Near Cairo in Alexander County, Illinois — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
"Proceeding On"
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 17, 2009
1. "Proceeding On" Marker
Inscription.
"Proceeding On". . In November, 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their growing contingent of "Corps of Discovery" men, spent five days here teaching each other celestial navigation and surveying skills. Using a sextant, octant, artificial horizon, and reference tables, they successfully obtained the first longitude and latitude data that they would use during the Expedition. Subsequent maps of the northern and western portions of the United States, prepared using Lewis and Clark's data, began at the Confluence of these great rivers which, in 1803, was located just south of 2nd Street in present day Cairo. , This sculpture, Proceeding On, was designed and fabricated by EVERTT BEIDLER, Art and Design Graduate School, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and installed August, 2005, to commemorate Lewis and Clark's activities at this place. , A Library of Congress grant helped make this sculpture and commemoration possible, with cooperation from Senator RIchard Durbin, the City of Cairo, and a design advisory committee of residents Berlene Jones, Louise Ogg, and Sandra Tarver, and SIU-C staff Dona Bachman, JoAnna Johnson, David Koch, and Robert Swenson.
In November, 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark and their growing contingent of "Corps of Discovery" men, spent five days here teaching each other celestial navigation and surveying skills. Using a sextant, octant, artificial horizon, and reference tables, they successfully obtained the first longitude and latitude data that they would use during the Expedition. Subsequent maps of the northern and western portions of the United States, prepared using Lewis and Clark's data, began at the Confluence of these great rivers which, in 1803, was located just south of 2nd Street in present day Cairo.
This sculpture, Proceeding On, was designed and fabricated by EVERTT BEIDLER, Art and Design Graduate School, Southern Illinois University Carbondale, and installed August, 2005, to commemorate Lewis and Clark's activities at this place.
A Library of Congress grant helped make this sculpture and commemoration possible, with cooperation from Senator RIchard Durbin, the City of Cairo, and a design advisory committee of residents Berlene Jones, Louise Ogg, and Sandra Tarver, and SIU-C staff Dona Bachman, JoAnna Johnson, David Koch, and Robert Swenson.
Erected 2005.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Exploration.
Click or scan to see this page online
In addition, it is included in the Lewis & Clark Expedition series list. A significant historical month for this entry is November 1803.
Location. 36° 59.038′ N, 89° 8.378′ W. Marker is near Cairo, Illinois, in Alexander County. Marker is on Fort Defiance Road, on the right when traveling south. Located in Fort Defiance Park, at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cairo IL 62914, United States of America. Touch for directions.
4. The Marker, Sculpture, and Observation Platform
Photographed By Shane Oliver, May 22, 2021
5. View of the Observation Platform and "Proceeding On" Sculpture
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 17, 2009
6. Another View of the Sculpture
Photographed By Craig Swain, March 17, 2009
7. The Confluence of the Rivers
Photographed By Shane Oliver, May 1, 2021
8. "Proceeding On" Sculpture
Credits. This page was last revised on June 6, 2021. It was originally submitted on May 26, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. This page has been viewed 2,494 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos:1. submitted on May 26, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 2. submitted on June 2, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on May 26, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 5. submitted on June 2, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia. 6, 7. submitted on May 26, 2009, by Craig Swain of Leesburg, Virginia. 8. submitted on June 2, 2021, by Shane Oliver of Richmond, Virginia.