 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
Fort Clatsop
|
Home > History Museum > Lewis and Clark > Other Lewis & Clark Links
Recommended Lewis & Clark WebsitesThe following websites have been featured in our monthly Lewis & Clark Bicentennial newsletter, and are presented with the full text of the original review. To subscribe to the newsletter, please enter your email address in the "Keep up with Lewis & Clark" subscription box at right.
The Oregon State University Leopold Project is a continuation of the cross-disciplinary studies of Aldo Leopold, intersecting forestry and wildlife science with ecosystems. The Leopold site features an interesting Geographic Information Systems (GIS) application based on the journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Using daily journal entries they have developed "a spatial database, recording and mapping wildlife distribution and abundance, various ecological observations as well as encounters with the Native population." The database is focused on nine of the larger mammals, animals that were seen and hunted along the trail. One objective of the study was to "examine the relationship between wildlife observations and proximity to human settlements." The results showed that even low human population densities, such as Native American settlements, have a discernible impact on the presence of wildlife. The website features just a single page, but there is a lot of information to be culled from that page. Dots on the trail are so densely placed as to appear as a solid line. Zoom in on the map to separate out individual locations. Journal entry dots from the westward trek are in red, eastward entries appear as green dots. Click on dots of either color to see data on latitude, longitude, date of entry, and how many animals were sighted and how many killed for sustenance. Click on any state shown and it turns yellow and displays information about the state--name, abbreviation, and area. One problem with the data is the lack of explanation of the database field names, leaving the user to figure out the precise meaning of obscure terms such as FID or BOB_CAMPS_. Fortunately, however, most of the terms are easily translated, which insures that even novice users can find out a great deal about the wildlife seen and eaten by the members of the Corps of Discovery. LEWIS & CLARK IN THE COLUMBIA RIVER GORGE
The main graphical feature of the site, located in The Journey, is a series of interactive maps. Pick a region - West, Central, or East - to view an enlarged section, then select one of the numbered sites. An interpretive window appears, explaining the significance of that site, and what the traveler will find there today. Embark on a Self-Guided Expedition via more maps that show the way to historical sites and museums. A more extensive listing of museums is found in the Storytellers section, and help for the intrepid tourist can be found in the Your Guides section. The American Indian Heritage introduces you to the Native American perspective, and leads you to several major cultural centers. Wind, Waves, and American Indians is a potentially valuable site to anyone interested in exploring the Gorge, whether for its history, or its natural splendor. WISDOM OF THE ELDERS http://www.lewisandclarkgnet.org/index/
The elders' wisdom is dispensed on topics both practical and spiritual. Series One programs include fascinating and far-reaching subjects such as The Sacred Earth, Cry of the Earth/Prophecy, and The Horse and The Harvest. Within each program several Native American themes are featured—plants, music, history, and stories. Pulitzer Prize winning author, N. Scott Momaday lends his voice to the Sacred Earth program, and Washington's own Lillian Pitt discusses her cultural heritage as a Wasco. Series Two programs take a slightly different tack, with each program featuring different tribes of the Plains. The sub-themes for each segment are Sacred Landscape, Tribal Rhythms, Contemporary Rhythms, and Turtle Island Storytellers. Sacred Landscape with Judy Bluehorse Skelton deals with the earth's precious resources. Tribal Rhythms by Nico Wind features traditional Native American culture, while Contemporary Rhythms has Milt Lee keeping tempo with modern tribal musicians, from blues to rap. The Turtle Island Storytellers present stories from elders from each of the tribal groups. Wisdom of the Elders is a national organization, presenting viewpoints from Native American cultures from all corners of the country, but there are some very notable Northwesterners appearing in the Series One programs. In addition to Ms. Pitt, we are treated to Vi Hilbert talking about the Upper Skagit generations who came before her. Several Northwesterners are on the production team as well. Each of the programs features both audio and transcripts of the show, making this site a highly satisfying stop for anyone with an interest in Native American cultures. Lewis and Clark gNet http://www.lewisandclarkgnet.org/index/
Teachers will love the Education section, which features not only enormously educational video lectures and/or talks by noted experts on various aspects of the Corps of Discovery, but highlights reels which condense each videotaped segment down to a few minutes while still maintaining the main points of the speaker. Teachers are also given the opportunity to browse the Corps of Discovery II Photo Library, and live webcasts of reenactments of the three-year voyage of Lewis & Clark. Another incredible educational tool is the database of journal entries, searchable by keyword or by date. For classroom use, the entire database can be printed out chronologically. As the Corps II members travel around the country, they have created videos of various speakers in the Tent of Many Voices. Whether you are a student, teacher, or just a seeker of knowledge, you will enjoy these videotaped presentations by academicians, park rangers and members of the Native American community. The site also houses a database of all the Corps of Discovery II Trail Stops and other events. A multi-layered interactive tourist map will aid you in finding out where to find the Corps II folks at any given point in time and space. While the interactive map portion of the site is not yet active, the rest of the site is robust and entertaining enough to keep the visitor interested and returning often. The Corps 33 http://www.secstate.wa.gov/history/pdf/corps33.pdf
The Trail Committee and the Heritage Chapter selected the titles for the list, and supplied short annotations, while the Library provided the bibliographic information. Books about Thomas Jefferson and Native Americans are included to provide full context for the expedition. Some of the titles can be purchased at the local book store, some are rare books, and some can only be found in reference libraries. The Corps 33 is just the first part of the much larger bibliography to come - two hundred of the most significant books about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. There is no indication as to when the expanded list might be available, but it's bound to be an extremely useful reference tool. Thomas Jefferson http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/jefferson/
The story is split into eight chapters, the first of which is titled Life and Labor at Monticello, where the visitor is treated to glimpses of the life of a plantation owner—a map of Virginia drawn by his father Peter; bills of sale for slaves; plans for educating his daughters; and a newspaper article about his relationship to the children of Sally Hemings, one of his slaves. Chapter two, Creating a Virginia Republic delves further into Jefferson's vision for a republican society that would transform the political, legal, and educational landscapes of his time. The next chapter is Declaration of Independence: Right to Institute New Government, which follows Jefferson as he is assigned the task of producing a draft document for the consideration of the Continental Congress. We are shown various drafts of the Declaration of Independence, in addition to the final version, and various paintings and lithographs featuring the founding fathers. Establishing a Federal Republic chronicles his rise within the newly established American government, despite his assignment to France. His influence was felt through his correspondence, some of which can be viewed in this section. The fifth chapter, The West, explains Jefferson's fascination with the American West and deep commitment to its incorporation into the United States. Even before he held a national office, Jefferson advocated exploratory expeditions into the west. As a European diplomat, Jefferson became a champion of the French Revolution as we discover in A Revolutionary World. He was convinced that liberty would spread around the world, guided by the American Declaration of Independence. Chapter seven, Legacy, describes Jefferson's later years, including a copy of the gravestone he designed for himself. The final section, Jefferson's Library, speaks to his ardent love of books. He collected such a fine library that when the Congressional library was destroyed during the War of 1812, Jefferson was able to restock the library by selling his own collection to Congress. The text is wonderfully instructive and well-organized, but the true beauty of this site is in the images of Jefferson's writings, maps, and plans, as well as the artwork and artifacts, that resurrect this great man's life for our digital edification. Experience Washington http://www.experiencewashington.com/lewisandclark/default.html
The Story and The Trail both utilize an interactive map with designated regions. The Story section will provide the user with brief historical background on each region. The Trail section provides "Locations of note" for the same regions. It's a good approach, but could benefit from an expansion of the available information. Tribal Homelands starts out promisingly, with a beautiful photo of a row of Yakama teepees and several good paragraphs about the tribes then and now. However, this reviewer felt that there could definitely be more about the tribes in this site overall - perhaps links to some the tribal websites, or directions to their cultural centers, since as the site states, "indigenous Indian people continue to play a key role in shaping the Pacific Northwest we treasure today." As might be intuited, Events provides a listing of a number of Lewis and Clark Bicentennial events in Washington state. The Photo Gallery is the jewel in this site's crown, though. Each of the seven regions found the interactive map of the Trail has at least one wonderful photo of the Columbia River area along with information or quotes from the journals of the Corps of Discovery. Although the photos and the captions are not always clearly related —a picture of the Stonehenge replica at Maryhill illustrates a quote about the "horrid appearance of the agitated gut Swelling, boiling & whorling in every direction"—it's hard to find fault with high-quality, dramatic images of our home state. Even if you're not planning an immediate trip, it is fun to click over to the trip planning section, if only to view the 360 Virtual Tours of the Lewis & Clark Trail Scenic Byways (http://www.experiencewashington.com/byways/Byway.aspx?bwid=11). Although there is only a single interactive movie of the Cape Disappointment Lighthouse, the photography by Brad Bohonus is lovely, and the images have been seamlessly joined to create a true in-the-round experience. If you don't have Apple Quicktime, it's time to consider getting it. Then you can browse around the rest of the site looking for more gorgeous views of Washington! Lewis and Clark's Journey through Washington State
Follow in Their Footsteps begins in the homelands of the Nez Perce, where the Clearwater and Snake rivers come together. This section takes the user through the story of the Expedition as they traveled through what would become Washington State. Follow in Their Footsteps features a map with significant points along the Snake, Clearwater and Columbia rivers highlighted to guide the user through the trip. Visit State Parks Along the Way focuses on attracting visitors to spend the night in one of the places where the Corps of Discovery rested 200 years ago, albeit it in somewhat better quarters than the Corps enjoyed. Bicentennial Events and Activities keeps the traveler informed of special events along the trail. Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, located at Cape Disappointment State Park has a page of its own, advising the public of the hours, admission rates, camping, hiking and other recreational opportunities. A list of Featured Creatures—including skunks, weasels, heron, osprey, sturgeon, and squid—tells potential visitors what's inside the Center. Sacajawea State Park and Interpretive Center—named for the Shoshone woman who journeyed with the Corps of Discovery—is also featured on the site. The Jay Perry Room of Indian Artifacts contains an outstanding collection of stone and bone tools from the Columbia Basin Plateau dating back 200 to 12,000 years. The history of Lewis & Clark in Washington is competently related in the Follow in Their Footsteps portion of the website, with the other sections offering up points of fun and interest along the way. One can even purchase commemorative postage stamps and special envelopes by which to remember the Washington Lewis & Clark Trail. LEWIS AND CLARK HISTORICAL ARTICLES
The site covers the preparations for the journey and the selection of the members, in several articles under the Personnel section. Most sites feature Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, or Sacagawea and York, but this site has chosen instead to place lesser known members of the Corps such as William Bratton, John Collins, Hugh McNeal, and Alexander Willard in the spotlight. In addition to the articles about expedition members, the user can peruse a series of 200 Years Ago this Week in the Lewis and Clark Expedition pages as well. Starting with October 12-18, 1803, Lewis meets Clark in Louisville, and Jefferson urges Congress to approve the treaty for the Purchase of Louisiana. Each week of the Expedition receives similar treatment, right up to April 2, 1805. Presumably this is a work in progress, which will eventually encompass the entire journey, and end with the passing of the Bicentennial commemoration. The site will hopefully continue to stand as a useful tool for students of Lewis and Clark well after the current public interest has waned. LEWIS AND CLARK ON TEACHERS SCHOLASTIC Scholastic, an international publisher of children’s books and classroom magazines, has built a useful educational site celebrating the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial. The site is very student-friendly and fun to use, while also providing a considerable number of teaching tools.
Students are invited to "Join the Expedition" by creating a specimen box, testing their packing smarts, and by donning a news reporter’s hat to describe the events of 1803, 1804 or 1805. Beyond the activities, there are several other interactive games and exercises, such as Mapman, a quick question/answer game, and the Lewis & Clark Cyberhunt, sending students out onto the web to locate answers to more complex questions. Teachers will enjoy the site for the Online Activity Teacher’s Guide that will make planning, teaching and evaluating lessons easy. Instructions for each lesson plan include grade appropriate suggestions for setting up activities, stimulating interest in background knowledge, and related book lists. A section titled "Email from Lewis and Clark" provides edited journal excerpts that focus on each month of the trek. All lessons purportedly meet National Standards. AMERICAN JOURNEYS
It's a sophisticated site, using sophisticated technology, so before you start digging deep, be sure to check out the minimum requirements. If you haven't updated your browser in a while, you could experience some problems. This site is definitely worth the effort of getting the latest browser version. You can click directly from the home page to the Lewis and Clark collection, where you'll be presented with a numbered list of available documents. The documents range from a two page manuscript from Thomas Jefferson, to the original Lewis and Clark journals, as edited by Reuben Gold Thwaites. Scroll down to the bottom of the page, and you are treated to the prospect of viewing sixty-three Karl Bodmer engravings. This is not quite as easy to do as it might seem, as the engravings are scattered throughout the journals, but following the directions carefully will yield results. [Hint: Once into the search results, click only on the pages that have (illustration) in the page name.] During the summer months, the Wisconsin Historical Society blogged the diary of Sgt. Floyd, bringing up a new section each day from May 14 to August 18. Floyd's diary can be viewed at the American Journeys site, but the entries are a bit easier to access at http://www.wisconsinhistory.org/diary/cat_sgt_charles_floyd_1804.asp. There are a number of search/browse functions built into the site, but the most satisfying of them is the Advanced Search. On this page, you can enter keywords to search all fields of the database, or the full text of documents. You can also browse the collection by topic, or by bibliographic data such as author or publisher. If you have plenty of time to browse, click the Show ALL Documents button at the bottom of the page to get a listing of all the digitized documents on the site. For those a bit short on time, try the Highlights section to see a chronological listing of historical events that can be used as a jumping off point to search through the collections. Educators will be happy to note that there is a section called Resources for Teachers. This is a thorough guide for using the collections in the classroom, with suggestions for choosing a topic, how to deal with sensitive content, interpretation, evaluation, and lesson plans. There is a downloadable 11mb, 76-page Teacher Sourcebook in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format. The sourcebook is a "must-have" item for the classroom, as it contains all the information on the site, and is beautifully illustrated to boot. Both students and lifelong learners will find loads of value at American Journeys, so start your trip soon. You'll be on the road for a while!
LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL AND STATE HISTORICAL PARKS Two hundred years ago, on November 22, 1805, Clark wrote about Station Camp in his journal: Oh! How horrible is the day. This storm continued all day with equal violence accompanied with rain . . . The waves and breakers flew over our camp, one canoe split by the tossing of those waves. We are all confined to our camp, and wet. It's not hard to imagine that the Corps of Discovery felt absolutely miserable camping along the Columbia River during a cold, wet Northwest November. In honor of the tribulations of the Corps in Washington, we are reviewing the website of the Lewis and Clark National and State Historical Parks - which will include Station Camp and other Washington and Oregon Lewis and Clark sites. The park was dedicated on November 12th, and the National Park Service has already put up a website. Although the site is new, and still somewhat unformed, it promises to tell the stories of the expedition throughout the Northwest. Among the tales waiting to be told in the months to come are:
A few of the stories are in place already. For instance, you can read about the making of salt near present-day Seaside in Oregon, and how a disappointed John Meares left his mark on the landscape. For the time being, however, the site is filled primarily with descriptions of the improvements that will be made to turn Station Camp and Dismal Nitch (along with other Northwest locations) into a one-of-a-kind park supported by two states and the federal government. October 2004
The "Trailblazer" website is esthetically and technically excellent, but the colloquial tone of the content is what makes it particularly special. The author has a very modern, less-than-reverent view of history that delights in deflating the myths and focusing on the bumbles and mistakes that contributed as much to the expedition as the maps the explorers took with them. The whole site reads like a lecture from the coolest history teacher you could ever have. Although the site's title does feature Lewis and Clark, the captains and Corps are not the primary focus of the site. It also examines the contributions of other explorers coming to the Northwest both before and after the Corps of Discovery. The "By Ship?" page examines the frustration of the early explorers who kept bumping into the Americas on their way to Asia, and the unsuccessful attempts to find a water route through North America. The Mackenzie section chronicles the intrepid explorer's shock at finding himself at the wrong ocean. The Lewis and Clark segment indicates that Mackenzie's efforts were a major incentive for Jefferson to launch an American expedition, but again the hope of a Northwest Passage was entirely baseless. Trinklein also tells of John Jacob Astor's plan to dominate the fur trade, sending his men overland and the supply ship by sea. The mishaps of both men and ship are detailed, as is the decision of Astor to keep the overland route a trade secret, thus making it necessary for others to "rediscover" it at a later date. A section called "Fur Traders" covers the story of those men who made it to the west before Astor conceived of his scheme. The final explorer covered is John Fremont, and this page opens with "John Fremont married well. His wife was the daughter of Senator Thomas Hart Benton of Missouri." It goes on to poke a few holes in Fremont's account of his feats during his first expedition, comparing it to the accounts of the men who accompanied him. The site suggests that the record of first expedition, a highly popular adventure tale, may have actually been written by been written by his wife, Jesse Benton Fremont, and that it may have had much to do with igniting the massive westward migration that following short thereafter. While acknowledging the very real contributions made to scientific knowledge by all these brave men, it humanizes them wonderfully by showing us their shortcomings, their uncertainties, and their sometimes not-so-altruistic ambitions. The overall effect is to paint these individuals as very real human beings, with characteristics not unlike the rest of us, and to help us better understand just how very arduous the journeys truly were. September 2004
In addition to the expected collection of journal entries, the site contains several additional related articles by Moulton and James P. Ronda, audio clips of journals entries and other articles, an image library, and a collection of video clips. The developers have also provided a nice "webography" of Lewis and Clark materials on the Internet. As of this writing, the journals are far from complete—in some cases there may be only a single entry for an entire month—but new entries are being added each month. In time, this site will become a major reference for students of Lewis and Clark. August 2004
Thomas Jefferson had great ambitions for the exploration of the Trans-Mississippi West. In 1793, in the absence of federal funding, then-Secretary of State Jefferson mustered the support of many of his friends to launch a scientific mission headed by the French botanist André Michaux. The subscription list for the voyage is purported to be the "only document known to have been signed by each of the first four Presidents of the United States." International politics contributed to the failure of this mission, but Jefferson's dream lived on. President Jefferson would revive his plans for exploring the West a few years later. Adorned with photographs of the original journals, Cross country in 1804-1806 provides fascinating information on the journey of Lewis and Clark, as well as on the controversy over the relatively pristine condition of their journals. The APS collection consists of fourteen small leather-bound and four board and paper-bound field notebooks. Some editors have argued that the excellent condition of the journals is evidence that they are actually copies of field notes made after the expedition. Others believe that the tin boxes used to carry the journals across the nation served to protect the fragile journals. At the bottom of the journal page is a link to drawings by Charles Willson Peale made from specimens brought back from the Lewis and Clark expedition, along with links to a map of the Great Falls of the Columbia and other sketches from the journals. The American Philosophical Society website holds images and tales about many fabulous national treasures. Follow the links within the text to be taken ever more deeply into the priceless collections of the Society. July 2004
Six major Native American groups are featured in the site—the Lakota; the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara; the Blackfoot Confederacy; the Northern Shoshone and Bannock; the Umatilla, Walla Walla and Cayuse; and the Lower Chinook and Clatsop. The stories of these tribes are told in rich detail, using the magic of modern multimedia to bring the memories of tribal elders to the Web. The variety of topics covered on this site is very satisfying, and the depth of information on each of the topics will keep the motivated visitor browsing this site for a good long time. The textual content is well-supported by historic and modern-day imagery, works of art, and oral testimony from tribal members presented in both written and audio formats. For each of the major groups, the topics of Traditional Culture, Contemporary Culture and Relationship with U. S. are included. The Traditional Culture section explores oral history traditions, ancient homelands, and various aspects of life in the Indian village. Contemporary culture features the language, environmental history and sovereignty of the tribes. Relationship with U.S. investigates early exploration, the fur trade, disease, treaties, and other elements of change introduced through the arrival of the white man. Trailtribes.org does a remarkable job of making the culture of our native peoples enjoyable, accessible, and understandable to all. This is a site that can be visited repeatedly yet provide a new experience each time. June 2004
Brief illustrated essays take the user through the story, which begins at the end of the American Revolution in 1783. It moves quickly into the Jeffersonian era, with the Commander-in-Chief sending Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark out into the unknown reaches of the new nation with specific orders to see and describe "the face of the country." Army explorers continued in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark, with generations of Army men charting waterways, surveying terrain, and collecting rocks, plants and intelligence. Beyond Lewis & Clark continues the tale right up to and beyond the Civil War, to the climax of the Indian Wars. This site has more to offer, however, than just good storytelling. There are several Flash activities that provide a sense of hands-on involvement. Of particular note is the Taking Bearings activity, which gives the user a 360 view of a mountainous wilderness area, and invites him or her to chart landmarks on a map. Another interactive addresses the impact of the addition of color to the science of mapmaking, and a third demonstrates the shrinking domain of the Native American as maps are used to place them in smaller and smaller reservations. For those whose curiosity extends beyond the website, there is a section that provides the schedule of the touring exhibition, currently showing at the Washington State History Museum in its only west coast venue.
Although site features include a Resources page (links and bibliography), a Lewis & Clark Trail map, and a description of Bicentennial projects at the Peabody Museum, the real heart of this online exhibit is the Objects page. A dozen thumbnail images pave the way to interpretive descriptions of the provenance, artistry, and techniques of Indian crafts ranging from a painted buffalo robe from the Upper Missouri, to a Whaling Chief's conical hat from the far Northwest. Most of the objects are presented with an assortment of different views, or with drawings of a similar item in use. In anticipation of the upcoming Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, the Peabody Museum has undertaken additional research on the history of these objects. The results of this new research will appear in a book titled, "Arts of Diplomacy: Lewis and Clarks' Indian Collection" and an exhibit running through 2005.
Upon the death of his father in 1799, Clark inherited York, his parents, and his sisters, along with livestock and other plantation equipment. While he viewed himself as a most tolerant master, he nonetheless rejected any notion that York should be freed, and in an effort to "correct" York's independent attitude, evidently beat him severely. As the story goes, six or more years after the Expedition, York finally became a free man. The author, however, speculates that York was very likely never freed—in fact, citing Clark's bitterness toward York in later years, he outlines an argument for the idea that York may have actually escaped. He cites the tale of a witness who in 1832 met an elderly black man living among the Crow Indians in Wyoming who boasted of having crossed the continent with Lewis and Clark in support of this theory. "Fallout Over Freedom" is an interesting read, and presents an unique viewpoint on the role of York with regard to the Expedition, his life thereafter, and the continuing impact his story has on contemporary African Americans.
The bulk of the collection—46 cases—features the business and financial activities of William Clark, in his roles as territorial governor (1813-1820), commander of the territorial militia, Indian agent, candidate for political office, and partner in the St. Louis Missouri Fur Company and the Bank of Missouri. Clark is usually the plaintiff in the actions, attempting to collect money owed to him. Some cases relate to slaves in his ownership. Nine cases pertain to Meriwether Lewis and the financial difficulties that plagued him. Appointed territorial governor in March of 1807, Lewis died in 1809 traveling from St. Louis to the Washington D.C. to explain his financial activities as governor. In these cases, Lewis or his estate appear as defendant, indicating that he had accrued substantial debt for land purchases and a mining venture. A number of other members of the Corps are featured in the collection in cases dating from 1808 to 1833, and these cases demonstrate how these men readapted to society, as well as providing insight into the sheer number and frequency of financial transactions taking place on the frontier. To make quick and easy use of the Lewis and Clark database, select the "database" link in the Finding Aids section of the home page, then select "keyword searchable database" from the resulting page - or you can jump directly to http://www.stlcourtrecords.wustl.edu/search.cfm. The Search page offers several options for searching case files, so select Lewis and Clark/Corps of Discovery to find related records. February 2004
Although dealing primarily with the topic of cartography, Mapping the West also contains a general overview of the expedition. Particularly fascinating to this reviewer was the section titled Indian Country, which discusses the cultural diversity of the Native American tribes the Corps of Discovery encountered along the way, and the geographical information imparted by the natives, often by lines drawn on the ground to represent rivers, and "heeps of sand on each side which he informed me represented the vast mountains of rock eternally covered with snow which the river passed." EdGate has modified the content somewhat, scattering links to additional educational materials (digitized maps, biographies, and Quicktime media) throughout the pages. These additional content links are useful, if a bit disorienting at first, but a fair number of them have expired. January 2004
We are introduced at the beginning to the primary characters—Thomas Jefferson, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark—then whisked back even further in time to view the world as the mapmakers of 1507 understood it. Through the magic of technology, we can peer closely at the details of these early maps, seeing the North American continent much as Jefferson and Lewis must have seen it as they prepared for their journey into the unknown. Although the focus of the site is on early exploration and the cartographers who preserved the knowledge gained through these expeditions, the essays, coupled with the beautiful maps and original source materials, provide detailed background information and clear insight into the perceptions of Jefferson and those he sent to pave the way for eventual westward expansion. December 2003
There are multiple ways to navigate the site, starting with the gray menu at the upper left. This helpful guide shows up on every page, leading the visitor smoothly to news stories, educational materials, media resources, and merchandise. The calendar of events is a searchable database that also allows browsing by keyword, region and event type. Another interesting new feature is the addition of Community Weblogs on several key topics - American Indian, Conservation and Travel the Trail. Although few individuals have taken advantage of this opportunity so far, its very presence bespeaks a commitment to truly serving the greater Lewis & Clark community. The links to other sources of Lewis & Clark information are extensive, and probably constitute the most comprehensive Bicentennial resource available on the web. This is definitely the site to visit for all things Lewis & Clark over the next few years! November 2003
Most of the information on the website is understandably slanted to bring visitors to the hosting museums, but it has some wonderful educational material as well. Look for the "Click to learn more" links for a close up view of period artifacts with excellent interpretive content. The site also includes interactives on related topics such as York, Sacagawea, and Missouri in the 1800s. These activities take a while to load, requiring plenty of bandwidth and patience, but once loaded they are terrific. Of particular note is the section for educators. Containing teaching units and lesson plans, this site gives teachers an assortment of subjects targeting grade levels 4 through 12. Students will be intrigued by themes ranging from Politics & Diplomacy to Warriors/Soldiers, from mapping techniques to the social powers of Indian women. The exhibition itself won't reach the Northwest until its appearance at the Oregon Historical Society beginning November 2005, but while waiting for the real thing, be sure to pay a visit to this gorgeous and informative website. October 2003 
This month's featured website, the David Rumsey Map Collection , contains a collection of more than 8,800 online historic maps from the 18th and 19th century. Among these beautiful, intricate maps are more than a dozen from the Lewis and Clark Expedition, as well as pre-expedition maps, and Government Land Office surveys of the late 1800s. Although the Rumsey site is somewhat more difficult to use than most websites, the rewards are phenomenal. The first hurdle to be surmounted is to select the proper "browser" with which to view the maps from a list of four - the Insight TM Browser, the Insight TM Java Client, the GIS browser, and the Collections Ticker. The Insight TM Browser and the GIS Browser are probably the easiest to use, as they require no additional software download.
Using the Insight Browser, a new window will open and once the thumbnails are in view, click on the thumbnails to view expandable versions of the 35 featured maps that will allow you to zoom in on the smallest details. Although this site will test the user's patience, the technology used to present these high resolution images is absolutely amazing, and will not disappoint in spite of the effort required!
The U. S. Army commemorates the expedition of Lewis and Clark in this new website found at http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/LC/index.htm. It's a fairly ambitious undertaking, comprised of distinct sections titled The People, The Mission, Explore and L & C Links. The human component of the expedition is explored in The People. The two officers are featured with the familiar portraits, and biographical information. The non-commissioned officers, Army privates, and civilians (including both Sacagawea and York) also have short bios. There is a link for the Indian Nations, but the content for that page is still under construction. The Mission includes an introduction by John S. Brown, Brigadier General, USA, and Chief of Military History, followed by interesting facts about the undertaking, an excellent bibliography, and a list of the Seven Army Values. The section titled Explore outlines the Army's Bicentennial campaign plan in fifteen detailed pages, including a calendar of events. This site has great utility for military history buffs and those studying Lewis and Clark, but takes it one step further by providing the military perspective on America's first and most famous overland expedition.
August 2003
Rivers, Edens, Empires: Lewis & Clark and the Revealing of America, a website of the Library of Congress, gives us a glimpse into the explorations and resulting maps that advised the Corps of Discovery on their journey, and confirms the great contributions made by the expedition members in charting out the boundaries of the rapidly expanding United States. The website has a wealth of knowledge to impart about the explorations of the Spanish, British and French before Lewis & Clark's famous journey, as well as tales of those who came after - military men, artists, traders, cartographers and missionaries. Many priceless maps, illustrations, specimens and documents have been digitized and placed online to provide further support to the rich content on the site. It's a joy to browse through this site, and a search feature provides users in a hurry a quick way to find needed information. July 2003 The website introduces the leadership team and members of the Corp, and provides a list of related books and websites, and identifies national Bicentennial events that will coincide with their journey. Interested "virtual pilots" can follow the progress of the Flight of Discovery by downloading aviation logs and maps for each leg of the voyage. Although this is already a nicely designed site with a fair amount of interesting content, one senses that there will be even more as the departure date draws nigh, and they begin their adventure along the trail of Lewis & Clark.
The Vancouver National Historic Reserve's website is the website of the month. The site includes a new section entitled "Lewis & Clark at the Vancouver National Historic Reserve" which describes the Corps of Discovery's time at the Historic Reserve. This information page provides rich detail about the experiences of the Corps in what is now the Portland/Vancouver basin of the Columbia River.
"Lewis & Clark as Naturalists" is a beautifully designed, highly educational website that explores the natural discoveries of Lewis and Clark. The Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History has applied its usual standard of excellence to this Flash-based website and loaded it with content for a wide variety of interests. Among the attractions is an interactive map that allows the user to share the botanical and wildlife discoveries of the journey every step of the way. The same collection of specimens can be browsed by state, by species, or by date collected, and searched by species or locality. Selected items are accompanied by entries from the Expedition's journals, pictures (including some of the original Lewis and Clark specimens), and even QuickTime VR displays of animal and bird skulls. A classroom resources page rounds out the site with a teacher's guide, Clark's Nutcracker bird calls, articles on botany and grizzly bears and a list of web resources. Bookmark this address, http://www.mnh.si.edu/lewisandclark, because you will need to visit it more than once to see it all!
This month's website of the month is the Corps II website. The website provides a searchable online database of Lewis and Clark web resources, events, maps, journals, lesson plans, etc. It also contains the Corps II schedule, videos, journal entries, an interactive zoomable map and the promise of virtual fly-throughs coming soon.
March 2003
See the following webpages for further details: Exploration - On TV Assignment Discovery - DiscoverySchool.com Teacher's Store - Lewis & Clark: A Scientific Journey Lewis & Clark - U.S. History lesson plan (grades 6-8) - DiscoverySchool.com February 2003
To explore the above features as well as many more, visit http://www.nationalgeographic.com/lewisandclark/.
This month's website is an assemblage of pictures taken during Jefferson's West. The collection includes a lovely shot of the estate apparently taken from a hill nearby, photos of reenactors, and Native American artwork and craftsfolk. Relive the events at Charlottesville and Monticello by clicking on the link below: http://www.sgtfloyd.com/monticello.htm.
This month's website "Lewis and Clark Among the Indians of the Pacific Northwest" is a WSU curriculum project for Northwest history in Washington schools. It covers such areas as Origins, Objectives, Organization, Leaving the Known West, Indian Help, Meeting the Indians of the Pacific Northwest, and Activities using the Lewis and Clark journals. The site, located at http://libarts.wsu.edu/history/Lewis_Clark/LCEXP_mn.html is a terrific resource for educators around the state. Recent weeks have been devoted to editorial cleanups of some of the older episodes on Discovering Lewis & Clark. Click on http://lewis-clark.org/index.htm to revisit "The American Bison" and "Nathaniel Pryor's Mission." There also, a reciprocal link from DL&C to the UK resource, Spartacus Educational, will lead students of all ages to a selective list of Web resources that includes some topics related to the era of Lewis and Clark.
An easy to use website is available to provide specific information on United States Corps of Engineers lakes. The website also details the economic, environmental and social impacts/benefits generated by the opportunities at the lakes. To learn more about them, follow these simple instructions:
Thirty-two federal agencies and organizations have partnered to create a website aimed at providing a single, easy-to-use web portal with information about various Lewis and Clark historical places. In 1804 - 1806, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led an expedition. Today, 200 years later, this commemoration of their journey provides an opportunity for Americans to look back, recognize, and appreciate the significance of this Expedition. To visit the website, go to: www.lewisandclark200.gov.
The University of Montana has undertaken the National Lewis and Clark Education Project with the goal of engaging educators in the Lewis and Clark expedition and the nature of the trail's historical and modern landscapes. The project investigates landscape changes and develops a variety of tools that assist educators in determining the cultural and ecological interactions inherent in this change. Comparisons of contemporary and historical interpretations of the trail provide the framework for the integration of remote sensing imagery, Geographic Information System (GIS), and Global Positioning System (GPS) technologies. Visit the Monticello website, now fully operational. It includes schedules, background information and resources related to Thomas Jefferson and the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Visit the site by entering www.monticello.org/jefferson/lewisandclark. The website is still being updated so check back periodically for exciting developments. For example, several more essays will be added before the end of the summer. Enjoy!
Visit the updated and significantly expanded Washington State Tourism website with a special section on the Lewis and Clark Trail. Portions of the website are still "under construction" but there is plenty of good information there to help you and your friends & family plan for your summer trips around our beautiful state. You can visit the site by entering www.experiencewashington.com.
May 2002
Check out the American Philosophical Library's web section
on illustrations from the Lewis and Clark Expedition Journals.
You can obtain these images for use in your projects. This website
provides information about how to do that:
The Pacific County Friends of Lewis and Clark has developed a website that highlights projects and events planned for the bicentennial in the Lower Columbia area. Visit this great site to find out more about what is happening in the area members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition called: "The End of Our Voyage:"
Other Useful Sites
|
The Columbia River Gorge Visitor's Association has created a website dedicated to the promotion of tourism along the Lewis & Clark Trail. The site has considerable visual appeal and easy to use navigation, which serve to invite the visitor to experience the beauty and grandeur of the Columbia River Gorge. At first glance, the site appears a little bare-bones, but there is more than readily meets the eye. Peppered throughout the site are text links in green that open new pages or pop-ups with additional information. 
There is much to be learned from this website, which houses programming for Wisdom of the Elders, a non-profit organization that records and preserves oral history and cultural arts for "over 150 exemplary indigenous elders, storytellers, artists, and song carriers since 1992." These oral history programs are being made nationally available on public radio stations NPS and AIROS (American Indian Radio on Satellite) in one-hour segments.
A collaboration between University of Nebraska's Peter Kiewit Institute and the National Park Service Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, the Lewis and Clark gNet site is packed with images, multimedia , and a database of expedition journal entries. The site has further benefited from a complete, and beautiful, redesign in the last year or two.
Although it is not really a website, but rather a PDF bibliography (Adobe Acrobat required - download it for free from , The Corps 33 is nonetheless a resource of inestimable value. The Governor-appointed Washington Lewis and Clark Trail Committee, the Washington State Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, and the Washington State Library, a division of the Office of the Secretary of State, are working together to produce a bibliography of the two hundred most significant books published about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Corps 33 represents the thirty-three essential core books written about the expedition and the thirty-three members of Corps of Discovery who made the journey from Fort Mandan to the Pacific and back.
Focusing on the remarkable life of Thomas Jefferson, this website provides glimpses of our third President in many of his historic roles. The site is richly illustrated with primary documents, artifacts, artwork, and photographs intended to trace his intellectual development from his Piedmont plantation childhood to his role in promoting individual rights in America and around the world.
The Lewis & Clark Experience is a visually appealing website, opening to a beautiful picture of the rolling hills of eastern Washington, with an introduction by Washington State Historical Society director, David Nicandri. This intro is followed by an invitation to plan a trip along the Lewis and Clark Trail, but it is worthwhile to do a bit more exploring of the site before you click over. 
The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission has built a website dedicated to Lewis and Clark's Journey through Washington state, encouraging visitors to explore the Northwest by retracing the trail of the Expedition. The site is navigated by using the Main Menu located at the right side of the home page.
Idaho's Bureau of Land Management has put together a highly informative and apparently well-researched website on the Lewis & Clark Expedition, with a focus on content rather than graphics. The story begins with President Jefferson's confidential proposal to the U. S. Congress in January 1803, seeking financial support for an American expedition into territories occupied by the Indians, France, Britain, Spain, and even Russia.
Purporting to contain "more than 18,000 pages of eyewitness accounts of North American Exploration," American Journeys is a wonderfully comprehensive digital resource, and a great credit to its builder, the Wisconsin Historical Society. Students of the Lewis and Clark Expedition will find this site to be a veritable treasure trove of more than 3,000 pages of original manuscripts, books, and illustrations.
The most straightforward way to access the Lewis and Clark collection is to simply click on the GIS Browser link, then select Lewis and Clark Expedition from the map on the next page. Select between the GIS Basic Browser, the GIS Professional Browser, or the Insight Browser. This reviewer found the Insight Browser to be the most useful, as it provided thumbnail views of the collection along with a collection search tool, so did not thoroughly explore the possibilities of the GIS browsers.
Although Lewis & Clark could not have conceived of flying along the path of the Missouri or Columbia Rivers, nor soaring above the Rocky Mountains, this modern-day Corps plans to do just that. Members of the Flight of Discovery have plans to traverse the river corridors and overland trails of the original Corps of Discovery in small planes beginning June 1, 2004. Funded by a grant from the Alfred L. and Constance C. Wolf Aviation Fund, and composed of members of a variety of scientific fields, this Corps plans document and evaluate environmental conditions along the trail. 
Featured this month is 
| Contact Us | Privacy Statement | Public Records Privacy Policy | Webmaster |
|
Last Modified:
|
|
|
||
|
||
|
|
See the animals Lewis & Clark saw at NORTHWEST TREK |