Where did the Corps of Discovery spend the winter of 1803-1804?
The United States purchased the Louisiana Territory from France in 1803, but the official transfer did not take place until March of 1804. Spanish authorities refused to allow Lewis, Clark, and the Corps of Discovery a winter camp on the west side of the Mississippi River (in the Purchase) during this period - so expedition members established a camp at the mouth of Wood River, on the Illinois side of the Mississippi River. They called it "Camp DuBois."

Meriwether Lewis spent most of that winter in St. Louis. He gathered information about the Missouri River from people like Auguste and Pierre Chouteau, who were wealthy fur traders and prominent St. Louis citizens.

Did any planning for the expedition take place at Camp Dubois or in St. Louis?
Meriwether Lewis and William Clark gathered much information about the Missouri River and the western lands from contacts in St. Louis during the winter months before the expedition began. They obtained copies of all known maps of the river and region from fur traders. Lewis and Clark also talked to men, such as James Mackay and John Hay, who had made travels up the Missouri River as far as the Mandan village in North Dakota.

Did Lewis and Clark send any specimens of animal, plant, or mineral life from Missouri to President Thomas Jefferson?
Some of the expedition's first specimens sent to President Jefferson were from Missouri. Copies of existing maps and charts of the Louisiana Territory and other western regions were given to Jefferson. In addition, Lewis sent Jefferson samples of silver ore and lead ore brought from Mexico by Osage war parties. The Chouteau family provided plant slips from the Osage orange and the Osage plum.

Did Lewis and Clark interact with Native American tribes in Missouri?
One of the first native interactions the expedition had was in the land that became Missouri. On November 16, 1803, navigating the Mississippi River up to St. Louis, the expedition met an encampment of Delaware and Shawnee tribe members. One Shawnee offered three beaver skins for Seaman, Meriwether Lewis' black Newfoundland dog. Lewis did not accept the trade, calling it "no bargain."

The expedition did, however, trade foodstuffs with native tribes during the winter months at Camp Dubois. Native Americans brought deer meat to the expedition members in trade for flour, meal, and fresh fish.

Did Lewis and Clark meet Daniel Boone as they traveled through Missouri?
Although Daniel Boone was living in Missouri at the time of the expedition, there is no recorded meeting between him and the explorers.

Daniel Boone lived near the Femme Osage River at a place known as Boon's Settlement. He came to the area in 1799 when Spanish officials granted him 1000 arpents (or about 850 acres) of land.

What are some important or interesting expedition sites along the Missouri River?
Tavern Cave - Two miles beyond the Femme Osage River is a large cave set in a limestone bluff. It had long been a landmark for French trappers and traders. As the expedition passed this site, Lewis climbed the bluffs to the cave, which sat over 300 feet above the river. He slipped and fell nearly 20 feet before catching his fall by sticking his knife in the bluff.

La Charette - At the time of the expedition, this was the westernmost settlement of white citizens along the Missouri River. At La Charette, the explorers talked with Regis Loisel, a fur trader who offered them additional information.

Clark's Hill - Upriver from present-day Jefferson City, this site marks a hill, over 170 feet high, that William Clark climbed to get a better view of the river.

Manitou Bluffs - The journals of Lewis and Clark record Native American pictographs painted high on rock bluffs near present-day Rocheport.

Fort Osage - This fort, a historic site east of present-day Independence, was built in 1808 after the expedition's return. Clark noted the site in his journal, and described it as having a "commanding position.many advantages for a fort and trading-house with the Indians."

Why was it so difficult to travel up, or ascend, the Missouri River?
It took the Corps of Discovery over two months to travel the Missouri River, from east to west. The trip westward was "upriver," which meant the expedition had to push the boats against the strong Missouri River current. Sometimes, the crew put a sail on the boats and let the breeze push them; other times, they rowed. If the current was especially strong, the men had to tie a rope to the boats and walk on the riverbanks, pulling the boats through the water.

When the explorers traveled during the spring snow melt which caused higher river levels and flooding, the current could be particularly rapid. Often, the force of the current caused entire banks to cave into the river and uproot whole trees. These uprooted trees, known as "sawyers," became embedded in the river, just below the water's surface. Nearly invisible, the sawyers could easily rip a hole in the bottom or side of an unsuspecting boat.

In addition, the current created sandbars which were difficult to see. It was not uncommon for a boat to run aground on an unseen sandbar.

In an attempt to avoid the hazards of sawyers and sandbars, boat crews often poled or pulled the boats close to the shoreline. This presented a problem, too, though, when the branches of overhanging trees broke boat masts.

A JOURNAL MOMENT
".we were nearly being Swallowed up by the roleing sands over which the Current was So Strong that we could not stem it with our Sales under a stiff breese in addition to our oars."

What types of trees did Lewis and Clark see on their journey through the area that became Missouri?
A variety of trees, including cottonwood, sycamore, hickory, and white walnut, were present in this area.

What kind of foods did the Corps of Discovery eat during this part of their trip?
They hunted for their food - bringing in black bear, deer, elk, and various waterfowl. If they didn't find any food hunting, they ate lard, flour, cornmeal, and salted pork.

Did any member of the expedition get lost in the Missouri area?
On Sunday, May 27, 1804, Joseph Whitehouse was hunting along the river. He found a cave to explore and did not return to the boats when expected. After waiting a while, Lewis and Clark decided to continue up the river but left one boat - a pirogue - behind for Whitehouse. Whitehouse was united with the expedition the next day.

What was the most common comment made by the explorers about the land that became Missouri?
The explorers often commented in their journal entries about the good and rich land in this part of the Louisiana Purchase.

A JOURNAL MOMENT
".land verry good."

".butifull a peas of land as ever I saw."

".one of the most beatifull and picteresk seens that I ever beheld."

How many days was the Corps of Discovery in present-day Missouri?
On the westward-bound trip, between May and July of 1804, the Corps of Discovery spent 66 days in the present state boundaries.

The expedition spent 14 days within the state during their return in September of 1806.

Did the Corps of Discovery celebrate any holidays during the journey through present-day Missouri?
Expedition members celebrated the first Fourth of July west of the Mississippi River near present-day Kansas City. They fired the cannon on the keelboat twice, once at sunrise and once at sunset, and each man was given an extra allotment of whiskey.

Do the journals mention anything about stopping near present-day Jefferson City?
Lewis and Clark and their crew spent about two days in the area that became our state capital, Jefferson City. On June 4, 1804, the boats passed near where the Missouri River bridge stands today. They spent the night before (June 3, 1804) at the mouth of Moreau Creek. Clark recorded in his journal that a bird sang all night long at the Moreau River camp and kept them awake. He also said that he and the crew suffered from mosquito and tick bites.

Did Lewis or Clark make any significant discoveries on this stretch of their journey?
The journals record the expedition's first sighting of the North American beaver on July 3, 1804. The beaver fur trade was instrumental in opening the western lands to exploration and settlement and made St. Louis an international fur trade center.

In addition, the journal entries written during the "Missouri" portion of the trip provide the first formal description of the Eastern wood rat.

How did the citizens of St. Louis react to the expedition's return in September 1806?
Most of the United States felt that the expedition was lost and its members dead because so much time had passed since the explorers had been able to send any information.

The Corps of Discovery arrived at the St. Louis riverfront about noon on September 23, 1806. Expedition members fired three volleys into the air. A crowd of over 1000 residents, who had heard from overland travelers that the expedition would be arriving, gathered at the river and gave three cheers for their safe return.