04/30/99

Discover with Lewis and Clark

Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's trail blazing expedition departed from St. Louis 195 years ago, on May 14, 1804. In a span of twenty-eight months, they covered 8,000 miles, journeying to the Pacific Ocean and back again. What adventures befell them? Discover for yourself.

Discovering Lewis & Clark

"The Object of your mission is to explore the Missouri river & such principal stream of it as by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific ocean, wether the Columbia, Oregon, Colorado or any other river may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent for the purpose of commerce." With these words, President Jefferson set in motion the Lewis and Clark expedition of 1804 - 1806. This amazing multimedia site is my don't-miss-it pick of the day, even though it is still a work in progress.

Journey of the Corps of Discovery

In 1803 Congress approved an appropriation of $2,500 to fund the Lewis and Clark expedition, which Jefferson named the Corps of Discovery. Over the next four years, the Lewis and Clark team traveled "thousands of miles, experiencing lands, rivers and peoples that no Americans ever had before." Now, thanks to this great PBS site, it's your turn to lead the expedition. Into the Unknown is an interactive game (and my favorite click of the entire site) which lets you make decisions such as when to continue up the river or to stop and wait out the storm. Other great clicks are the free Lewis and Clark screen savers, the native American perspective, and the expedition time line.

Lead the Way

Here's another interactive story, this one from USA Weekend. As a virtual explorer "you'll face six major decisions that affect the outcome of the expedition. Choose the right answers and you'll reach the end of the trail where you can register for a prize." For example, on November 24, 1805, Lewis and Clark decided to poll the expedition members on where they should create their winter camp. U.S. law, at that time, did not allow women or African American slaves to vote. As captain, who do you think should be allowed to vote in the poll?

Lewis & Clark at National Geographic

Lewis & Clark at National Geographic http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisclark/index.html ***** This Lewis and Clark site is chock full of adventures for explorers of all ages. Elementary kids should head directly to Go West Across America for a virtual Lewis and Clark expedition based on the children's book of the same name. Others will enjoy the cyber campfires, which provide a snapshot into the explorer's world. "The whol face of the country was covered with herds of Buffaloe," noted Lewis on April 25, 1805. Can you imagine the plains covered with an estimated 60 million bison?

Lewis & Clark in North Dakota

True or False: All members of the expedition were human. Answer: False. "While purchasing supplies for the Corps of Discovery, Captain Meriwether Lewis bought a full-grown Newfoundland dog in Pittsburgh for $20 and named it Seaman. . . . Seaman accompanied Lewis everywhere. He made it from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back, 8,000 miles, suffering the same bad food, bugs and danger as the rest of the expedition." More interesting facts can be found under Trivia, along with maps, a roster and time lines.

Please send questions or comments to feldman@surfnetkids.com.