Nearly two hundred years ago, a party of explorers under the leadership of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark ventured into the regions of the American West.
The Corps of Discovery, as the team was designated, spent more than two years realizing the richness of the geography, resources, and peoples along the way from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean. Committed to initiating peaceful and productive relations with the several nations of peoples it encountered, the Lewis & Clark Expedition represents an important milestone in the history of the North American continent. Especially notable in the places we now call Idaho, Washington, and Oregon, the interaction the party had with the Nez Perce people typified the spirit of cooperation and hospitality which not only contributed knowledge to the mission, but, in fact, kept it alive.
This summer, Clarkston, Washington will be the site of a
temporary, Lewis & Clark, educational park. The park, located on
a twenty-acre parcel of ground near the confluence of the Clearwater
and Snake Rivers, will become the location for the premiere of a
four-hour movie entitled Lewis and
Clark: The Journey of the Corps of Discovery. Movie producer and cinematographer Ken Burns and
co-producer Dayton Duncan will appear at the event site on July 27,
1997 to show segments of the movie and discuss the process of
creating the historical documentary. The movie will air nationally on
the Public Broadcast System in early November of this year.
Now available: Dugout Canoe Application Form
The educational park will also become the setting for various Lewis and Clark expedition re-enactments, including the arrival of a flotilla of dugout canoe re-creations launched from Canoe Camp near Orofino, Idaho (the location of the building and launch of the expedition canoes in 1805).
Those attending events scheduled for July 27th at the site will also be served a traditional, 1805-era, Indian meal. Visitors will have the opportunity to meet and listen to presentations by noted historians and writers, including Steven Ambrose, the author of the recently-released book, Undaunted Courage, and Clay Jenkinson, in the roles of President Thomas Jefferson and Meriwether Lewis.
The purpose of the event is to raise the educational level about Northwest history and to, "teach young children the value of discovery, whether it be around their block or around the world."
Profits from the events will be distributed to regional Lewis and Clark Bicentennial committees for future educational efforts.
This WWW site was created to inform you of the many exciting ways that we will be reviving the spirit of the Corps of Discovery. Over the next several weeks, the pages at this site will grow with more detail and variety of information about the events, people, places, and resources that celebrate our land and history.
Visit us often!
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A World PremiereRenowned film makers Ken Burns and Dayton Duncan have recently created a new film which chronicles the efforts of the Corps of Discovery. At the Lewis & Clark Experience, Mr. Burns and Mr. Duncan will talk about their movie, Lewis & Clark: Journey of the Corps of Discovery and premiere it to the world. |
The EventsIn addition to the world premiere of the Ken Burns - Dayton Duncan film, The Lewis & Clark Experience will include a variety of events which will give you, as a participant, opportunities to relive the times and events of this historic era. Be a part of the Experience! |
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Online Activities & InformationReviving the spirit of the expedition, this site will give you interesting and informative looks at the Corps of Discovery and how it made history. Here you will find out more about how the Corps of Discovery and those they met made history almost two hundred years ago! |
The Expedition: More ResourcesA wealth of resources regarding the Corps of Discovery can be found on the Internet as well as in more traditional sources. This site provides you with access to these resources as well as other treasures related to the Expedition, the places, the people, and the times in which it happened. |
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The
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recognizes the support & contributions of The National Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Council and its many members. |
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will go to area Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Committees for future educational programs. |
