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President Thomas Jefferson sends a secret message
President Thomas Jefferson sends a secret message to congress asking for approval and funding for an expedition of the newly purchased Louisiana territory. -
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Lewis and Clark
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Meriwether Lewis Chosen
Meriwether Lewis is chosen to lead the Louisiana expedition -
Expedition Begins
The expedition begins from near St Louis Missouri with 35 men including Lewis and Clark -
The expedition meets the Oto and Missouri Indians
This is the first official meeting between Indians of the west and the United States. Peace is promised. -
Expedition Enters the Great Plains
The expedition enters the Great Plains and starts to see new animals and plants. In all the expedition records 178 new plants and 122 new animals. -
Mandans and Hidatsas
In now North Dakota, discovers the villages of the Mandans and the Hidatsas. 4500 people live in these villages. That is more people than lived in Washington D.C. at that time. -
Sacagawea
The expedition hires Toussaint Charbonneau, a Canadian fur trader living with the Indians, as an interpreter. His young wife was 14 year old Sacagawea and she joined the expedition. -
Fort Mandan
The expedition completes their winter home called Fort Mandan. -
Jean Baptiste
Sacagawea gives birth to a baby boy, they name him Jean Baptiste. -
Report Back to Jefferson
The expedition sends a team with artifacts from their journey back to Jefferson. The rest of the team heads west continuing their journey. -
The Missouri River
The expedition reaches the three forks of the Missouri River. The expedition continues down the South West fork of the river which they call the Jefferson. -
Rock the Rocky Mountains
Lewis and Clark start to cross the Rocky Mountains. -
Columbia River
Lewis and Clark reach the Columbia River, in what is today Oregon. -
Ocean in View
Believing he sees the Pacific Ocean, Clark writes "Ocean in View". What he sees is the widening of the Columbia River. -
Pacific Ocean
The expedition reaches th Pacific Ocean. -
End of Winter
After a long winter the expedition heads home. -
National Heroes
Having found an easier way home, the team reaches Saint Lewis, two and a half years after they have began.They become national heroes.
