Philadelphia Chapter Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation

Home Page Chapter News Chapter Membership Philadelphia Connection Especially for Educators More about Lewis and Clark The Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation 2003 Annual Meeting in Philadelphia
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Information available about Lewis and Clark and Philadelphia

Learn how you can receive your free copy of Walk in the Footprints of Lewis & Clark in Philadelphia .

from the introduction:
THE ABOVE TITLE may come as a shock or a puzzle to you. How can you do what it proposes when you never knew that a connection existed between the explorers and Philadelphia? Let us tell you a little about how that can be possible.

First of all, if your memory is good, you will remember mention of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in grade school as the leaders of the first American expedition (1804-1806) to cross the continent. What has not been emphasized until recently is that in 1803 Lewis was very active in cities east of the Mississippi River, notably Philadelphia. His reasons centered on adding to his skills for leading such an expedition, and on buying supplies from merchants in the largest city in the new United States.

In addition, Lewis returned in 1807 to "tie up loose ends" a year after the explorers returned.

Finally, Clark came to the city in 1810 to find an editor for the daily journals he and Lewis had kept, and that were published here in 1814.

Many of these significant activities took place within a five-block radius of 4th and Market Streets. This brochure describes 48 which are related directly to Lewis and Clark. Of these, five buildings still stand; they are marked with the symbol ^.
For your added pleasure and information, we describe 16 tourist sites of general historic interest. Four of these buildings can be related to Lewis and Clark also and they are marked +.
Learn how you can receive a free copy of an informative illustrated brochure and map--The Eastern Legacy of Lewis and Clark --designed by Chapter founder Frank Muhly, or order a larger number of copies.
The brochure spells out in text on the front side what the explorers' legacy means while twelve illustrations supplement the data. On the reverse side, a map describes events from March 15, 1803, when Meriwether Lewis left the President's House in Washington, DC, the first steps he took on the great adventure, until the official account of the saga was published in Philadelphia in July 1814. The chapter's collaborator is the Ohio River Chapter.

Here's how to order Lewis and Clark in Historic Philadelphia. On the Making Ready side, Birch’s Views and a detailed map show the Philadelphia which met the eyes of Lewis when he came to the city in 1803 to prepare for the military exploration, and which both Lewis and Clark saw when they came in 1807 and 1810 after their expedition. Thirty-seven sites are located and described. On the Putting Away side, thirty-four more sites related to the explorers are described with a more contemporary map and current illustrations.
And you can still order a copy of the newly-revised and edited illustrated booklet containing Paul Russell Cutright's essay, Contributions of Philadelphia to Lewis and Clark History, which comes with a map annotated by Frank Muhly showing the status of Lewis and Clark sites in 1803 and from 1807- 1814. Chapter member Tom Davis organized the production of this high-quality reissue. All proceeds from the sale of the booklet benefit the Philadelphia Chapter.

 

The first of four expedition calendars designed by Dick Prestholdt, member of the Philadelphia Chapter, is now available. The Lewis and Clark Expedition 1803-1806 bicentennial calendars follow the expedition in 49 months of daily calendar entries and pictures; from conception by President Jefferson, the journey westward, to their return east. Order your copy now.

 

 
Updated January 25, 2004
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