Opening of the West - 200th Anniversary

President Thomas Jefferson sent the Lewis and Clark expedition to investigate the West half of the United States and, if possible, find a water passage to the Pacific. The official start of the famous mission was at Wood River, Illinois. The men that William Clark hired for the expedition became a team at Camp Wood River during their 5 months of winter camp.

On December 12, 2003 I attended the re-creation of the 200th anniversary of the arrival of the Corps of Discovery at Camp Wood River near the confluence of the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers. That evening there was a program at the Lewis and Clark Community College featuring speeches, patriotic band music, the unveiling of a commissioned painting and a candle light walk to the statue of Sacagawea on the campus.

The day before I drove down to St. Louis to see the spectacular Arch, the gateway to the West. Naturally, I took the tram inside the Arch to the viewing windows at the top of the Arch. In the base of the Arch is a well equipped museum featuring Presidential peace medals given to the Indians. There was a special exhibit of Lewis and Clark memorabilia which had just opened. While I was touring the exhibit, an AP photographer took my photo. The paparazzi are everywhere! Seriously, it was a rewarding experience to celebrate this important milestone of the development and expansion of the United States. On May 14, 2004, there will be another recreation of the departure of the Lewis and Clark expedition.