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As journeys of exploration go, the expedition of Lewis and Clark ranks among the greatest.
It formally began two hundred years ago today, as a band of explorers made their way four miles up the Missouri River from a launching camp not far from modern-day St. Louis. During the next two-and-a-half years, the “Corps of Discovery,” as it was called, forged forward in the face overwhelming odds to traverse an unexplored continent and provide a new nation with a vision of its destiny.
On this bicentennial of the historic expedition, the accomplishments of Lewis and Clark deserve the attention, even admiration, of every American!
All along the trail during the next couple of years, festivals and celebrations will commemorate where the explorers went and what they did. Some of the expedition’s most memorable moments, for example, occurred a day’s drive north of Salt Lake City, through the mountains of Montana and Idaho. Following a portion of the trail or visiting one of many museums in the area would certainly be a worthwhile family excursion.
In KSL’s view, anyone willing to take the time would benefit from learning about the explorers and the extraordinary adventures they had along the way. Reflecting on the past, after all, always broadens one’s perspective of the present as well as the future.