Lewis and Clark Expedition

Louisiana Purchase

Jul 4, 1803

Construction of Keelboat

Jul 7, 1803

In Pittsburgh, Lewis oversees construction of a keelboat. He then picks up William Clark and other recruits when he traveled down the Ohio River.

Camp Wood, Fall/Winter 1803

Nov 7, 1803

Lewis and Clark established Camp Wood located in Wood River Illinois.

Begins Lewis and Clark's Journey

May 14, 1804

White Cliffs of Missouri

May 31, 1804

Independence Day West of the Mississipi

Jul 4, 1804

Council with Otto and Missouri Indians

Aug 3, 1804

North of Omaha, NE

Sergeant Charles Floyd Dies of Natural Causes

Aug 20, 1804

Near Sioux City, IA. Only fatality on this journey.

Council with Yankton Sioux

Aug 30, 1804

Near Yanton, South Dakota

Enters Great Plains

Sep 7, 1804

Teton Sioux Indians

Sep 25, 1804

Pierre South Dakota

Reach Mandan and Hidatsa Villages

Oct 24, 1804

Buffalo Hunting tribes.

Hire Toussaint Charbonneau and Sacagawea

Nov 4, 1804

Sacagawea was an essential part of this expedition. They were to interpret with other tribes.

Recorded 45 degrees below zero

Dec 17, 1804

Finished Building Fort Mandan

Dec 24, 1804

Sacagawea's son was born

Feb 11, 1805

Artifacts and Specimens sent to Jefferson

Apr 7, 1805

Kill first Grizzly Bear

Apr 29, 1805

Near Yellowstone River

Sacagawea saves possessions

May 16, 1805

Boat overturns.

Reach unknown fork in Missouri

Jun 1, 1805

Great Falls of Missouri

Jun 13, 1805

They must carry their boats around these falls.

Reach Three Forks of Missouri

Jul 24, 1805

Name them Jefferson, Gallatin, and Madison

Beaverhead Rock

Aug 8, 1805

Sacagawea knows they are close to Shoshone Islands

Crosses Continental Divide and Lemhi Pass

Aug 12, 1805

Shoshone Camp

Aug 17, 1805

Head to Bitterroot Mountains

Aug 31, 1805

With horses and a mule from the Shoshone Tribe

Start crossing Rocky Mountains

Sep 11, 1805

They will cover 160 miles

Nez Perce Indians

Sep 23, 1805

Starving they emerge from the Mountains to find the village of the Nez Perce Indians

Canoe down Clearwater River

Oct 7, 1805

Idaho

Columbia River

Oct 16, 1805

Last water way before the Pacific Ocean.

Dalles and Celilo Falls

Oct 28, 1805

Clark believes he sees the Ocean

Nov 7, 1805

It is the widening of the Columbia River

Reach Pacific, Fort Clatsop

Nov 24, 1805

On Clatsop Indian side of Columbia River

Set out for home

Mar 23, 1806

Gave fort to Clatsop Indians

Reach St. Louis, Home

Sep 23, 1806

After 2 1/2 years on the journey to find a path to the west, they arrive home as heroes.