The Corps of Discovery

Traveling today, from Bowling Green to St. Charles, we noticed the road cuts, how horizontal the beds are with no folding or tilting.

By now you probably know that this part of the continent was once covered by a warm shallow sea and the continent of North America was located near the equator. There this sediment was laid down.

Love the oversized pig to get your attention in Troy, MO.

As we were driving into St. Charles we passed highway information signs that read - Winter Weather Drill - Watch for plows. Here's one out in the 73 degree weather.

A few days ago Frederick and I began watching the Ken Burns documentary -- Lewis & Clark: the Journey of the Corps of Discovery. We felt that because we are on a journey of discovery, we might as well learn from the masters. Then, two nights ago when we were planning our itinerary, we realized that we would be going through St. Louis where Lewis and Clark began their journey in 1804. When we were looking for a campground in the area, we found one that is open in St. Charles, right outside of St. Louis where Lewis and Clark had a camp where they prepared to travel. That is where we are tonight.

This afternoon we went to visit the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Nature Center in St. Charles.

As we entered the museum, the map shows the paths taken by Lewis & Clark's Corps of Discovery as they explored the west. The 8,000 mile journey from St. Charles to the Pacific and back again took 28 months. 

There are dioramas illustrating some of the highlights of the expedition.

Camp Wood River, built opposite the mouth of the Missouri River, where the men trained and prepared for the long journey.

The Mandan village in  North Dakota where the Corps of Discovery spent the winter of 1804-05. The Indians and traders of this area were able to give the men invaluable information for their departure into the unknown territory.

Crossing the Bitterroot Mountains in the fall of 1805.

Reaching the Columbia River Gorge on the Washington/Oregon border with Idaho.

Their camp at the mouth of the Columbia where they spent the winter of 1805-06.

Replica of the keelboat of the Expedition. It was 55 feet long and 8 feet wide (Frederick says it is almost twice the length of the Airstream but the same width). The keelboat usually held 27 men while the rest of the Corps of Discovery traveled in the smaller pirogues. The boat went up the Missouri River as far as North Dakota. It returned to St. Louis in May 1805. The rest of the men went on in the pirogues which you can just make out behind the keelboat above.

Bronze of Lewis & Clark plus Lewis' black Newfoundland dog, Seaman, who went on the Expedition.

In 2004-2006 there was a reenactment of the Expedition and a replica of the keelboat and the two pirogues were built. Frederick (for scale) is standing in front of the replica that is housed, behind bars, at the Museum.

I couldn't get a very good picture of the incarcerated boat.

One of the pirogues.

St. Charles was the first capital of the State of Missouri and is a very old city. There is a street with several blocks of brick pavement.