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EXPEDITION OVERVIEW & ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
ST.
JOSEPH & BUCHANAN COUNTY, MO
St. Joseph, Missouri boasts a past sprinkled with fur
traders, Native Americans, pioneers, prosperous merchants, outlaws and, of
course, the legend of the Pony Express.
Lewis and Clark and the men of the Corps of Discovery
reached today's Buchanan County on July 4, 1804. During the afternoon
they passed the mouth of a small bayou which led to a lake. Clark wrote
in his journals, "The great quantity of those fowl in this Lake induced me
to Call it the Gosling Lake." Today visitors can camp at this lake which
is now known as Lewis and Clark Lake. That evening the Corps camped
across the Missouri River from southern Buchanan County. They fired their
bow piece in celebration of the birth of the country. The next four days
they spent traveling through a serpentine section of the river in weather
that was almost unbearably hot. One man became "very sick, Struck with
the Sun..."
Since one of the objectives of the exploration was to
observe the natural surroundings, Lewis and
 Clark
noted these in their journals. The whip-poor-will, eastern wood rat,
coyotes, numerous deer, and various fish as well as pawpaw, locust, and
sycamore trees are just some of what they noted in Buchanan County.
The Corps carried maps with them made by early explorers.
St. Michael's Prairie was noted on their maps since it was well-known to
early river travelers. Today, St. Joseph sits on St. Michael's Prairie.
When Lewis and Clark made their return trip, they camped
for the night of September 12, 1806, on St. Michael's Prairie. Here they
met Robert McClellan who was taking a party upriver to trade with the
Indians. He told them what had been happening in the United States since
they had left two years earlier and "that the people in general in the
United States were concerned about us..."
As we approach the Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark
expedition in 2004, St. Joseph has posted historical markers along the
Lewis and Clark Trail in Northwest Missouri. These interpretative wayside
signs with visuals and text describe the experiences of the Corps of
Discovery as they traveled through today's Buchanan County. Although
nature and man have changed the look and flow of the Missouri River over
the past 200 years, visitors can still catch a glimpse of how the river
and surrounding land looked to the Corps of Discovery. Reliving the
excitement of discovery awaits in Northwest Missouri.
Intrepretative signs are located at:
1) Sunbridge Hills Conservation Area
The expedition passed here on July 8, 1804, and on September 11, 1806,
the expedition stopped in
this area twice - to hunt and then to camp. Today, this 190-acre
conservation area has numerous red bud trees, maples and oaks. The area
overlooks the Missouri River & hosts excellent hiking trails. An
interpretive sign focuses on the natural history of the area.
2) Sunset Grill/Rivertowne Resort
The Corps of Discovery camped in this vicinity during the night of
Saturday, July 7, 1804. On September 6, 1806, the expedition met a trading
boat from St. Louis in this area and obtained a gallon of whisky. This
allowed each of the men to have a little over three ounces, the first "spiritious
licquor" they had consumed since July 4, 1805. Today, this are is home to
Sunset Grill Restaurant, which boasts an unequaled river view and
excellent dining, and Rivertowne Resort, unique riverside cabins. An
interpretive sign focuses on the provisions needed for the journey.
3) French Bottoms River Access
The men of the expedition had to work very hard to get the keelboat up
the river against the current in this area. The process involved oars,
poles, sails and towropes. Today, in this area is a boat ramp access to
the Missouri, with a beautiful panoramic view. An interpretive sign
focuses on the keelboat.
4) Wyeth Park
The number of men in the Corps of Discovery varied as the trip
progressed. When the group passed this area in July of 1804, it consisted
of fifty me, four horses, and a dog. Today, Wyeth Park offers one of the
most spectacular views of the Missouri River in the area, from a point
high enough to see the changes in course it had made since the early
1800's. An interpretive sign focuses on
the men of the Corps of Discovery.
5) Riverfront Park
Lewis and Clark and their men passed through this area known as St.
Michael's Prairie on Saturday July 7, 1804. St. Michael's Prairie, the
site where St. Joseph would be established, was identified on maps at
least as early as 1792. French explorers and trappers had been traveling
up and down the Missouri River since the 1700s, and many areas along the
river had been used as camps or temporary settlements. On the Corps return
trip, St. Michael's Prairie was a campsite on Friday, September 12, 1806.
Here the group met Robert McClellan, an old army friend of both Lewis and
Clark. Today, St. Michael's Prairie is the site of downtown St. Joseph. An
interpretive sign on the riverfront focuses on St. Michael's Prairie.
6) Jentell Brees Conservation Area
On the morning of July 6, 1804, Sergeant Floyd of the Corps made note
of a "Jentell Brees from the South west." This area was the approximate
location of the July 6, 1804 campsite, and the group passed this site
again on September 13, 1806, on the return trip. Today, this area called
Jentell Brees Access, is maintained by the Missouri Department of
Conservation. An interpretive sign focuses on the weather in July 1804.
7) Lewis and Clark State Park
The Corps of Discovery passed this area on the 4th of July
1804. At that time, this lake drained into the Missouri River. Clark
commented on the great number of fish and fowl found here. Today, the
200-acre park has a shaded picnic area and shelter overlooking the lake.
The 365-acre lake offers opportunities for fishing, swimming and boating.
Interpretive signs tell about this area at the time when Lewis and Clark
passed by.
8) St. Joseph Museum
First location in the city to receive National Park Service
designation as a certified site on the Lewis and Clark National Historic
Trail, exhibits tell about the Lewis and Clark experience as they passed
St. Michael's Prairie (today's St. Joseph). Exhibits include a panoramic
view of the prairie and Missouri River, A large sculpture of Lewis, Clark,
Sacagawea, York and Seaman is also featured.
www.stjosephmuseum.org
9) Glore Psychiatric Museum
"Medical Aspects of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, 1804-1806" By
combining journal entries, documents and period artifacts the exhibit
illustrates many of the medical challenges the corps faced on its nearly
three-year expedition. The museum received site certification designation
by the National Park Service Lewis and Clark national Historic Trail in
July 2002.
www.gloremuseum.org
CLICK HERE for events planned for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial
Commemoration in St. Joseph.
For more information on Lewis & Clark please visit the
following sites:
If you have additional questions or need assistance,
please
CLICK HERE
for our contact information.
St.
Joseph, Missouri - discover it.
St.
Joseph Convention & Visitors Bureau
109
South Fourth Street -
St. Joseph, MO 64501
1-816-233-6688 or
1-800-785-0360
cvb@stjomo.com
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