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The First American Expedition

Season 1 | 3m 15s

Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led the first American expedition to cross what is now the western portion of the United States. It was commissioned by Thomas Jefferson after the Louisiana Purchase to explore the newly acquired territory.

Funding provided by: General Motors Corporation, The Pew Charitable Trusts, The Arthur Vining Davis Foundations, Corporation for Public Broadcasting, Public Broadcasting Service, William T. Kemper Foundation, The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and Travel Montana
Latest Episodes
America's greatest story of adventure, the Corps of Discovery, was led by Lewis and Clark
America's greatest story of adventure, the Corps of Discovery, was led by Lewis and Clark
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The U.S. stretched far beyond the Louisiana Territory when their last member member died.
The Corps of Discovery disbands with each member going their separate way.
President Jefferson insisted the expedition write down everything they experienced.
On December 25, 1805 The Corps of Discovery built their winter quarters.
They fished for salmon, harvested the rich bulbs of camas plants, and hunted buffalo.
Chief Cameahwait agrees to sell the Corps of Discovery all the horses they needed.
Lewis approaches the Continental Divide which no American citizen had ever been before.
Lewis shoots a Grizzly bear after passing the mouth of the Yellowstone river.
The youngest member of the Corps of Discovery is born.
His only request, was that the women and children of his village see the keelboat.