark returns triumphant from charting a great southern river, while Lewis observes starving families picking refuse from camp. Gass and Ordway fill in the hunting and diplomatic margins.
Most Mentioned in This Phase
Aggregated from journal entries via AI entity extractionMost mentioned people
- Drewyer (117)
- Collins (74)
- Shannon (65)
- Colter (59)
- Gibson (46)
- Shields (43)
- Capt Lewis (40)
- Sergt. Pryor (38)
- Willard (35)
- R. Fields (34)
Most mentioned tribes
- Chopunnish (67)
- Indians (32)
- natives (27)
- Mandans (23)
- Shoshones (16)
- Shoshone (13)
- Mahars (11)
- Snake Indians (10)
- Clatsops (9)
- Skillutes (9)
Most mentioned places
- Missouri (93)
- Columbia (64)
- Lewis's river (45)
- Rocky Mountains (34)
- Kooskooske (25)
- Collins's Creek (19)
- Maria's river (19)
- the falls (18)
- St. Louis (17)
- Clarks river (17)
Heacock Writings
8 writings in this date rangeMarch 26, 1806
After a wet night, they paddle approximately 18 miles up the Columbia River and camp on an island near an area they call “fannys bottom”. Lewis describes eagles and substitutes for tobacco.
March 27, 1806
Near present Deer Island, Oregon, some generous Skilloots give away food with hopes that the expedition hunters will hunt with them. Lewis describes the area’s trees and prepares a salmonberry specimen.
April 2, 1806
Clackamas visitors tell the captains about the Willamette River, and Clark sets out to find it. At a village at the that rivers’ mouth, Clark resorts to trickery to entice them to trade for food. At Provision Camp at present…
April 3, 1806
Clark concludes his exploration of the Willamette River. On his way back, he learns that a smallpox epidemic had devastated the local population. The group at Provision Camp at present Washougal, Washington are greatly outnumbered by starving Native People, and…
April 7, 1806
The expedition spends the day hunting and jerking meat at present Shepperds Dell at the lower end of the Columbia River Gorge. The enlisted men are ordered to practice shooting and to adjust their gun sights. Lewis describes the mountain…
April 9, 1806
The expedition’s flotilla moves sixteen miles up the Columbia River Gorge marveling at its many beautiful waterfalls. In one of the villages, Pvt. Colter confiscates a tomahawk stolen the previous year.
April 27, 1806
Moving up the Columbia River, the expedition passes the Umatilla River and then climbs to the high plain above Wallula Gap. Late in the day, they are met by Chief Yelleppit who escorts them to his village opposite the mouth…
April 28, 1806
A Shoshone prisoner is found at Yelleppit’s village across from the mouth of the Walla Walla and talks begin with Sacagawea, Charbonneau, and one of the French men acting as interpreters. Yelleppit brings Clark a horse, Clark gives medical aid,…
Heacock River Features
24 features in this date rangeMill Creek / Quarry
Aldrich Point campsite
Point Adams Clatskanie
Bradwood Pt / Puget Island
Walker Island / Hump island
Goble / Emerald kalama Chemical
Bachelor Slough- To Cathlapote
Hayden Island / Camp
Steigerwald Cr Outlet
Willamette River
Rooster Rock
Sand Island - Latourell Falls
Tanner Creek
Middle Cascades / Fort Raines-lower portage
Collins Creek
CGIC
River Mile 177.8
Seufert Cann./15 mile Cr. / Big Eddy-Spearfish Lake
River Mile 196.0
Short Narrows
Road to Buffalo-Overland Trail
Pump Station
Hartley Canyon
Rock Creek
678
Journal Entries
33
Key Figures
18
Wildlife & Plants
5
Artwork
26
Weapons & Equipment
11
Documents
Explore the Trail
See the 360° panoramic trail covering 4,300 miles of the Lewis & Clark route
Journal Entries
678 itemsDeparture from Fort Clatsop — Heading Home
At 1 P.M. we left Fort Clatsop on our homeward bound journey. At this place we had wintered and remained from the 7th of Deer. 1805 to this day, and have lived as well as we had any right to expect.
John Ordway: March 23, 1806
rained hard the greater part of last night, this morning proved so rainy and uncertain that our officers were undetermined for some time whether they had best Set out &…
Patrick Gass: March 23, 1806
hunter who remained out last night, came in early, and had killed an elk. We were employed this forenoon in dividing and packing up our loading; and distributing it among…
Clark: March 24, 1806
Monday 24th of March 1806 Sent out 15 men verry early this morning for the flesh of the two Elk killed by Drewyer and Fields yesterday. they returned at 8…
Lewis: March 24, 1806
Monday March 24th 1806. This morning we sent out a party of 15, at light, for the meat, and concluded to take breakfast before we set out. they soon returned.…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — John Ordway: March 24, 1806
this morning and brought in the flesh of the 2 Elk killed by the hunters yesterday, at half past 9 we set out and proceed on to « Point Adams…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — Patrick Gass: March 24, 1806
rain If men went out and brought the meat of the two elk to our camp. The morning was fair and after breakfast they all embarked, except the men belonging…
Clark: March 25, 1806
Tuesday 25th of March 1806 Last night and this morning are cool wend hard a head and tide going out, after an early brackfast we proceeded on about 4 miles…
Lewis: March 25, 1806
Tuesday March 25th 1806. The morning being disagreeably cold we remained and took break-fast. at 7 A.M. we set out and continued our rout along the South Coast of the…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — John Ordway: March 25, 1806
going down with their canoe loaded with fish and wapatoes. the winds hard a head and tide against us So we delayd untill 1 oClock P. M. at which time…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — Patrick Gass: March 25, 1806
morning ; proceeded on to 12 o’clock, when we again halted, the wind and tide being both against us. When the tide 206 GASS’S JOURNAL OF THE began to rise…
Clark: March 26, 1806
Wednesday March 26th 1806 The wind blew So hard untill 8 A M. that we detained, we gave a Medal to a Man by the name of Wal-lal-le a principal…
Lewis: March 26, 1806
Wednesday March 26th 1806. The wind blew so hard this morning that we delayed untill 8 A.M. we gave a medal of small size to a man by the name…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — John Ordway: March 26, 1806
the tide rose higher than common and came in under my blankets before I awoke and obledged me to move twise Several more of the party camps were routed also,…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — Patrick Gass: March 26, 1806
wind, we continued our voyage. As we passed along I sawa great many flowers full blown of different colours: and grass and other herbage growing fast: I saw nettles two…
Clark: March 27, 1806
Thursday March 27th 1806. a rainey disagreeable night rained the greater part of the night we Set out this morning verry early and proceeded on to two houses of the…
Lewis: March 27, 1806
Thursday March 27th 1806. We set out early this morning and were shortly after joined by some of the Skillutes who came along side in a small canoe for the…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — John Ordway: March 27, 1806
continued thro the day. we halted at a village2 of the Chilutes nation they treated us in a friendly manner. Gave us Some wapatoes & anchoves to eat. Several Indians…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — Patrick Gass: March 27, 1806
embarked early and went about 6 miles, when we came to a small Indian village, where the natives received us very kindly. They belong to the Chil-ook nation, and differ…
Clark: March 28, 1806
Friday March 28th 1806 This morning we Set out verry early and at 9 A.M. arived at an old Indian Village on the N E side of Deer island where…
Lewis: March 28, 1806
Friday March 28th 1806. This morning we set out very early and at 9 A.M. arrived at the old Indian Village on Lard side of Deer Island where we found…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — John Ordway: March 28, 1806
we Set out eairly and proceeded on to deer Island4 at the Camp of our hunters, about 11 oClock the hunters joined us had killed 7 deer, we drew out…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — Patrick Gass: March 28, 1806
and at 10 o’clock came to Deer island; where those who had gone ahead in the small canoes had encamped, and all gone out to hunt except one. In a…
Clark: March 29, 1806
Saturday March 29th 1806 we Set out very early this morning and proceeded to the head of deer island and took brackfast. the morning was very cold wind Sharp and…
Lewis: March 29, 1806
Saturday March 29th 1806. We set out early this morning and proceeded along the side of Deer Island; halted at 10 A.M. near its upper point and breakfasted. here we…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — John Ordway: March 29, 1806
Saw blossom and wild onions along the South Side in the after- noon we passd the m° of [blank in Ms.] River6 which came in on N. Side which is…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — Patrick Gass: March 29, 1806
frost and we proceeded on early; passed some old Indian lodges, and in the afternoon came to a large village, where we were received with great kindness, and got fish…
Clark: March 30, 1806
Sunday March 30th 1806 we got under way verry early and had not proceeded to the head of the island before we met with the three men of the Clan-nar-min-a-mon’s…
Lewis: March 30, 1806
Sunday March 30th 1806. We got under way very early in the morning, and had not reached the head of the island before we were met by three men of…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — John Ordway: March 30, 1806
River Still riseing & is now so high that the tide has no effect to be perceived at this time considerable of drift wood floating- down the River. Saw 2…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — Patrick Gass: March 30, 1806
set out early accompanied by several of the natives in canoes. The river is very high, overflowing all its banks. We passed some villages of the natives on Wapto island,…
Clark: March 31, 1806
Monday March 31st 1806 we Set out this morning and proceeded untill 8 oClock when we landed on the N. Side opposit one large House of the Shah-ha-la Nation near…
Lewis: March 31, 1806
Monday March 31st 1806 We set out early this morning and proceeded untill 8 A.M. when we Landed on the N. side opposite one large wooden house of the Shah-ha-la…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — John Ordway: March 31, 1806
Set out eairly and proceed on passd a village which was a large one when we went down last fall but the Savages are more Scat- tered along the River…
Departed Fort Clatsop, ascending Columbia River — Patrick Gass: March 31, 1806
proceeded on early. One of the men went along shore, and in a short time killed a deer: the deer are very plenty on this part of the river. We…
Clark: April 1, 1806
Tuesday April 1st 1806 This morning early we dispatched Sergt. Pryor, with two men in a Small canoe up quick sand river with orders to proceed as far as he…
Key Figures
33 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.
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."
Blackfeet
An Algonquian-speaking people of the northern Great Plains. The expedition's only violent encounter with Native Americans occurred on July 27, 1806, when Lewis's party met eight Blackfeet warriors near Two Medicine River. Two Blackfeet were killed. This incident poisoned American-Blackfeet relations for decades.
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.
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.
Neeshnepahkeeook (Cut Nose)
One of the four great Nez Perce chiefs who met with Lewis and Clark during the May 1806 councils, participating in extended diplomatic discussions about intertribal peace and American trade.
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.
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.
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.
Silas Goodrich
The Corps' most accomplished fisherman, Goodrich regularly supplied the expedition with fresh fish throughout the journey. At the Great Falls, he caught large numbers of cutthroat trout that supplemented the Corps' diet and provided Lewis with specimens for scientific study.
Thomas Howard
From Massachusetts. Court-martialed in February 1805 for climbing the Fort Mandan wall after hours rather than using the gate, potentially compromising the fort's security. Completed the entire journey.
Tunnachemootoolt (Broken Arm)
The great head chief of the Kamiah-area Nez Perce. He hosted a major council in May 1806 where the captains discussed peace proposals. His village was the expedition's base camp while they waited for snow to clear from the Bitterroot passes.
Twisted Hair
A Nez Perce chief who befriended the starving Corps when they descended from the Bitterroot Mountains in September 1805. He helped them find timber for dugout canoes and agreed to watch their horses.
Walla Walla
A Sahaptian-speaking people led by Chief Yelleppit. On the return journey in 1806, Yelleppit hosted the Corps for two days and provided canoes and horses.
William Bratton
One of the "Nine Young Men from Kentucky," Bratton served as hunter, blacksmith, and gunsmith. In spring 1806 he was incapacitated by a severe back ailment until a Native American sweat lodge treatment cured him. He later served in the War of 1812 at the Battle of New Orleans.
William Werner
Had a fight with John Potts at Camp Dubois during preparation and was convicted of being absent without leave. Despite disciplinary issues, he completed the full journey to the Pacific and back.
Yelleppit
Described by Clark as "a bold handsom Indian, with a dignified countenance about 35 years of age." He provided canoes and horses to the expedition during their 1806 return journey.
Wildlife & Plants
18 itemsBighorn Sheep
Joseph Field became the first expedition member to see a live bighorn sheep on April 26, 1805, during a reconnaissance up the Yellowstone River. On May 25, 1805, Drouillard killed the first specimen, which Lewis...
California Condor
Lewis and Clark observed California condors on at least nine occasions along the lower Columbia River from October 1805 to April 1806, and once in the Rocky Mountains. Clark first recorded seeing the species on...
Camas
The Nez Perce introduced Lewis and Clark to camas on September 20, 1805, at Weippe Prairie in Idaho, after the expedition's harrowing crossing of the Bitterroot Mountains. The starchy bulbs were a staple food of...
Chinook Salmon
Lewis and Clark first encountered massive runs of chinook salmon near the confluence of the Snake and Columbia Rivers in mid-October 1805. Clark was confused by the enormous numbers of dead salmon lining the riverbanks,...
Clark's Nutcracker
Clark first observed this distinctive bird on August 22, 1805, along the Lemhi River in east-central Idaho, while scouting a possible route across the Bitterroot Mountains. He initially described it as a "new species of...
Greater Sage-Grouse
Lewis first observed the greater sage-grouse on June 6, 1805, near the mouth of the Marias River in Montana. He wrote one of the most detailed ornithological descriptions of the expedition at Fort Clatsop on...
Grizzly Bear
The grizzly bear was one of the most dramatic discoveries of the expedition. Lewis and Clark provided the first detailed scientific description of this fearsome predator, which they called the "white bear" or "yellow bear."...
Lewis's Monkey-flower
Lewis collected this striking pink-flowered plant on August 12, 1805, at the headwaters of the Missouri River, near Lemhi Pass on the Continental Divide. Frederick Pursh named the species in Lewis's honor and included a...
Lewis's Woodpecker
Lewis's woodpecker was first observed on July 20, 1805, near the present site of Helena, Montana, along the edge of the Big Belt Mountains. The bird was not collected as a specimen until the following...
Pinyon Jay
According to a historical marker at LaHood Park on the Jefferson River in Montana, the first pinyon jay known to science was described by the Lewis and Clark Expedition at their campsite on August 1,...
Ponderosa Pine
Lewis and Clark wrote the first description of the ponderosa pine on May 11, 1805, calling it "pitch-pine" and comparing it to Virginia pine but noting longer needles. The ponderosa is the most widely distributed...
Prairie Rattlesnake
Lewis and Clark first encountered the prairie rattlesnake on April 26, 1805, at the mouth of the Yellowstone River, where several were spotted during a hike up the Yellowstone. This was a species new to...
Steelhead Trout
Lewis and Clark encountered steelhead (which they called "salmon trout") at multiple points along the Columbia River system. Lewis described the species in detail, noting it resembled salmon but was "not so large." The expedition...
Steller's Jay
Lewis first noted the Steller's jay on September 20, 1805, in the Bitterroot Mountains of Idaho. While the species had been previously described by Georg Steller in Alaska in 1741, Lewis and Clark provided important...
Swift Fox
Lewis described the swift fox on July 8, 1805, near the Marias River in Montana. This small, prairie-dwelling fox was new to Western science and distinctive for its diminutive size compared to the red fox....
Western Meadowlark
On June 22, 1805, near the Great Falls of the Missouri, Lewis recorded a bird that "much resembles" the eastern meadowlark but with a notably different song and slightly different tail structure. His observation was...
Western Red Cedar
Lewis and Clark encountered the western red cedar as they crossed the Bitterroot Mountains and descended into the Pacific Northwest in September 1805. They called it "arborvitae" after the similar northeastern white cedar, though the...
Westslope Cutthroat Trout
On June 13, 1805, Private Silas Goodrich caught several cutthroat trout at the Great Falls of the Missouri River, providing the first scientific description of this species by any Anglo-American. Lewis described the trout in...
Artwork
5 itemsBuffalo 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…
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…
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…
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…
The Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone
Moran's canvas depicts the Yellowstone River plunging through its canyon from a high vantage on the south rim, looking downstream toward the Lower Falls. The composition organizes the scene around the vertical drop of water…
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…
Documents
11 itemsClark's Letter to Brother Jonathan Announcing Return
Clark wrote to Jonathan from St. Louis on September 23, 1806, the day of their triumphant return. His letter provided personal details about the journey that he would not have…
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…
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 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 Announcing the Expedition's Return
Writing from St. Louis, Lewis summarized the expedition’s key findings: “In obedience to your orders we have penetrated the Continent of North America to the Pacific Ocean.” He described the…
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…
