1806–1812
Post-Expedition
After the expedition, Lewis was appointed Governor of Louisiana Territory but struggled and died in 1809. Clark served as Superintendent of Indian Affairs and Governor of Missouri Territory. Their specimens reached museums and botanists worldwide, treaty negotiations with western tribes began, and the journals were eventually published.
After the Journey
Curated follow-up readingMeriwether Lewis's Final Years
Lewis's appointment as Governor of Upper Louisiana, his struggles in St. Louis, and his death along the Natchez Trace in 1809.
William Clark's Later Career
Clark's role as Superintendent of Indian Affairs, his diplomacy with Native nations, and his decades of public service after the expedition.
Publication of the Journals
Sergeant Patrick Gass's 1807 account was the first published narrative of the expedition, decades before Lewis and Clark's own journals reached print.
Explore the Trail
See the 360° panoramic trail covering 4,300 miles of the Lewis & Clark route
Artwork
6 itemsFort 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…
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…
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…
The Interior of the Hut of a Mandan Chief
Bodmer's aquatint shows the cavernous interior of an earth lodge belonging to a Mandan leader on the upper Missouri River. The composition centers on a hearth where smoke rises toward an opening in the domed…
William Clark
Charles Willson Peale's portrait of William Clark shows the explorer in bust-length view, dressed in civilian clothing appropriate to his postexpedition station rather than military uniform. Clark faces the viewer in a three-quarter pose with…
Treaties
159 itemsAct of Congress, 1863 (Winnebago removal; 12 Stat. 658)
Land cession by the Winnebago. Region: Dakota 2. Counties: Buffalo, Hand, Hughes, Hyde. Associated dates: 1863-02-21, 1863-07-01, 1865-03-08. Present-Day Tribes Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska
Agreement with the Arikara, Gros Ventre (Hidatsa), and Mandan, 1886 (ratified by Act of Mar. 3, 1891)
Land cession by the Gros Ventre, Mandan. Region: Dakota 3. Counties: Dunn, McLean, Mercer, Mountrail. Present-Day Tribes Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation of Montana Three Affiliated…
Agreement with the Blackfeet, 1895 (ratified by Act of June 10, 1896)
Treaty Provisions Canals Article 7 — “It is further agreed that whenever, in the opinion of the President, the public interests require the construction of railroads or other highways, telegraph…
Agreement with the Crow, 1873 (unratified, Judith Basin)
Land cession by the Crow. Region: Montana 2. Counties: Chouteau, Fergus, Judith Basin, Wheatland. Associated dates: 1873-08-16, 1874-01-31, 1875-03-25. Treaty Provisions Hunting, Fishing, Gathering Article 3 — “except the right…
Agreement with the Crow, 1890 (ratified by Act of Mar. 3, 1891)
Land cession by the Crow. Region: Montana 2. Counties: Big Horn, Carbon, Stillwater, Treasure, Yellowstone. Present-Day Tribes Crow Tribe of Montana Citations DeMallie 695, 698 Tiller 476
Agreement with the Flathead (Garfield Agreement), 1872
Treaty Provisions Hunting, Fishing, Gathering “And the party of the second part hereby agree and promise that when the houses have been built as provided in the first clause of…
Agreement with the Gros Ventre, Piegan, Blood, Blackfeet, and River Crow, 1886-87 (ratified by Act of May 1, 1888)
Land cession by the Gros Ventre, Piegan. Region: Montana 2. Covering 9 counties across MT. Present-Day Tribes Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana Fort Belknap Indian Community…
Agreement with the Indians of Blackfeet Agency, 1886-87 (ratified by Act of May 1, 1888)
Land cession by the Indians of Blackfoot agency. Region: Montana 2. Counties: Flathead, Glacier, Pondera. Present-Day Tribes Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation of Montana Citations Tiller 474
Agreement with the Indians of Fort Belknap Agency, 1886-87 (ratified by Act of May 1, 1888)
Land cession by the Indians of Fort Belknap agency. Region: Montana 2. Counties: Blaine, Phillips. Present-Day Tribes Fort Belknap Indian Community of the Fort Belknap Reservation of Montana Citations Tiller…
Agreement with the Indians of Fort Peck Agency, 1886-87 (ratified by Act of May 1, 1888)
Land cession by the Indians of Fort Peck agency. Region: Montana 2. Counties: Daniels, Roosevelt, Sheridan, Valley. Present-Day Tribes Assiniboine and Sioux Tribes of the Fort Peck Indian Reservation, Montana…
Agreement with the Shoshone and Bannock of Fort Hall, 1898 (ratified 1900)
Treaty Provisions Hunting, Fishing, Gathering “So long as any of the lands ceded, granted, and relinquished under this treaty remain part of the public domain, Indians belonging to the above-mentioned…
Agreement with the Shoshone and Bannock, 1873 (unratified)
Treaty Provisions Hunting, Fishing, Gathering Article of — “as secured to said Indians by said fourth article of said treaty of 1868,” — (Shoshone-Bannock Tribes of the Fort Hall Reservation)…
Agreement with the Yakama Nation, 1894 (Wenatshapam Fishery)
Treaty Provisions Hunting, Fishing, Gathering Article 1 — “The said Indians hereby cede and relinquish to the United States all their right, title, interest, claim, and demand of whatsoever name…
Choctaw-Chickasaw Supplemental Agreement, 1902 (Act of July 1, 1902)
Treaty Provisions Fountains and Springs “The two tribes hereby absolutely and unqualifiedly relinquish, cede, and convey unto the United States a tract or tracts of land at and in the…
Executive Order, 1855 (Coast/Siletz Reservation)
Land cession by the Indians on the Oregon Coast. Region: Oregon 1. Covering 6 counties across OR. Associated dates: 1855-11-09, 1875-03-03.
Executive Order, 1857 (Grand Ronde Reservation)
Land cession by the Confederated Bands of Willamette valley. Region: Oregon 1. Counties: Polk, Yamhill. Present-Day Tribes Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon Confederated Tribes of the…
Executive Order, 1863 (Crow Creek Reserve, Sioux of the Mississippi)
Land cession by the Sioux of the Mississippi. Region: Dakota 2. Counties: Brule, Buffalo.
Executive Order, 1866 (Shoalwater Bay Reservation)
Land cession by the Payallup. Region: Washington (Northwestern). Counties: Pacific. Present-Day Tribes Puyallup Tribe of the Puyallup Reservation, Washington Citations 2 Hodge 331
Executive Order, 1867 (Coeur d'Alène Reservation)
Land cession by the Coeur d’Alène. Region: Idaho. Counties: Benewah, Kootenai. Associated dates: 1867-06-14, 1873-11-08, 1892-07-13, 1894-08-15. Present-Day Tribes Coeur D’Alene Tribe, Idaho Citations 2 Hodge 594 Tiller 369
Executive Order, 1867 (Santee Sioux, Niobrara Reserve)
Land cession by the Santee Sioux. Region: Nebraska (Easern Portion). Counties: Knox. Present-Day Tribes Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska
Executive Order, 1869 (Santee Sioux, Niobrara Reserve)
Land cession by the Santee Sioux. Region: Nebraska (Eastern Portion). Counties: Knox. Present-Day Tribes Santee Sioux Nation, Nebraska
Executive Order, 1873 (Coeur d'Alène Reservation; unratified agreement of July 28, 1873)
Land cession by the Coeur d’Alène. Region: Idaho, Washington 1. Counties: Benewah, Kootenai, Latah, Shoshone. Associated dates: 1873-11-08, 1891-03-03. Present-Day Tribes Coeur D’Alene Tribe, Idaho Citations 2 Hodge 594 Tiller…
Executive Order, 1875 (addition to Blackfeet Reserve: Gros Ventre, Piegan, Blood, Blackfeet, River Crow)
Land cession by the Blackfoot, Blood, Gros Ventre, Piegan, River Crow. Region: Montana 2. Counties: Garfield, McCone, Richland, Roosevelt. Associated dates: 1875-04-13, 1880-07-13. Present-Day Tribes Blackfeet Tribe of the Blackfeet…
Executive Order, 1875 (addition to Crow Reserve)
Land cession by the Crow. Region: Montana 2. Counties: Rosebud, Stillwater, Sweet Grass, Treasure, Yellowstone. Associated dates: 1875-10-20, 1876-03-08. Present-Day Tribes Crow Tribe of Montana Citations DeMallie 695, 698 Tiller…
Documents
5 itemsClark's Map of the American West (1810)
Clark drew maps throughout the expedition, eventually compiling them into a master manuscript map that depicted the entire route from St. Louis to the Pacific. Published as an engraved version…
History of the Expedition Under the Command of Captains Lewis and Clark (Biddle Edition)
After Lewis’s death in 1809 left the journals unpublished, Clark entrusted them to Biddle, who produced a readable narrative from the raw journal entries. The two-volume work included Clark’s map…
Jefferson's Message to Congress on the Expedition's Return
Jefferson presented to Congress Lewis’s summary of the expedition’s findings, including estimates of Native populations, trade potential, and geographical observations. He requested that Congress grant double pay and 320 acres…
Land Warrants Issued to Expedition Members
On March 3, 1807, Congress passed an act granting double pay and land warrants to the members of the expedition. Captains Lewis and Clark received 1,600 acres each; enlisted men…
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…
Allied Sites
11 itemsAmerican Museum of Natural History — Lewis & Clark Sculptures
Features 13-foot sculptures of Lewis, Clark, and other American explorers by James Earle Fraser on its Central Park facade.
Bad Mergentheim Castle — Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau in Germany
Castle where Jean-Baptiste Charbonneau, Sacagawea's son, lived for five years (1824-1829) as a guest of Duke Paul of Württemberg.
Booth Western Art Museum
One of the largest permanent exhibitions of Western art in the United States, with works depicting the Lewis and Clark era.
Charleston Museum — Lewis & Clark Herbarium
One of three repositories holding Lewis and Clark botanical specimens, housed in one of America's oldest museums.
Chickasaw Cultural Center — Jefferson Peace Medal
Houses a Jefferson Peace Medal, one of the diplomatic gifts carried by Lewis and Clark to present to tribal leaders.
Johnny Morris' Wonders of Wildlife National Museum and Aquarium
Features Charles Fritz paintings of Lewis and Clark scenes plus exhibits on the animals documented during the expedition.
Neuwied Castle — Prince Maximilian and Karl Bodmer Collections
Home of Prince Maximilian and Karl Bodmer's collections documenting the Mandan and Hidatsa peoples visited by Lewis and Clark.
Newberry Library — Joseph Whitehouse Journal
Repository of the Joseph Whitehouse Journal, providing an enlisted soldier's perspective on the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew — Lewis & Clark Herbarium
Holds Lewis and Clark botanical specimens, part of the international distribution of the expedition's scientific collections.
Trinity Church Cemetery — Albert Gallatin Burial
Burial site of Albert Gallatin, Secretary of the Treasury who helped finance the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Wisconsin Historical Society — Charles Floyd Journal
Home of the Charles Floyd Journal and the Draper Collection of frontier history manuscripts.
Research Articles
13 itemsAfter the Expedition: Francois Rivet
Teaser: Francois Rivet had a long life before and after his time with the Corps of Discovery. Marked by joy and sadness, momentous events in the life of Francois Rivet were found in the records of his Catholic parish. After the Expedition – Francois Rivet Born circa 1757 in Montreal, Canada,...
Company Commanders to Bureaucratic Administrators: Lewis & Clark After the Expedition
The post-expedition years of Lewis and Clark, from celebrated explorers to territorial administrators. Covers Lewis's governorship of Upper Louisiana, Clark's military career, their accomplishments in St. Louis, and Lewis's tragic death in 1809.
Fort Manuel: Its Historical Significance and the Death of Sacagawea
Irving W. Anderson's definitive scholarly analysis proving that Sacagawea died at Fort Manuel on the Missouri River on December 20, 1812, contradicting the long-held theory that she lived until 1884 in Wyoming. Based on primary sources including the Luttig journal and William Clark's own records.
Jean Baptiste Charbonneau: Son of Sacagawea
Teaser: After the Lewis and Clark Expedition, led a life fraught with adventure. After the expedition and being taken in by Captain Clark, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau traveled to Europe and returned to the U.S. in 1829. Further adventure and admiration awaited his return. Jean Baptiste Charbonneau –...
John Colter: His Years in the Rocky Mountains
A biographical study of John Colter, the expedition member who became one of the first mountain men, including his discovery of the Yellowstone region and his famous escape from the Blackfeet.
Meriwether Lewis's Personal Finances
A detailed investigation of Meriwether Lewis's financial affairs, revealing the monetary pressures and debts that plagued him during his service as Governor of Louisiana Territory.
Meriwether Lewis's Survey at Cumberland Gap
Two months after the expedition's return, Meriwether Lewis ran a boundary survey at the Cumberland Gap — November 23, 1806.
The Arikara War of 1823 and the Fur Trade
An analysis of the 1823 Arikara conflict, which involved several former members of the Corps of Discovery and demonstrated the lasting consequences of Lewis and Clark's diplomacy.
The Corps in the War of 1812
Brief lives of thirty-plus Corps of Discovery veterans and associates and what they did in the War of 1812.
The Death of Meriwether Lewis: A Historic Crime Scene Investigation
A forensic scientist's examination of the evidence surrounding the death of Meriwether Lewis at Grinder's Stand on the Natchez Trace, evaluating suicide versus murder theories.
The Journals of Patrick Gass: A New Edition
A scholarly analysis of Patrick Gass's expedition journal, the first published account of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, examining its significance and the history of its publication.
William Clark: Mapmaker
An analysis of William Clark's cartographic skills and contributions, examining his field maps, celestial observations, and the great master map he produced after the expedition.
William Clark's Indian Museum
An examination of William Clark's post-expedition collection of Native American artifacts and natural history specimens displayed at his Council Chamber in St. Louis.
