Lewis and Clark Trip

In 1803 the United States bought the vast of territory between the Mississippi River and the Rocky Mountains. This later became know as the Louisiana Purchase.

In 1804 President Thomas Jefferson sends Louis and Clark expedition to explore the Missouri River and its tributaries for a practical water route to the Pacific Ocean. The explorers were to observe all aspects of territory. This included the Native Tribes, animals, plants and climate.

They start the mouth of the Missouri River May 1804. This exhibit focuses on the explorers' journey west thought what one day would be know as South Dakota. Here they learned a hard lesson about the river's hazards. They found plants and animals unknown to science. They had memorable encounters with the natives.

They camped near the mouth of Bad River in 1804. On September 25 1804 the raised the Untied States' flag. This the first time the Unites States flag flow over South Dakota.

Clark wrote on September 28 1804 we found great difficulty in passing between sandbars and the water is swift and shallow. It took three fourths of a day to go one mile.

On September 21 1804 Clark wrote " at half passed one o'clock this morning the sandbar that we were camping on begin to undermine and gave way by the time made it to shore our camp fell in.

The maps that Captain Clerk brought back gave a new remarkably accurate view of the upper Missouri River and Columbia River Basin. His work was among the first that show the western mountains consisted of many rangers rather than just one. The geographical knowledge gained on this expedition finally put rest the long cherished hope of finding an easy water route to the Pacific.

Native believed that on Sprit Mount that devils residence there. That they looked remarkable like human with large heads and were 18 inches high. They were armed with shape arrows.

Lewis and Clark climbed Spirit Mount . Spirit Mount is an isolated hill located about six miles north of Vermillion South Dakota. From the top of Spirit Mount Clark and Lewis could see landscape. Numerous herds of buffalo were feeding. The plain extends to the north northwest and northeast as far as you can see.

On September 7 1804 Lewis and Clark encountered their first prairie near Ft. Randall Dam. They thought they were braking squirrels.

Clark said gazing across open grassland of the Great Plains was a new experience for the Crops of Discovery. For commences a beautiful country. From this plain an extensive view of the river blow and the irregular hills which border the opposite side the river and creek. This scenery is already beautiful enough but it is still farther heightened by the immense herds of buffalo, deer, elk, and antelope can be seen in every direction feeding on the hills and plains.

Lacking a good interpreter Lewis and Clark had an uneasy meeting with the Teton Lakota on September 25 1804 at the mouth of Bad River. The powerful Teton forced other tribes to pay for using the Missouri River. The Teton tried to seizing one the expedition's canoes for payment. Clark drew his sword and the Teton string their bows. But there was no blood shed. The expedition stayed with the Teton for three days. But they were always on guard.

The expedition met the Arikaras close to the South Dakota and North Dakota border. The Airkaras lived in earth lodge villages. These sedentary farming tribe was dominated by Teton who controlled the Missouri River. Teton force the Arikaras to sell their crops for a low price. The Airkaras welcome Lewis and Clark in hopes that they would open up a new trading opportunities and break the Teton monopoly.

The crops of discovery left South Dakota on October 14 1804. Moving up the river to spend the winter with the Mandan Indians. The following spring they continued west reaching the Pacific Ocean in November 1805. After spending the winter in Oregon They quickly moved passed through South Dakota in late August 1806.

They reached the end of their great journey at St Louis in September 1806.