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Bicentennial The Lewis and Clark Bicentennial

In January 2003, the nation commemorates the bicentennial of Lewis and Clark's historic journey across America. Backed by a hearty crew of fellow explorers and supported by invaluable guidance from Native Americans -- including a Shoshone Lemhi woman named Sacajawea -- the duo traveled the Missouri and Snake Rivers from St. Louis, Missouri to the Columbia River Basin and the Pacific Ocean. They mapped the region and collected plant and animal species along the way.

The Sierra Club joins other organizations and individuals in the bicentennial commemoration by premiering a film narrated by actress Sissy Spacek, presenting the explorers' journals online, hosting a reception with speeches and a panel discussion at the Monticello gala, and much more. Choose an activity below to learn more about the journey, find out what the Sierra Club is doing in the region Lewis and Clark explored, and find out what you can do to preserve their legacy.

The National launch of the commemoration will be held at Monticello Launching the Bicentennial
"Jefferson's West," a national launch of the bicentennial commemoration, was held on January 15 at Monticello, in Charlottesville, Va. The Sierra Club hosted an opening night reception.
Explore the Landscapes of Lewis and Clark Explore the Landscapes of Lewis and Clark
Watch the newly released film highlighting the landscapes traveled by the Corps of Discovery and the modern-day conservationists working to protect them. Oscar Award-winning actress Sissy Spacek narrates this documentary.
Lewis and Clark Journals The Journals of Lewis & Clark
Lewis and Clark kept extensive journals during their expedition. Find out where they were on any given day, and take a peek at some actual pages from their journals.
Special Place Share Your Own Special Place
You're invited to join in the bicentennial commemoration. Tell us about a place that's important to you in the lands explored by Lewis and Clark, or check out what other folks have written on that subject.
on the lookout for prairie dogs, golden eagles, burrowing owls and badgers Share Your Own Adventures
Have you been to the region explored by Lewis and Clark? Did you enjoy an awesome backpack trip there, or land your biggest fish ever in the Columbia, or write a school play about Sacajawea? Tell us about your adventures in the region and we'll share them here on our website.

What Else Can You Do?

There's a lot more you can do on the Sierra Club's Lewis and Clark website! Watch a slide show about the Nez Perce Native Americans, look at paintings by an artist who followed the trail of the explorers, read a funny daily comic strip about Lewis and Clark reincarnated as a beaver and a goose.

Can't remember much about the expedition and why there's such a hoopla about its bicentennial? Click here to get up to speed.

Have Your Own Adventures
In 2003, Sierra Club Outings is offering 38 adventurous trips in the areas that Lewis and Clark explored. Many of these outings follow directly in the explorers' footsteps; others take place in nearby regions that are representative of the wilderness the two worked so hard to map and record.

Take Action
You can do you part to protect the lands explored by Lewis and Clark by sending a message to Sen. Tom Daschle through our quick and easy-to-use Take Action System!