The Missouri River meets the Kansas (Kaw) River between today’s Kansas City, Kansas and Kansas City, Missouri. It’s believed the confluence in 1804 was only about 0.25 miles north of where it is today.The Expedition camped at a wooded point where the Kansas enters the Missouri from June 26-28, 1804. The men hunted, repaired the pirogues, dressed deer skins, took calculations and built a six-foot-high fortification of logs and brush, called “bowers.” Here’s Patrick Gass’s entry for June 26: “It was agreed to remain here during the 27th and 28th where we pitched our tents and built bowers in front of them. Canzan or Kanzas, is 230 yards and a quarter wide, and navigable to a great distance.”
The Corps rested at Kaw Point Park for about three days in 1804 — just long enough for two of the men to get into trouble. During the early morning hours of June 29 (just after midnight), Private John Collins was on guard duty. Being the only man awake, he helped himself to one of the whiskey barrels. One sip led to another and soon, Collins was drunk. When Private Hugh Hall came to relieve him, Collins offered a drink and Hall accepted. Soon they were drunk together.
At dawn, the sergeant-of-the-guard put them under arrest, and shortly thereafter Captain Clark drew up court-martial papers to be presented to a court composed of the men of the Corps. Collins was sentenced to 100 lashes on his bare back; Hall received 50. This was the first instance of a court proceeding during the Expedition. It didn’t keep Collins and Hall from their duty – the next day they left Kaw Point hard at work aboard the keelboat.
Today, you’ll find Kaw Point Park in Kansas City, Kansas, a 10-acre wooded park along the shores of the confluence. You’ll enjoy a memorial to all Native tribes of the area, a small amphitheater with limestone seating blocks carved with the names of the member of the Corps, and dramatic views of downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
1401 W 13th St Suite G, Kansas City, MO 64102, USA
Distance: 1.26 mi (straight line)
611 W 8th St, Kansas City, MO 64105, USA
Distance: 1.27 mi (straight line)
300 Delaware St, Kansas City, MO 64105, USA
Distance: 1.46 mi (straight line)
River Bluff Brewing, Main Street, Kansas City, MO, USA
Distance: 1.52 mi (straight line)
20 E 5th St #201, Kansas City, MO 64106, USA
Distance: 1.59 mi (straight line)
400 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64106, USA
Distance: 1.64 mi (straight line)
101 W 9th St, Kansas City, MO 64105, USA
Distance: 1.67 mi (straight line)
513 Walnut St # A, Kansas City, MO 64106, USA
Distance: 1.68 mi (straight line)
14 W 10th St, Kansas City, MO 64105, USA
Distance: 1.72 mi (straight line)
Kansas City Convention Center, 301 W 13th St, Kansas City, MO 64105, USA
Distance: 1.76 mi (straight line)
Blade & Timber Axe Throwing - KC | Power & Light, Baltimore Avenue, Kansas City, MO, USA
Distance: 1.88 mi (straight line)
1713 Summit St, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
Distance: 1.90 mi (straight line)
1601 Broadway Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
Distance: 1.97 mi (straight line)
Berkley Riverfront, 1298 Riverfront Dr, Kansas City, MO 64120, USA
Distance: 2.05 mi (straight line)
1600 Central Ave, Kansas City, KS 66102, USA
Distance: 2.11 mi (straight line)
549 Gillis St, Kansas City, MO 64106, USA
Distance: 2.22 mi (straight line)
1624 Grand Blvd, Kansas City, MO 64108, USA
Distance: 2.22 mi (straight line)
Up-Down KC, Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City, MO, USA
Distance: 2.28 mi (straight line)
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