Almanac: Lewis & Clark

Summary

The Lewis and Clark expedition set out from Pittsburgh on August 31, 1803. Meriwether Lewis traveled west by keelboat with his dog, Seaman, and later joined William Clark on the Missouri River.

President Thomas Jefferson authorized the expedition after the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France. Its goals were to map the newly acquired land and search for a Northwest Passage—a navigable route across the continent that Jefferson hoped would aid commerce.

The expedition officially began near St. Louis the following May. Clark charted the route and made maps, while Lewis studied the region’s geology, soil, plants, and animals. Sacagawea, a young Shoshone interpreter, helped the party communicate as it crossed unfamiliar territory. The expedition also built relations with Indigenous nations whose assistance helped it endure difficult conditions and navigate the Rocky Mountains.

Although the explorers did not find a Northwest Passage, they documented much about the West and established a route that later contributed to the country’s expansion across the continent.

Speakers and Sources Featured

• Narrator/reporter: Lee Cowan, identified in the video metadata; the subtitles do not name the speaker.
• Other speakers: None identified in the subtitles.