Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

From 1804 to 1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the Corps of Discovery, exploring the territory of the Louisiana Territory, which the United States had recently acquired. The two men’s journals of their expedition (with contributions from others in the Corps) provide an account of the efforts of Lewis and Clark to achieve the varied goals of the Corps of Discovery.

President Thomas Jefferson (responsible for the Louisiana Purchase as well as the commissioning of the Lewis and Clark expedition) wanted the Corps of Discovery to proclaim American sovereignty over the Native American tribes in the Louisiana Territory and to study and record details of the geography and natural resources of the area. The expedition did so and also cataloged hundreds of examples of the flora and fauna of the region. The journals provide rich information on the geography and climatology of the West, from the expedition’s initial route along the Missouri River to their ultimate arrival...