Lewis and Clark Expedition

In this episode, we trace the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the 1804–1806 journey commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson after the Louisiana Purchase. Led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the Corps of Discovery set out to search for a transcontinental water route, map western lands, document plants and animals, and strengthen American claims in the West. We explore their route to the Pacific Northwest, their vital and complicated encounters with Native American nations, and the contributions of key figures like Sacagawea and York. The episode also examines how the expedition shaped American geography, trade, and the nation’s long push toward the Pacific.