Lewis & Clark State Historic Site

05/14/2026

Happy Departure Day!

May 14 marks the anniversary of the start of the Lewis & Clark Expedition in 1804. Spanning almost two and a half years and thousands of miles, the Expedition sought to find a route to the Pacific Ocean, make maps of the newly purchased Louisiana Territory, document flora and fauna, and meet with the many Native American nations along the way.

The party had prepared all winter at Camp River Dubois. Now was the start of the test of their soldiers' skills and the preparation of supplies. Excitement, anxiety, curiosity, and uncertainty were likely a sampling of the swirling emotions amongst the Detachment. From Captain Clark's perspective, excitement was the prevalent emotion. He described the soldiers as being in "high Spirits."

William Clark's Entry for May 14, 1804:

"Set out from Camp River a Dubois at 4 oClock P. M. and proceded up the Missouris under Sail to the first Island in the Missouri and Camped on the upper point opposit a Creek on the South Side below a ledge of limestone rock Called Colewater, made 4½ miles, the Party Consisted of 2, Self one frenchman and 22 Men in the Boat of 20 ores, 1 Serjt. & 7 french in a large Perogue, a Corp and 6 Soldiers in a large Perogue. a Cloudy rainey day. wind from the N E. men in high Spirits"

05/14/2026

in 1804

The young soldiers were anxious; spring had arrived at Camp River Dubois, where the small Wood River entered the great Mississippi. It was April and there was talk about shoving off by April 18, 1804. Meriwether Lewis thought otherwise – more supplies were needed from St. Louis, and he was still collecting information from traders and trappers who had already traveled large sections of the Upper Missouri.

William Clark, who was with the Corps at the camp, struggled holding the men back and keeping them focused. So, on May 7, he had them load the keeled boat and the next day a group of 20 soldiers took it for a test run on the Mississippi to make sure it was well-balanced and stable.

On May 11, George Drouillard brought seven French voyageurs whom he recruited in St. Louis to the camp and on Sunday, May 13, Clark sent a brief letter down to St. Louis advising Lewis that everything was loaded and the Corps was ready for departure.

At last, in the morning of Monday, May 14, Clark wrote, “a Cloudy morning fixing for a Start.” The designated departure time of four o’clock finally arrived, and one keeled boat with 26 soldiers aboard, a pirogue with seven men, and another canoe paddled by eight voyageurs crossed over the Mississippi and entered the mouth of the Missouri. A group of locals stood along the Mississippi's banks and wished their winter visitors a fond farewell.

Clark intended to travel just six miles upstream before sunset, but a suitable island at four miles became the first campsite on the Missouri. This short journey was a test known as a “Hudson's Bay Start.” Often used by trappers and traders, a HBS was a short, lower risk launch to make sure everything was in order, and if not, the origination point wouldn't be far away.

The years of planning, training, packing, and dreaming were over. The adventure of the Expedition was underway!

Image: “The Departure,” a painting by Robert “Buffalo Bob” Rickards. Used with permission.

Image Description: A color painting places the viewer sitting in the bow of the pirogue looking back toward the bow where one man is standing and several men are seated as they row. The keeled boat is not far behind on the river. A shoreline can be seen in the distance.

04/30/2026

Come help us share history and preserve our state historic site! Lewis & Clark State Historic Site has two seasonal positions available this season.

Interested applicants can look up more details on these Conservation/Historic Preservation Worker positions and apply through the State of Illinois application website at: illinois.jobs2web.com/ . Please note that this is the only place to submit applications.

The Conservation/Historic Preservation Worker position that focuses on site preservation and maintenance is listed as Job Requisition ID 55731. Mowing, tidying public areas, and other maintenance tasks will ensure that the site is well-taken care of and ready to receive visitors.

The link to the 55731 posting is at: https://illinois.jobs2web.com/job/Hartford-CONSERVATIONHISTORIC-PRESERVATION-WORKER-IL-62048/1386691700/

The Conservation/Historic Preservation Worker position, which focuses on answering visitor questions, presenting information to the public, and assisting in research and programming, is listed as Job Requisition ID 55736.

The link to this posting is:
https://illinois.jobs2web.com/job/Hartford-CONSERVATIONHISTORIC-PRESERVATION-WORKER-IL-62048/1386700500/

CONSERVATION/HISTORIC PRESERVATION WORKER

02/08/2026

Lewis & Clark State Historic Site will be closed on February 12. We will be open again on February 13.

12/23/2025

Lewis & Clark State Historic Site will be closed on Christmas Day (December 25) and New Year's Day (January 1). The site will be open on normal hours and schedule for all other days. We wish everyone a happy holiday season!

12/13/2025

12/12/2025

Today - December 12 - marks the arrival anniversary of the Lewis & Clark Expedition, which arrived in 1803 at their winter encampment at the confluence of the Mississippi, Missouri, and Wood Rivers (Wood River Creek today).

Clark described the location in a letter to his brother that winter:

“My situation is as comfortable as could be expected in the woods, & on the frontiers; the Country back of me is butifull beyond description; a rich bottom will timbered, from one to three mile wide, from the river to a Prarie; which runs nearly parrilal to the river from about three miles above me to Kaskaskia and is from three to 7 miles wide, with gradual rises and several streams of running water, and good Mill seats; This prarie has settlements on its edges from Kahoka within three miles of this place. The Missouri which mouths imedeately opposet me "is a large turbalent" is the river we intend assending as soon as the weather will permit. This Great river which seems to dispute the preeminence with the Mississippi, comes in at right angles from the West, and forces its great sheets of muddy ice (which is now running) against the Eastern bank.”

12/12/2025

12/09/2025

Ben and Brad were at 107.1 FM - The Big Z today talk about site improvements and this weekend's Arrival Event at LCSHS. Thank you Doug for letting us share!