Lewis and Clark Expedition River Camp Coloring Pages

The expedition lasted from May 1804 to September 1806, taking over two years to complete. They traveled approximately 8,000 miles from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean and back, making it one of the longest exploration journeys in American history.

The expedition started with about 45 people, including soldiers, interpreters, and boat crews. The core group that made the entire journey included 33 permanent members, plus Sacagawea and her baby son Jean Baptiste.

They ate buffalo, elk, deer, fish, and wild plants like prairie turnips and camas roots. When food was scarce, they sometimes ate their horses or traded with Native American tribes for corn and dried salmon.

Sacagawea, a Shoshone woman, served as an interpreter and guide. She helped the expedition communicate with Native tribes, find food sources, and navigate difficult terrain, especially when they needed horses from her own people.

They documented over 300 new plant and animal species, including prairie dogs, grizzly bears, and mountain goats. Lewis, trained in botany and medicine, collected specimens and made detailed drawings that scientists still study today.

Their successful journey proved an overland route to the Pacific existed, encouraged westward expansion, and strengthened America's claim to Oregon Territory. Their detailed maps and journals opened the West to future settlers and traders.