The Lewis and Clark Expedition
such excellent descriptions and botanical terms that later botanists had no difficulty finding the plants he described. Ten of these plants had been unknown to science before Lewis wrote them down. He described several plants they used for food such as the rush, the wappato, evergreen huckleberry, salal berries, and bearberries. Many of the specimens he collected are still preserved at the Academy of Natural Sciences of Philadelphia.
Lewis also described the many fish, birds, animals, shellfish, and amphibians he saw. Dozens of those were new to science and he described them in meticulous detail. He noted their anatomy, habits, and range. He also discussed how Indians used them. Three fish and eleven birds he described that had not been known to science.
At the same time Clark made numerous maps and geographical notes. He drew the first map of the region they had traveled. He showed their route across North America. He used the stars to pinpoint longitude and latitude. They used this map to explore a new route on the return trip. Clark left a copy of his map and some notes with the Indians to give to the next white men they saw, as evidence that Lewis and Clark had succeeded in their mission. This was in case they did not survive the return journey.
They left the fort on March 23, 1806, a few days earlier than their expected departure. This was because the elk herd had retreated into the mountains, making food scarce. They took the same route back as far as the Rockies. From there, Lewis went northeast to explore the Marias River in northern Montana. Clark took some men southeast to look for the headwaters of the Yellowstone River.
They joined up where the Yellowstone empties into the Missouri, some 700 miles away. Six months and 4,000 miles later they reached St. Louis and the end of their journey.
Latest Articles