Discoveries Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery
Tour Itinerary:
* Day 1
Arrivals–Upon arrival at St. Louis Lambert Airport passengers will be met and transported to our hotel, to freshen up for a festive welcome dinner to kick off our commemorative expedition. Overnight at the Drury Inn (airport) in St. Louis, MO. (D)
* Day 2
Our journey retracing the steps of the Corps of Discovery begins with a visit to Lewis & Clark State Historic Park, the site of Camp Wood where the Corps prepared for their epic journey during the winter of 1803, and the Museum of Westward Expansion for an overview of this epic voyage. Then it’s on to historic St. Charles, a thriving fur-trading settlement at the time of the Corps’ departure in 1804, and their last sight of “civilization”. We’ll stroll the same cobblestone streets and learn about the expedition’s final departure preparations before heading west to our overnight at the Stoney Creek Inn in Columbia, MO. (B)
* Day 3
Lewis noted the Arrow Rock bluff and nearby salt licks on the 1804 outbound journey. This morning we’ll visit the charming historic town which grew up around it, tour the amazing Arabia Steamboat Museum for a look at period lifestyles and trade goods, and visit other historically significant sites in the area. Today’s special lunch will be a sampling of what explorers and pioneers on the trail might have eaten at a replica of Fort Osage, which was built at the suggestion of William Clark to protect the growing fur trade in the West. Overnight at the Drury Inn in Kansas City, MO. (B, L)
* Day 4
Two months after departing from St. Louis, the Corps of Discovery was still in present-day Missouri. Fortunately our latter-day journey is measured in days instead of years. Before departing the state we’ll tour the historic sites of St. Joseph. The river turns northward here as we head for Council Bluffs, named for the Corps’ first encounter with Native Americans. We’ll also visit the National Western Historic Trails Center in Council Bluffs and end the day with a riverside interpretive supper. Overnight at the Hampton Inn in Council Bluffs, NE. (B,D)
* Day 5
The journey continues with a tour of Fort Atkinson, yet another frontier fort built on the recommendation of Wm. Clark. We’ll also tour the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City, pay our respects to Sgt. Floyd (the only casulaty of the enntire journey), plus a few surprises along the way. Our overnight tonight is at the Marina Inn in South Sioux City, NE. (B)
* Day 6
Today’s agenda includes the unique geological formation of Spirit Mound (reputed to be the home of 18″ devils) which the Corps climbed on their passage upstream. Gavin’s Point Dam, the site of the first encounter with the Yankton Sioux and an authentic meal served on the banks of the Missouri River top off a perfect day on the Northern Plains. Tonight’s accommodations are at the Cedar Shores Resort, overlooking the Missouri River just north of Chamberlain, SD. (B, D)
* Day 7
This morning we’ll visit world famous St. Joseph Indian School where the outstanding Akta Lakota Museum offers a view of the Native Americans whose lives were greatly affected by the course of events set in motion by the discoveries of the Lewis & Clark expedition. Then we’ll travel the area where the Corps encountered their first “hostile” natives. After a day full of natural wonders, we’ll overnight at the Country Inn in Bismarck, ND. (L)
* Day 8
The latterday Fort Abraham Lincoln (Lt. Col G.A. Custer’s last assignment before riding off into history) was built adjacent to an ancient earthlodge which was already abandoned when Lewis & Clark sailed by. We’ll tour the rebuilt lodges at On-A-Slant Village and visit the outstanding exhibits at the North Dakota Heritage Center before boarding the Lewis & Clark Riverboat for a dinner-cruise on the mighty Missouri which has become a familiar friend over the course of our journey. Overnight again at the Country Inn in Bismarck, ND. (B, D)
* Day 9
Today we visit the site where the Corps of Discovery wintered under the watchful eyes of the Mandans and Hidatsas. We’ll visit the Fort Mandan replica and the new Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center which features a complete set of the Bodmer prints. Bodmer produced more than 400 renderings of the Native Americans and natural wonders he encountered on his own western voyage just 30 years after Lewis and Clark blazed the trail. Through his paintings we will see the undisturbed terrain as the first whites saw it almost 200 years ago. This afternoon we’ll travel to the only park in the National Park System which is set aside to commemorate the Plains Indian: Knife River Indian Villages. The outstanding interpretive center and model earth lodge shed light on the people who continually inhabited this site for as long as 500-600 years ago to 1845. We’ll overnight tonight at the Marquis Plaza in Williston, ND. (B)
* Day 10
Another eventful day begins with a tour of the beautifully restored Fort Union. Established by John Jacob Astor’s American Fur Company, Fort Union was the most important fur trading post on the Missouri River between 1822 and 1867. Next we’ll visit Pompeys Pillar National Historic Landmark, named for Sakakawea’s infant son. Captain Clark carved his name in the rock on the return trip in 1806, and it remains today one of only a handful of physical evidence along the Lewis & Clark Trail. Overnight tonight at the Country Inn in Billings, MT. (B, D)
* Day 11
On this morning’s agenda is a visit to Missouri River Headwaters State Park where Lewis & Clark discovered (and named) the confluence of the Jefferson, Madison and Gallatin Rivers. After our picnic lunch, it’s on to the Gates of the Mountains, named by Lewis after towering cliffs appeared to block the way up the Missouri River. As the expedition neared the cliffs and changed directions, the cliffs seemed to pull apart like a huge gate. Our interpretive boat ride will afford us much of the same sights that awed Lewis & Clark so many years ago. Overnight tonight at the La Quinta in Great Falls, MT. (CB, L)
* Day 12
Our first stop this morning is to historic Fort Benton, a bustling nineteenth century river port, and the highest point on the river served by steamboats. Montana’s famous cowboy artist, Charlie Russell, wasn’t on the scene when our heroes struggled with the great falls the Indians had warned them of. But he did commemorate the era of westward expansion that the Corps of Discovery opened up. We’ll visit the outstanding C.M. Russell museum. A highlight of our journey is the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls, one of the newest and best along the trail. In addition to the marvelous exhibits, we’ll enjoy living history programs and an outdoor dinner. Overnight again at the La Quinta in Great Falls, MT. (CB, D)
* Day 13
Traveling the Lolo Trail will be far more pleasant for us than for the Corps, which suffered greatly from cold and hunger along this extraordinarily beautiful passage. Our local guide will help us to understand the chronology as we travel westward and enjoy a picnic lunch along the way. We’ll visit the canoe camp, where the expedition halted to hollow out logs as the Natives had instructed them. To learn more about these inhabitants who were meeting their first white men, we’ll visit the visitors’ center at the Nez Perce National Historic Park. Overnight at the Quality Inn in Clarkston, WA (CB, L)
* Day 14
At the site of present day Sacajawea State Park (the spelling varies, depending upon what state you are in!) the Corps of Discovery met with local inhabitants, and as they had so many times before, made ceremonial presentations and speeches. We’ll pause where the Snake River joins the Columbia to discuss some of the events which took place here on Oct. 17-18, 1805. The outstanding Columbia Gorge Discovery Center will highlight this afternoon’s agenda. Overnight at the Hood River Inn in Hood River, OR. (B)
* Day 15
Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area and Multnomah Falls highlight our morning’s journey. Then it’s on to winter camp at the recreation of Fort Clatsop, the capstone of our Lewis & Clark adventure. A gala farewell dinner rounds out the day and our journey, as we compare notes and recount our own highlights. Overnight at the Comfort Suites in Warrenton, OR. (CB, D)
* Day 16
Departures–PDX Airport in Portland, OR. This morning we’ll tour the sites of that dreary winter where Sacagawea saw her beached whale, and Seaside, location of the salt works. Our return to Portland is a scenic drive through the verdant Willamette Valley which lured the generation after Lewis & Clark on their own westward overland trail. Airport transfers to Portland for afternoon departures. Note: Departure flights on final day MUST be scheduled after 1:00 p.m. to accomodate for the 108-mile trip to Portland. (CB)
Note:
Itinerary borrowed from Shelbyleetours, The owner, Shebby Lee as tour director made the trip interesting and pleasant as we followed the general route of the 1804-06 Adventure of the Corps of Discovery. Shebby Lee Tours Lewis and Clark Trail In it’s own era, this accomplishment matches our own era when man landed on the moon. It is amazing how this group was able to survive with only one casuality, Sgt Floyd who historians believed died from ruptured appendix. The Corps of Discovery is a hallmark event in the early history of the United States thanks to Tomas Jefferson. The timeline is really interesting. Check out Shebby Lee Tours is all about
This blog is a mirror of my first attempt in writing a blog, thanks to Google Blog,
If you visit this google blog you will notice that I am working with the daily Itinerary, integrating images with the text on the left after uploading other images taken earlier on the trip that are displayed on the right. But, I decided to return to my google album using Picassa to first create albums by each day so that the images would be consistent with each day of the trip.
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