In late 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led their expedition north along the mighty Mississippi River, traveling from the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers near present-day Cairo, Illinois, to their winter encampment at Camp Dubois, near modern-day Wood River, Illinois. This route, which took several weeks, was a vital preparation for their legendary journey west. Follow in their wake and explore the significant stops along the way—where history was made and the adventure truly began! Note we have parallel trips on the east and west banks of the Mississippi River section of the Expedition. For the Illinois […]
After leaving the Falls of the Ohio and floating the Ohio River downstream to the confluence with the Mississippi, the Lewis & Clark Expedition rounded the bend and began heading for the first time against the powerful fluvial currents they would be facing until they reached the Continental Divide. Although the captains brought along York and had already engaged the Nine Young Men from Kentucky as part of their command, they realized they would need more men to propel their barge and some fifteen tons of supplies for hundreds of miles up the Missouri River. In this stretch of their […]
St. Louis played a pivotal role in America’s westward expansion, a legacy embodied by the iconic Gateway Arch National Park. But there’s much more to explore beyond the Arch and a storied baseball tradition. Stand where the Missouri River meets the Mississippi, pay tribute at Bellefontaine Cemetery, the final resting place of William Clark and other notable figures, and take in breathtaking views from the top of the Arch. Visit Camp River Dubois, the official departure site of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, wander through Forest Park and the Missouri History Museum, and end your journey in historic St. Charles, […]