Why the Lewis & Clark Trail?
Because it’s there, of course! In 2004-2006 we celebrated the bicentennial of the voyage of Lewis & Clark’s Corps of Discovery. Following the Louisiana Purchase during Thomas Jefferson’s presidency, our inquisitive (some would say geeky) president charged Meriwether Lewis with the mission of exploring this new territory, establishing cordial relations with the native tribes, and most importantly, finding the highly-prized water route across the continent to the Pacific Ocean. The motivations were scientific, economic, and diplomatic: The American expedition to the Pacific northwest was intended to study the Indian tribes, botany, geology, Western terrain and wildlife in the region, as well as evaluate the potential interference of British and French Canadian hunters and trappers who were already well established in the area. Jefferson selected Captain Meriwether Lewis to lead the expedition, afterwards known as the Corps of Discovery. In a letter dated June 20, 1803, Jefferson wrote to
