15. The Real Lewis and Clark
In a June 20, 1803 letter, President Thomas Jefferson sent instructions for the expedition to Meriwether Lewis. Jefferson put Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in charge of putting together a crew to explore the Louisiana Territory. They were sent to see what the area contained and determined if it was livable for Americans. Lewis and Clark started their journey in 1804 and traveled throughout the newly purchased territory until 1806. They called their crew the Corps of Discovery.
The trip spanned about 8,000 total miles. They went up the Missouri River, up and down the Ohio River, across the Continental Divide and to the Pacific Ocean. Throughout their whole journey, Lewis wrote down such information as geographical information, what wildlife they encountered, ethnocentric knowledge, and weather. On their return home, they received many welcoming parties as they passed through various areas heading to Washington, D.C. Once the duo reached Washington, they were given a warm welcome. As practically a household name, the pair is still considered some of the best explorers in American history.
In the end, several states were founded over the Louisiana Purchase. These states are parts of Minnesota, South Dakota, North Dakota, Iowa, Louisiana, Missouri, Arkansas, Nebraska, and Oklahoma. In addition, it also paved the path to Oregon Territory and California. Without the Louisiana Purchase and Lewis and Clark, the routes for the Oregon Trail or being able to move west would not have been possible.