Lewis and Clark Expedition

In 1804-06, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led about 40 soldiers and boatmen on a journey commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to find a route to the Pacific Ocean through the newly acquired Louisiana territory. As they traveled, they mapped the land, recorded its resources, and contacted its native inhabitants. The United States had purchased the Louisiana territory, more than 830,000 square miles, from France in 1803. Jefferson chose Meriwether Lewis to lead the expedition, and with his permission Lewis asked his friend and former commanding officer William Clark to serve as co-leader. Although opposite in temperament, they worked harmoniously throughout the two-year journey.

Mobridge, South Dakota · United States