Lewis and Clark Expedition

1803:

Under the presidency of Thomas Jefferson, the United States purchased the Louisiana territory from the French First Republic.

1804:

Under the orders of President Thomas Jefferson, a group of military and civilian volunteers were sent out to explore the newly acquired land.

Under the command of Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark.

This expedition would be known as the Lewis and Clark Expedition or the Corps of Discovery Expedition.

The mission was to find a clear and direct water passage to the most western of the newly acquired territory.

Furthermore, the mission was to establish U.S. sovereignty over the land from the indigenous people communities.

Lastly, the expedition would report the available resources of the territory.

This expedition would contribute to many scientific discoveries, although scientific research was not part of the mission's objectives.

1805:

Captain Lewis, accompanied by four men, would proceed ahead of the rest of the expedition to reach the mouth of the Yellowstone River.

Captain Lewis would describe what he saw when reaching the mouth stating, “ rich, delightful land, broken into valleys and meadows, and well supplied with wood and water. . .”

Captain Lewis would also note the vast amount of buffalo, deer, elk, and antelope herds.

1806:

Clark would travel down the Yellowstone River on the return journey.

This would confirm reports given to them by indigenous people that the Yellowstone River is navigable by boat.

Clark would pass through what would now be Livingston and Billings, Montana.

John Colter, a member of the expedition, would split off from the expedition and is one of the first white men to enter the area now known as Yellowstone National Park.