Lewis and Clark Expedition
From Omaha Commons
The Lewis and Clark Expedition came to Omaha in 1806. Between May 1804 and September 1806, 32 men, one woman, and a baby traveled from the plains of the Midwest to the shores of the Pacific Ocean. They called themselves the Corps of Discovery. In their search for a water route to the Pacific Ocean, they opened a window onto the west for the young United States.
Explore Omaha’s riverfront on the original site of the Lewis & Clark Landing in 1804. The 23-acre landing features a boardwalk on the eight-foot-high river wall, and a restaurant for indoor/outdoor dining and live jazz nightly. A circular stairway leads down to the colorful river-level plaza filled with large umbrella tables and chairs. A walking trail winds along the river’s edge and a bike trail runs west of Riverfront Drive to Miller's Landing. The new Martin Luther King Jr. Pedestrian Bridge, with interpretive exhibits, connects to the Qwest Center. A new riverfront marina features about 30 slips available for the public to rent short term at $5/hr. The marina is open 11am-midnight, May 1-Oct 31. Monument to Labor sculpture plus Lewis and Clark Interpretive Exhibits and Historical Marker on site. There is also free parking.
Contents |
[edit] Diary Entries from the Expedition
A diary of what happened during their stay in the area:
[edit] July 28, 1804
Camped north of Council Bluffs
From the diary: "Drewyer brought in a Missourie Indian which he met with hunting in the Prairie. His party was small consisting of 20 lodges. This Indian is one of the fiew remaining of that nation, & lives with the Otteauz, his camp about 4 miles from the river, he informs that the ' great gangue' of the natino were hunting the Buffalow in the Plains. his party was Small consisting only of about 20 Lodges, miles furthr a nother Camp where there was a french man, who lived in the nation, This Indian appeared spritely, and appeared to make use of the Same pronouncation of the Osarge, Calling a Chief Inca*." - Clark's entry
- Chief Inca - The Osage and Missouri languages are both of the Siouan language family, though of different divisions within that family, the first in the Dhegiha, the second in the Chiwere division. "inca" has no connection with the Incas of South America. Robert L Rankin (personal communcation) identifies the word as haka, the Osage word signifying "sacred being" or "chief"; La Flesche gives it as Ho-ga.
[edit] July 29, 1804
From the diary: "Sent a french man la Liberty* with the Indian to Otteauze Camp to envite the Indians to meet us on the river above. a Dark morning wind form the W.N.W. rained all last night - Set out at 5 oClock & proceeded on ... Cought three large Cat fish to day verry fat one of them nearly white those Cat are so plenty that they may be cought in any part of this river but fiew fish of any other kind - passed much falling timber apparently the ravages of a Dreadfull harican** which had passed obliquely across the river about twelve months since, may trees were broken off near the ground the trunks of which were Sound and four feet in Diameter." - Clark's entry
- french man la Liberty - The first mention, at least by name, of this man, evidently a French engage. Because he was not a soldier, he did not desert, in the precise legal sense, but only quit the expedition.
- Dreadfull harican - The "hurricane" was probably a tornado.
[edit] July 30, 1804
Camped near Fort Calhoun at what was called "Council Bluff", and different from the city of Council Bluffs.
From the diary: "Set out early this morning[...] proceeded on to a Clear open Prairie on the LS on a rise of about 70 feet higher than the bottom which is also a Prairie both forming Bluffs to the river of High Grass Plumb bush Grapes and situated above high water is a small grove of timber at the foot of the Riseing Ground between those two prairies, and below the Bluffs of the high prairie we Came too and formed a Camp*, intending to waite the return of the french man & Indians. - the white horse which we found near the Kanzeis River, Died last night. I am ingaged in and drawing off my courses to accompany the map Drawn at White Catfish Camp." Clark
- "this day Joseph Fields killed a Braro - as it is called by the French engages. it's weight is sixteen pounds."
- Lewis formed a Camp - This bluff became known as the Council Bluff (or, with adjacent bluffs, as the Council Bluffs) from the meeting the captains held there with the Indians during the next few days. The city of Council Bluffs, although it is downstream and on the opposite bank, takes its name from these bluffs.
- Braro - The badger was probably the first zoological specimen preserved by Lewis on the expedition. Lewis skinned and stuffed it to send back to Jefferson.
[edit] July 31, 1804
Remained at Council Bluff
From the diary: "G. Drewyer killed a verry fat Buck one Inch fat on the ribs - R & Jo Fields returned at 10 oClock they killed 3 deer and lost the horses, Cought a small beever which is already taim, Several men out hunting the horses without Sukcess. The Indians not yet arrived."
Clark: "I am verry Sick and has been for somtime but have recovered my helth again."
[edit] August 1, 1804
Remained at Council Bluff
From the diary: "This being my birth day I order'd a Saddle of fat Vennison, and Elk fleece & a Bevertail to be cooked and a desert of Cheries, Plumbs, Raspberries Currents and grapes of a Supr. quallity. The Indians not yet arrived" - Clark's entry
[edit] August 2, 1804
Remained at Council Bluff
From the diary: "At sunset Mr. Fairfong (Ottoe interpreter resident with them) and an Otteau & Missourie Nation came to camp, among those Indians 6 were Chiefs. Capt. Lewis & myself met those Indians & informed them we were glad to see them and would speak to them tomorrow. Sent them some rosted meat, pork flour & meal, in return they sent us water millions." - Clark's entry
[edit] August 3, 1804
Camped near DeSoto Wildlife Refuge
From the diary: "After Brackfast we collected those Indians under an orning of our Main Sail, in presence of our party paraded & delivered a long speech to tiem expressive of our journey... " - From the First Council meeting. Written by Clark.