Lewis and Clark

In 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition reached what is now Kansas. Here they spent three days and celebrated Independence Day. The Kansas Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission is working toward events September 10-15,2006 to commemorate the return of the Expedition.

Visit the Lewis & Clark in Kansas web site

Shop for Kansas Lewis & Clark Bicentennial commemorative items.

For information on the Main Street program for teachers, visit the Lewis & Clark in Kansas web site and go to Education.

Order the Kansas Kaleidoscope issue on Lewis & Clark.

These communities are on the Lewis and Clark trail:

Kansas City
Leavenworth
Fort Leavenworth
Atchison
Highland
White Cloud

Kansas City

From June 26 - 28, 1804 the Lewis & Clark expedition camped at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers. Based on the expedition's impressions of the region, many Native American tribes in the East were relocated to what is now Kansas. Today, Kansas City boasts a rich history represented by museums, monuments and more than 30 festivals. Points of interest:

A kiosk dedicated to Lewis & Clark at the Wyandotte Historical Society and Museum

The Grinter Place features a garden with native grasses

The point (the confluence of the rivers) where the Lewis & Clark camped several days

For more information contact the Kansas City, KS / Wyandotte County Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.kckcvb.org, 913-321-500 or 800-264-1563

Leavenworth / Fort Leavenworth

On July 2, 1804, Lewis & Clark encountered their first Kansa village near Leavenworth. Then on their return in 1806, Lewis collected his final botanical specimen near the confluence of Three-Mile Creek and the Missouri River, the planned site of a statue of Lewis depicting this occurrence. Points of interest:

Historical Lewis & Clark wayside marker at Fort Leavenworth overlooking the Missouri River

Lewis & Clark displays at the Frontier Army Museum at Fort Leavenworth

Lewis & Clark historical marker located on the banks of the Missouri River

For more information contact the Leavenworth Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.lvarea.com/cvb, 800-844-4114

Atchison

On July 4, 1804, the Corps of Discovery observed the first Independence Day in the West at present-day Atchison and named Independence Creek, which they camped near. Today, Atchison is notable for its impressive Victorian homes and as the birthplace of Amelia Earhart. Points of interest:

Commemorative statue of Lewis & Clark, Sacajewea, York and Seaman at the Atchison County Historical Society Museum.

Nearby Independence Creek

Two D.A.R. markers commemorating the Lewis & Clark

Benedictine Bottoms wetlands area

For more information, contact the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce at www.atchison.org, 913-367-2427 or 800-234-1854

Highland / White Cloud

A major exhibit was developed on the impact of the Lewis & Clark military expedition upon the tribes inhabiting the eastern woodlands and the prairies along the Missouri River by the Native American Heritage Museum at Highland in cooperation with the Iowa Tribe of Kansas & Nebraska and the Sac and Fox Tribal Museum. Points of interest:

The famous "Tall Oak" Monument on the south lawn of the Troy courthouse

A D.A.R. marker at White Cloud commemorating the Lewis & Clark expedition

Riverviews at the four-state lookout in White Cloud

For more information contact the Doniphan County Economic Development Office at www.dpcountyks.com, 913-365-2604

A Journey Fourth

History

Journal Entries

William Clark papers

Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission in Kansas

National Lewis & Clark Bicentennial