| In 1803 President Thomas Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase. The men set out in 1804 by boat from today's Wood River. The voyage of was made up of 45 men, a keelboat, two pirogues, and a dog. They departed from Camp Wood located in what was to become Illinois.Most of the trail follows the Missouri & Columbia Rivers. Much has changed in 200 years but trail portions remain intact. At 3,700 miles in length, Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail is the second longest of the 23 National Scenic & National Historic Trails in the United States. It begins at Hartford, Illinois & passes through portions of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa, Nebraska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, & Washington.Many people follow the trail in their vehicles; others find adventure in the sections that encourage boating, biking, or hiking. Visitors can still see the White Cliffs in Montana as Lewis and Clark did. They may stand where they stood looking over the rolling plains at Spirit Mound in South Dakota. Visitors might meet the descendants of the people who hosted Lewis & Clark all along the trail. It remains for discovery. |
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