In the summer of 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark embarked on an epic journey west. President Thomas Jefferson had commissioned the Corps of Discovery to explore, to chart, and—above all—to search for a navigable water route leading to the Pacific Ocean and, by extension, commerce with Asia. Their journey led them up the Missouri River, through the Great Plains, over the Rocky Mountains, and eventually to the Pacific Coast. Over the course of 28 months and 8,000 miles, Lewis and Clark accounted for 72 native tribes, drew 140 maps, and documented more than 200 new plants and animals. In the end, Lewis and Clark failed to find a northwest passage to Asia. Yet their journey was hardly in vain. The expedition contributed a wealth of scientific and geographic knowledge, established diplomatic relations with dozens of indigenous tribes, and explored territory never before seen by Europeans. In other words, the journey itself became more important than the destination.
Posted on: Mon, 07 Oct 2013 23:08:44 +0000
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