Meet Captain Meriwether Lewis

Come "meet" Captain Meriwether Lewis, one of the leaders of the Lewis & Clark Expedition of 1804–1806. Learn about this historical expedition and the Corps of Discovery that traveled with them to explore the territory that the United States had just purchased from France, known as the Louisiana Purchase.

The success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition was a triumph for the United States and for Lewis. With what Jefferson later called “courage undaunted” he led a small party through an unknown wilderness inhabited by many unfamiliar peoples. Lewis carefully recorded observations of the night skies that showed exactly how far north and west the expedition had traveled at every stage of the trip. He also made accurate descriptions of many plants and animals new to science, including the grizzly bear.