Probably the key event in Nebraska's state history is America's Westward Expansion. In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson asked Congress for a secret expedition to explore the area west of the Mississippi River. He sought trade routes across the continent to the Pacific Ocean. This message and this expedition were to be secret, because the territory in question was owned by France.
That July, Napolean, in need of cash for his endeavours in Haiti, offered to sell the entire Louisiana territory for $15,000,000. Overnight, our nation grew by nearly 1 million square miles, from the Mississippi to the Rockies, from the Gulf of Mexico to Canada. This came as a welcome surprise to a president who had long dreamed of expanding America's borders westward. In fact, his selection of Merriwether Lewis as Secretary of State may well have been based on his qualifications as a man knowledgeable of this region.
On May 14, 1804, Merriwether Lewis and William Clark set out with the orders from President Jefferson, "...explore the Missouri River and such principal stream of it, as by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific Ocean, may offer the most direct and practical water communication across the continent, for the purposes of commerce." The journey would take them 21/2 years and 8,000 miles.
Slowly paddling up the Missouri River, the small expedition noted the changing landscape as they left behind what is now Missouri and entered the Nebraska/Iowa region of the Missouri River. July 30, 1804, they camped at Fort Calhoun, NE.
"Set out early this morning proceeded on to a Clear open Prairie on the LS on a rise of about 70 feet higher than the bottom which is also a Prairie both forming Bluffs to the river of High Grass Plumb bush Grapes and situated above high water is a small grove of timber at the foot of the Riseing Ground between those two prairies, and below the Bluffs of the high prairie we Came too and formed a Camp*, intending to waite the return of the french man & Indians. - the white horse which we found near the Kanzeis River, Died last night. I am ingaged in and drawing off my courses to accompany the map Drawn at White Catfish Camp." Clark
"this day Joseph Fields killed a Braro** as it is called by the French engages. it's weight is sixteen pounds." Lewis
Today, you can drive along the Missouri River in Northeast Nebraska/Northwest Iowa and see the area Lewis and Clark first explored. So closely is this area of Nebraska tied to this expedition that the whole region is knows as the "Lewis and Clark" region of Nebraska. There are many sites of historic interest, complete with markers, maps and visitors' centers.
Courtesy Special Collections, Harold B. Lee Library, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT 84602 View of the Missouri River and Council Bluffs From an Elevation Frederick Hawkins Piercy, (1830-1891) Steel Engraving, black&white, 16.5 X 25.5 cm
This site gives several points of interest allong the Missouri River with background information and links to help you plan your journey into this fascinating part of our state's history. Here you can obtain a complete trail brochure from the National Parks Service, free of charge. The Lewis and Clark Trail is one of four National Historic Trails.
Here you can read the travel logs kept by the expedition. Lewis and Clark truly were the "writingest explorers."
For some in depth information about Lewis and Clark displays, although not necessarily in Nebraska, HERE is an interesting blog. The author, Kathleen A. Dahl, PhD, is an anthropologist with Eastern Oregon University and is studying, "...how the Lewis and Clark Expedition is being interpreted in museums and historic sites."
What initially began as an introduction to an entry seems to have grown to an entry all its own. So if you were looking forward to my discussion of the significance of the Platte River, please check back near the end of next month. I will be posting similar tours of our state's history near the end of each month, and this entry is the model I plan to follow.
Have you been to any of these sites? Would you care to share your Lewis and Clark adventures? Leave a note in comments or email me and I will include it. Sounds like a great assignment for your little kiddos! (for safety reasons, I will not post any identifying information about children, but will send you the link if it is included on this blog). If you have a blog already here on homeschoolblogger (it's free!), you can also post it there and let me know the link.
Updates for homeschoolers living in or moving to Nebraska.
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