From 1804 to 1806, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and a corps of 42 hearty souls trekked 8,000 miles roundtrip through a country that was mostly unknown to the young nation’s government. Envisioned by U.S. President Thomas Jefferson, the expedition sought to explore the Missouri River and locate a northwest passage to the Pacific Ocean. The group was charged with thoroughly examining the geography, geology, ethnology, botany, and wildlife of the recently purchased Louisiana Territory and establishing good relationships with American Indians.
Many of the places Lewis and Clark visited on their journey westward have been recognized for their significance to the collective heritage of the United States. Some are set aside as state parks, while others are protected within the National Park System as national historic sites, national historical parks, and national memorials.
During the bicentennial year of the conclusion of Lewis and Clark’s journey, the Center for State of the Parks endeavored to determine the conditions of cultural and natural resources at six national parks that are associated with the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Do these places look as they did when the Corps of Discovery laid eyes upon them? Are the resources well-protected and interpreted for visitors? Please click on the interactive map below to learn more.
National Parks Along the Lewis and Clark Trail State of the Parks report chapters:
Introduction (PDF, 1.1 MB, 7 pages)
Fort Union Trading Post National Historic Site (PDF, 1.8 MB, 11 pages | read sumary)
Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site (PDF, 2.1 MB, 12 pages | read summary)
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (PDF, 1.4 MB, 10 pages | read summary)
Lewis and Clark National Historical Park (PDF, 2.1 MB, 12 pages | read summary)
Missouri National Recreational River (PDF, 2.1 MB, 12 pages | read summary)
Nez Perce National Historical Park (PDF, 2.1 MB, 12 pages | read summary)
Summary (PDF, 352 KB, 2 pages)
