The Purpose To get information upon the
unexplored country extending
from the interior of
present Missouri to the
mouth of the Columbia River
in present Washington.
The Start At St. Louis, Monday, May
14, 1804.
The Finish At St. Louis, Tuesday, September
23, 1806.
Time Consumed Two years, four months, and
nine days.
Distance Travelled To the mouth of the Columbia:
4134 miles. Back to
St. Louis: 3555 miles.
Counting side trips: 8000
miles, total.
Methods Employed Boats, horses and afoot.
The Route Up the Missouri River to its
sources in present Montana;
across the Bitter Root Mountains
into present Idaho; by
way of the Clearwater River,
the Snake River and the
Columbia River to the Pacific
Ocean.
The Party Out of St. Louis Forty-five.
The Party Who Went Through Thirty-three: the two captains,
twenty-three American
soldiers, five French-Canadian
and French-Indian
boatmen and interpreters,
one negro servant, one Indian
woman guide, and one
baby.
Deaths One.
Seriously Injured One.
Desertions One accomplished, one attempted;
both early. None
from the final party.