Historical1804
Lewis and Clark Expedition Departs
Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and the Corps of Discovery departed from Camp Dubois near St. Louis to explore the Louisiana Purchase territory and find a route to the Pacific Ocean. The journey would take over two years and cover nearly 8,000 miles.
Why It Matters
The expedition expanded American knowledge of the continent, strengthened U.S. claims to the Pacific Northwest, and demonstrated the young republic's ambition to become a continental nation.