Atchison in Atchison County, Kansas — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Lewis and Clark Expedition
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., May 28, 2011
1. The Lewis and Clark Expedition Marker
In 1804-06, Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led about 40 soldiers and boatmen on an epic journey. President Thomas Jefferson commissioned this "Corps of Discovery" to find a route to the Pacific Ocean through the newly acquired Louisiana territory. Along the way, they mapped the land, recorded its resources, and contacted its native inhabitants.
The landscape has changed since Lewis and Clark explored it: rivers have been dammed, forests cut over, prairies plowed under, and roads built to the horizon. Although remnants of wilderness still exist, imagine this land as Lewis and Clark first saw it two centuries ago.
The United States purchased the Louisiana territory - more than 830,000 square miles - from France in 1803. President Jefferson selected Meriwether Lewis (far left) to lead an expedition there.
With Jefferson's permission, Lewis asked his friend and former commanding officer, William Clark (left), to be co-leader. Although opposite in temperament, they worked harmoniously throughout the two-year journey.
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. 39° 33.705′ N, 95° 6.829′ W. Marker is in Atchison, Kansas, in Atchison County. Marker is at the intersection of River Road and Commercial Street, on the right when traveling north on River Road. Marker is in the Riverfront Park pavilion. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Atchison KS 66002, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. "walked on Shore above this Creek" (here, next to this marker); Homeland of the Kanza Indians (here, next to this marker); "the water…contains a half…Glass of ooze" (a few steps from this marker); Atchison Veterans Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Lewis Discovers a High Mound (within shouting distance of this marker); USS Arizona Memorial (within shouting distance of this marker); Under a large Cottonwood… (within shouting distance of this marker); Butterfield's Overland Dispatch (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Atchison.
Also see . . .
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr.
2. Riverfront Park Pavilion
Missouri River in background
1. Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. (Submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. National Geographic: Lewis and Clark. (Submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
3. Discovering Lewis and Clark. (Submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
4. The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. (Submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
5. The Lewis and Clark Expedition. Wikipedia entry (Submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
6. Lewis and Clark: A Film by Ken Burns. (Submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By National Park Service, undated
3. Map on The Lewis and Clark Expedition Marker
Photographed By Unknown, undated
4. Portraits The Lewis and Clark Expedition Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on December 5, 2020. It was originally submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 967 times since then and 33 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 20, 2011, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
