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The expedition's goal as stated by President Jefferson was "to explore the Missouri River, & such principal stream of it as, by its course & communication with the water of the Pacific Ocean may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across this continent, for the purposes of commerce." In addition, the expedition was to learn more about the Northwest's Natural Resources, inhabitants, and possibilities for settlement,

Jefferson's instruction to Lewis were:

"Beginning at the mouth of the Missouri, you will take observations of latitude and longitude at all remarkable points on the river, & especially at the mouths of rivers, at rapids, at islands & other places & objects distinguished by such natural marks & characters of a durable kind, as that they may with certainty be recognized hereafter....The variations of the compass too, in different places should be noticed."

(considering the Native Americans) "...You will therefore endeavor to make yourself acquainted, as far as diligent pursuit of your journey shall admit with the names of the nations & their numbers, the extent & limits of their possessions; their relations with other tribes or nations; their language, traditions, monuments, their ordinary occupations in agriculture, fishing, hunting, war, arts & the implements for these, their food, clothing, & domestic accommodations, the diseases prevalent among them, & the remedies they use, moral and physical circumstance which distinguish them from the tribes they know, particularities in their laws, customs & dispositions, and articles of commerce they may need or furnish & to what extent."

"Other objects worthy of notice will be the soil & face of the country, it's growth & vegetable productions, especially those not of the US; the animals of the country generally & especially those not known in the US; the remains & accounts of any which may be deemed rare or extinct; the mineral productions of every kind, but more particularly metals, limestone, pit coal & saltpetre, salines & mineral waters, noting the temperature of the last & such circumstances as may indicate their character; volcanic appearances; climate as characterized by the thermometer, by the proportion of rainy, cloudy & clear days, by lightening, hail, snow, ice, by the access & recess of frost, by the winds, prevailing at different seasons & the dates at which particular plants put forth or lose their flower or leaf, times of appearance of particular birds, reptiles or insects."

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The Lewis & Clark Expedition traveled up the Ohio River to the Missouri, and then up the Missouri to its headwaters on the Continental Divide. From there they traveled overland to the Snake River, down the Snake to the Columbia, and down the Columbia to the Pacific Ocean. In all, they traveled on 4 of the great rivers of North America: Ohio, Missouri, Snake, and Columbia.

The Ohio River: Begins at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers at the Point in Pittsburgh, PA, and flows 981 miles to join the Mississippi at Cairo, Ill. Before Lewis met up with Clark, he began the expedition on August 30, 1803 in Pittsburgh PA on the Ohio River. Lt. William Clark would offer to join Lewis on the expedition weeks later on October 13, 1803 at Camp Dubois (in present-day Indiana).

The Missouri River: Begins at the Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson Rivers in Montana, to the Mississippi River, at St. Louis. The Lewis and Clark expedition departed St. Louis on May 14, 1804 heading up the Missouri River.

The Salmon River: The Salmon River, dubbed the "River of No Return", remains one of the few remaining free-flowing waterways in America and flows for 425 miles from the headwaters in central and eastern Idaho mountains.

The Clearwater River & Lochsa River:Flows along US highway 12. The Lolo Trail, route traveled by Lewis and Clark in 1805 & 1806, parallels Highway 12 along the upper ridges.

The Snake River: 1,040 miles long, chief tributary of the Columbia River. Was called Lewis' River

The Columbia River: Flows for more than 1,200 miles, from the base of the Canadian Rockies in southeastern British Columbia to the Pacific Ocean at Astoria, Oregon, and Ilwaco, Washington. On October 16, 1805, Lewis and Clark entered the waters of the Columbia. They landed at the mouth of the Columbia River, Astoria, Oregon on November 5, 1805.

The Yellowstone River: The longest undammed river in the contiguous United States, retains most of its natural habitat characteristics and flows. 554 miles long from the Wyoming boundary to the North Dakota boundary.

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Q: River Louis and clark used to go west?
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When did Louis and Clark set out to explore the land out west?

Contrary to popular belief, the expedition DID NOT begin in St. Louis, Missouri. The first entry in the Lewis and Clark Expedition Journals state that the journey began in Pittsburgh, PA on August 30, 1803. Lewis, who had been assigned by Jefferson sailed down the Ohio River with supplies towards St. Louis.William Clark would offer to join Lewis on the expedition weeks later on October 13, 1803 at Camp Dubois (in present-day Indiana). They then named their team the "Corps of Discovery." From there, they sailed down the Ohio River towards St. Louis. Meriwether Lewis had spent the time prior to their departure in St. Louis gathering information from mountain men returning from the west. They then departed St. Louis in May 1804 heading up the Missouri River.


When Lewis and Clark left for their expedition what river did they follow?

Before Lewis met up with Clark, he began the expedition on August 30, 1803 in Pittsburgh PA. Lt. William Clark would offer to join Lewis on the expedition weeks later on October 13, 1803 at Camp Dubois (in present-day Indiana). From there, they sailed down the Ohio River towards St. Louis. William Clark would offer to join Lewis on the expedition weeks later on October 13, 1803 at Camp Dubois (in present-day Indiana). They then named their team the "Corps of Discovery." From there, they sailed down the Ohio River towards St. Louis. Meriwether Lewis had spent the time prior to their departure in St. Louis gathering information from mountain men returning from the west. They then departed St. Louis in May 1804 heading up the Missouri River.


What river did Lewis and Clark start their exploration?

Before Lewis met up with Clark, he began the expedition on August 30, 1803 in Pittsburgh PA. Lt. William Clark would offer to join Lewis on the expedition weeks later on October 13, 1803 at Camp Dubois (in present-day Indiana). From there, they sailed down the Ohio River towards St. Louis. William Clark would offer to join Lewis on the expedition weeks later on October 13, 1803 at Camp Dubois (in present-day Indiana). They then named their team the "Corps of Discovery." From there, they sailed down the Ohio River towards St. Louis. Meriwether Lewis had spent the time prior to their departure in St. Louis gathering information from mountain men returning from the west. They then departed St. Louis in May 1804 heading up the Missouri River.


When did Lewis and Clark begin their westward journey through the Louisiana Territory?

Contrary to popular belief, the expedition DID NOT begin in St. Louis, Missouri. The first entry in the Lewis and Clark Expedition Journals state that the journey began in Pittsburgh, PA on August 31, 1804. Lewis, who had been assigned by Jefferson sailed down the Ohio River with supplies towards St. Louis. William Clark would offer to join Lewis on the expedition weeks later on October 13, 1804 at Camp Dubois (in present-day Indiana). They then named their team the "Corps of Discovery." From there, they sailed down the Ohio River towards St. Louis. Meriwether Lewis had spent the time prior to their departure in St. Louis gathering information from mountain men returning from the west. They then departed St. Louis in May 1804 heading up the Missouri River.


What city did Louis and Clark begin their journey?

Contrary to popular belief, the expedition DID NOT begin in St. Louis, Missouri. The first entry in the Lewis and Clark Expedition Journals state that the journey began in Pittsburgh, PA on August 30, 1803. Lewis, who had been assigned by Jefferson sailed down the Ohio River with supplies towards St. Louis.William Clark would offer to join Lewis on the expedition weeks later on October 13, 1803 at Camp Dubois (in present-day Indiana). They then named their team the "Corps of Discovery." From there, they sailed down the Ohio River towards St. Louis. Meriwether Lewis had spent the time prior to their departure in St. Louis gathering information from mountain men returning from the west. They then departed St. Louis in May 1804 heading up the Missouri River.

Related questions

Did Louis and Clark go West for their expedition?

Yes, Louis and Clark went West for their expedition.


What direction did Louis and clark go when they first left St. Louis?

West


Who was the American general west of the Ohio River?

it was Clark or Greene


What river were Louis and Clark traveling on when they reached the Pacific Ocean?

The Lewis and Clark Expedition started at St. Louis and went up the Missouri River. When could not follow the river further, they bargained with the Native Americans for horses and crossed the Continental Divide. Then they followed the Snake River to the Pacific Ocean.


Who explored the American West to the Pacific Ocean in 1804?

Louis and Clark reached the Pacific ocean in 1805.


Did Lewis and Clark sail for Virginia?

Lewis and Clark explored the northerly land west of the Mississippi River by foot.


What US city is known as the gateway to the west?

The river that is known as the Gateway to the West is the Missouri River. It flows into the Mississippi River at St. Louis, MO.


How did the St. Louis arch get its name?

The Gateway Arch is a reference to the historical importance of St. Louis in the development of the western US. Beginning with the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1805, St. Louis was a waypoint for transportation both south (down the Mississippi River) and west (to the Great Plains).


This major river joins Mississippi river on the west?

The Missouri river joins the Mississippi at St. Louis.


Who was the president when Lewis and Clark explored west of the Mississippi river?

Thomas Jefferson


Is St. Louis east of Mississippi river?

No. St. Louis is in Missouri, which is in the Midwest..nowhere near a coastline. However, it is on the East side of Missouri, along the West side of the Mississippi River.


What river led Lewis and Clark to the Pacific Ocean?

In spring 1805, they continued to the headwaters of the Missouri River, struggled across the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass, and headed west along the Salmon, Clearwater, Snake, and Columbia Rivers to the Pacific. They landed at the mouth of the Columbia River, Astoria, Oregon on November 5 1805.