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The Louisiana Purchase
Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana territory from Napolean Bonaparte. Jefferson wanted Meriwether Lewis to lead it, and he chose his close friend Second Lieutenant William Clark to be co-captain -
The Lewis and Clark Expedition Begins
The Corps of Discovery leaves St, Louis Missouri behind and begins the expedition -
1804-1805 winter at Fort Mandan in ND
The Corps of Discorver spent the 1804-1805 winter at Fort Mandan in North Dakota. They reached central North Dakota in October. Sacagewea joins the Corps at this time. -
The Corps Enters Montana
In April 1805 the Corps of Discovery enter what is now Montana -
Crossing the Rocky Mountains
The Corps begins their long journey of crossing the Rockies -
The Corps reaches the Pacific Ocean
The Corps of Discovery reaches the Pacific Ocean -
Winter spent at Fort Clatsop on Oregon coast
The Corps spends the winter of 1805-1806 at Fort Clatsop on the Oregon coast -
The Corps begins their journey home
The Corps of Discovery begins their journey home back up the Columbia River to the East. They later divide when they reach the Bitterroot Valley; Clark to map the Yellowstone River and Lewis to head north to explore the Marias River. -
The Corps reunites
Lewis and Clark meet back up at the mouth of the Yellowstone River -
The Corps reaches St. Louis Missouri
The Corps of Discovery makes it back home to St. Louis Missouri
