by Mary Paliescheskey

Created on: April 29, 2007   Last Updated: May 08, 2007

After purchasing the Louisiana Territory in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the region. They were to find a passage to the Pacific Coast. Meriwether Lewis began the journey on August 31, 1803. William Clark joined the expedition on October 13, 1803. Technically, Clark was second in command, but Lewis insisted that he had equal authority.

William Clark was the one responsible for mapping and documenting the natural flora and fauna. As the journey progressed, both men copied the information about plant and animal life out of their travel journals and began to make natural history books. An immense amount of information was recorded by the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Over 178 plants and 122 types of animals were documented in the journals. Not only were the animals and plants described, but detailed drawings were made of the finds. Within the written descriptions were the thoughts of Lewis and Clark on the types of food or habitat the animals might need for survival.

President Jefferson wrote to Lewis on June 20, 1803 that the primary focus of the expedition was to find a river that would connect to the Pacific Ocean. In addition, Lewis and Clark were instructed to keep detailed records of the geography, ethnography, and natural history of the regions that they explored.

An example of a journal entry is as follows:
Dated September 13, 1804 by Lewis:
"Killed a bluewinged teal [EC: Querquedula discors] and a Porcupine [EC: Erethizon dorsatum]; found it [the porcupine] in a Cottonwood tree near the river on the Lard. Shore the leaves of the Cottonwood were much distroyed as were those of the Cottonwood trees in it's neighbourhood. I therefore supposed that it fed on the folage of trees at this season, the flesh of this anamal is a pleasant and whoalsome food the quills had not yet obtained their usual length it has four long toes, before on each foot, and the same number behind with the addition of one short one on each hind foot on the inner side. the toes of the feet are armed with long black nails particularly the fore feet they weigh from 15 to 20 lbs they resemble the slowth very much in the form of their hands, or fore feet. their teeth and eyes are like the bever"

The above excerpt is from the on-line searchable versions of the Lewis and Clark's journals. The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. 2005. U of Nebraska Press / U of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries-Electronic Text Center. 5 Oct. 2005 .

The site has the full text of the surviving journals which is over 5,000 pages. Maps, drawings, and images from the journals are included. The site also links to additional resources for studying about the Lewis and Clark Expedition. You can search for specific topics or read the journals in chronological order. The journals are an incredible resource regarding the natural history of the Louisiana Territory. The University of Nebraska has provided instant access to these documents via the internet. Anyone can read this national treasure and view the images as draw by members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

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