Kansas Commemorates 200th Anniversary of Lewis & Clark Expedition

In 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition reached what is now Kansas. Here they spent three days and celebrated Independence Day. The Kansas Lewis & Clark Commission and several Kansas communities are planning Lewis and Clark Bicentennial events from June 26 - July 11, 2004. Visit www.journey4th.org.

Kansas City

From June 26 - 28, 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition camped at the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri rivers. Many Native American tribes in the East were relocated to what is now Kansas. Points of interest in Kansas City include a Lewis and Clark kiosk at the Wyandotte Historical Society and Museum and the NPS traveling exhibit, Tent of Many Voices, June 26-July 5, at Kaw Point Riverfront Park. Contact the Kansas City, KS / Wyandotte County Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.kckcvb.org or 1-800-264-1563.

Leavenworth / Fort Leavenworth

On July 2, 1804, Lewis & Clark encountered their first Kansa village near Leavenworth. On their return in 1806, Lewis collected his final botanical specimen near the confluence of Three-Mile Creek and the Missouri River. Historical points of interest include a Lewis and Clark wayside marker at Fort Leavenworth overlooking the river, displays at the Frontier Army Museum at Fort Leavenworth, a Lewis and Clark historical marker near magnificent vistas located on the banks of the Missouri River. Contact the Leavenworth Convention & Visitors Bureau at www.lvarea.com/cvb or 1-800-844-4114.

Atchison

On July 4, 1804, the Corps of Discovery observed the first Independence Day in the West at present-day Atchison and named Independence Creek, near where they camped. Atchison is also the birthplace of Amelia Earhart. Historical points of interest include a statue of Lewis & Clark, Sacajewea, York and Seaman at the Atchison County Historical Society Museum and two markers commemorating the Lewis and Clark trail. For more information, contact the Atchison Area Chamber of Commerce at 1-800-234-1854 or www.atchisonkansas.net.

Highland / White Cloud

An exhibit is being developed on the impact of the Lewis & Clark military expedition upon the tribes inhabiting the eastern woodlands and the prairies along the Missouri River by the Native American Heritage Museum at Highland in cooperation with the Iowa Tribe of Kansas & Nebraska and the Sac and Fox Tribal Museum. Historical points of interest include the "Tall Oak" Monument at the Troy courthouse, a marker at White Cloud commemorating the Lewis and Clark expedition and river views at the four-state lookout in White Cloud. For information, contact the Doniphan County Economic Development Office at www.dpcountyks.com or 1-913-365-2604.

For information about the Main Street program for teachers, visit http://www.lewisandclarkinkansas.com/ and click on Education. Also an article about Lewis and Clark is in the Kansas State Historical Society's Kansas Kaleidoscope.