Lewis & Clark Trail

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark traveled on the Great Missouri during their journey to the Pacific Ocean, and their passage through this area was considered one of the most pivotal moments in the history of the expedition. Just across the river, the expedition met with the Teton Sioux and conflict arose. With no interpreter on either side, tensions increased because of poor communication, leading to several misunderstandings about the expedition’s intent. After several days of intense meetings with the Tetons and a few confrontations, the Corps of Discovery continued upriver. On May 21, 1804, Lewis and Clark led the Corps of Discovery on an expedition to map a new route from St. Louis to the Pacific. The two-year journey covered some 8000 miles through the Upper Midwest and Northwest United States, passing through this area, and laid the groundwork for westward expansion in the United States.

Pierre, South Dakota · United States