>>> THE PURCHASE OF THE LOUISIANA TERRITORY
FROM FRANCE IN JULY, 1803, ACQUIRED LAND WEST
OF THE MISSISSIPPI FOR THE YOUNG UNITED STATES.
THE NEW LAND WAS UNCHARTERED SO PRESIDENT
JEFFERSON SENT MERIWETHER LEWIS AND WILLIAM
CLARK TO DISCOVER A WATER ROUTE TO THE PACIFIC.
LEWIS AND CLARK LED A GROUP OF 33 VOLUNTEERS
DURING THE EXPEDITION.
THEIR TASKS INCLUDED DOCUMENTING WILDLIFE
AND CARTOGRAPHY, AND TO LEARN ABOUT THE NATIVE
AMERICANS LIVING ALONG THE ROUTE.
THE EXPEDITION BEGAN NEAR MODERN SAINT CHARLES,
MISSOURI, IN MAY, 1804.
LEWIS AND CLARK REACHED THE PACIFIC OCEAN
IN NOVEMBER, 1805, AND RETURNED AS HEROES
IN ST.
LOUIS IN SEPTEMBER, 1806.
THE ONLY DEATH ON ROUTE WAS SERGEANT CHARLES
FLOYD WHO PASSED WITH APPENDICITIS NEAR SIOUX
CITY IN AUGUST, 1804.
IN JANUARY, 1905, WHILE WINTERING WITH THE
MANDAN INDIANS NEAR MODERN BISMARK, NORTH
DAKOTA, LEWIS AND CLARK HIRED A TRAPPER NAMED
TOUSSAINT CHARBONNEAU TO GUIDE THEM FURTHER
WEST.
MORE IMPORTANTLY, CHARBONNEAU'S WIFE, SACAGAWEA
OF THE SHOSHONI TRIBE COULD TRANSLATE WITH
NATIVE AMERICANS IN HOSTILE LANDS.
THE JOURNEY SPANNED OVER 8,000�MILES IN
THREE YEARS.
