Downtown in Omaha in Douglas County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Westwardly by the Waters
Albert Gallatin letter to Thomas Jefferson, April 13, 1803
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 21, 2014
1. Westwardly by the Waters Marker
In 1803 the Missouri River carried the hopes of the young United States in its dark and unpredictable waters. President Thomas Jefferson sought a "direct & practicable water communication across the continent, for the purposes of commerce." The Missouri River would be a corridor to increased American trade and wealth.
Traveling west against the current, the Expedition entered the lands of the recently acquired Louisiana Purchase. Along this watery path, the explorers would meet the people who had called this land home for many generations. With each mile the Expedition traveled on the Missouri River, the United States pushed westward.
The Indians of this neighborhood inform us, that the Missouri is navigable nearly to its source, and...at a distance not exceeding half a [day's] march, there is a large river...We believe this stream to be the...Columbia river...we shall probably find but little difficulty in passing to the Ocean.
Meriwether Lewis letter to his mother, March 31, 1805
Erected by National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Exploration • Native Americans
this page online
Location. 41° 15.903′ N, 95° 55.424′ W. Marker is in Omaha, Nebraska, in Douglas County. It is in Downtown. Marker is on the grounds of the National Park Service Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 601 Riverfront Drive, Omaha NE 68102, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. the Council was held (within shouting distance of this marker); Capt. Lewis…will…give us accounts of new things only (within shouting distance of this marker); Nature exerted herself to butify the Senery (within shouting distance of this marker); endeavor to make yourself acquainted…with…the nations (within shouting distance of this marker); A River of Hope (within shouting distance of this marker); People, Places, and Stories (within shouting distance of this marker); Preserving Our Heritage (within shouting
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 21, 2014
2. Westwardly by the Waters Marker
Also see . . .
1. Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. (Submitted on March 2, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. (Submitted on March 2, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Additional keywords. Westwardly by the Waters
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 2, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 555 times since then and 10 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 2, 2014, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
