Lewis and Clark Basics

When Daniel suggested we sort of follow the route taken by Lewis and Clark I had to refresh my memory and learn more of the history.  The expedition started in 1803 and was commissioned by our coolest prez ever Thomas Jefferson.  He wanted them to find a waterway to the west but also to learn about both commercial opportunities and the natural science of the new land.

Merriwether was an Army guy and so was Lewis who he invited to partner with him.  Lewis became the cartographer on the expedition.  They were best friends.  Being military men, they needed some basic science training before they started out so they took courses in botany, paleontology and so on.

The expedition collected plants!  I didn't know that.  It's nice that there is such a prestigious precedent for our collecting trip.  Here is proof - a photo of one of the specimens they collected.  It, and many others, is housed at the Philadelphia Academy of Science.  We may stop there to look at knotweeds at the beginning of our adventure.

The so-called Corps of Discovery started in DC and went through Delaware, Maryland and Virginia.  Then on to Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois and Missouri.  Then westward through the great plains -- Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South and North Dakota, then through the mountains of Montana, Idaho, and Washington.  We won't hit all of those states for sure.  But we will also add others, like Minnesota.

Here is a link to a map showing their journey:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carte_Lewis-Clark_Expedition-en.png