Trailblazers who wish to rekindle the spirit of discovery fostered by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark's transcontinental journey of exploration need only travel to Missouri, the starting point for the expedition nearly 200 years ago. Your adventure will begin in the St. Louis area, site of the expedition's departure, and continue westward following in the footsteps of the original explorers. ITINERARYSite of the "Red House", Cape GirardeauIn November 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark first stepped foot onto Missouri soil in Cape Girardeau. An interpretive center is currently under construction on the site of the "Red House," the trading post and home of town founder Don Louis Lorimier, who welcomed the expedition members at his home. The "Red House Interpretive Center" will commemorate the visit of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in 1803 and will house authentic items that would have been sold during the period. The opening is scheduled for Spring 2003. Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, St. Louis Modern-day adventurers can begin their Lewis and Clark journey along the St. Louis riverfront at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial, home of the Gateway Arch. Soaring 630 feet above the Mississippi River, the nation's tallest man-made monument is a symbol of St. Louis' role as the "Gateway to the West." Trams take visitors to the top of the stainless steel arch for great views of the Mississippi River. Through December 2004, the Arch's Odyssey Theatre will be showing a special National Geographic large format film, Lewis & Clark: Great Journey West about the journey of Lewis, Clark and their Corps of Discovery through the unmapped West. Museum of Westward Expansion, St. Louis Beneath the Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion provides an excellent interpretation of the expedition's course and 100 years of human history related to the American westward movement. A life-sized statue of Thomas Jefferson welcomes visitors to the museum. Murals depicting scenes along Lewis and Clark's route are described in Captain Lewis' own words through excerpts from his journal. Old Courthouse, St. Louis Across from the Arch, travelers can visit the Old Courthouse. Here they can view a film, which vividly depicts the role of St. Louis in the history of the United States, and see a diorama portraying the ceremony of the transfer of the Upper Louisiana Territory, which both Lewis and Clark attended. Missouri History Museum, St. Louis The Missouri History Museum at Forest Park in St. Louis is another site of interest to Lewis and Clark enthusiasts. Situated on the grounds of the 1904 Louisiana Purchase Exposition, the museum features an extensive Lewis and Clark collection, including William Clark's journal, his clothing and other artifacts from the expedition. In 2004, the museum will host a major exhibition mounted by the Missouri Historical Society to commemorate the voyage. The 6,000-square-foot exhibition will be a reunion of artifacts and documents that have not been seen in one place since 1806. Bellfontaine Cemetery, St. Louis Bellefontaine Cemetery, also in St. Louis, is the site of William Clark's grave, dedicated in 1904, during the expedition's centennial. A granite obelisk and bust of the explorer above the gravesite reads, "Soldier, Explorer, Statesman and Patriot. His Life is Written in the History of His Country." Lewis and Clark Boathouse and Nature Center, St. Charles From St. Louis, visitors can travel to St. Charles where Lewis and Clark departed the riverbank on May 14, 1804. Located along the Missouri River, historic St. Charles served as the expedition's beginning point along the Missouri River and was the place where the final preparations for the journey were made. The Lewis and Clark Boathouse and Nature Center in St. Charles features many exhibits interpreting the voyage. Hand-painted dioramas of scenes from the journey are a highlight at the center as are the many featured artifacts from the time. Frontier Park, St. Charles While in St. Charles, travelers can also visit Frontier Park, the approximate site where the Corps camped as they repacked their boats in 1804, and observe the ongoing construction of pirogues, replicas of actual boats used on the expedition. The pirogues are being authentically reconstructed by a local St. Charles resident also is in the process of rebuilding a replica of Lewis and Clark's keelboat, which will launch in 2004 from St. Charles for a reenactment of the actual expedition. The construction is showcased in an open shelter along the Missouri River near the Goldenrod Showboat. These vessels have been used to reenact portions of the Lewis and Clark journey during the past four years. The St. Charles Corps of Discovery will reenact the entire journey in 2004 as a commemoration of the 200th anniversary of the expedition and the Louisiana Purchase. Katy Trail State Park, Beginning in St. Charles St. Charles also serves as a trailhead to the Katy Trail State Park. Adventurous travelers, looking to experience Lewis and Clark history in a unique way, can hike or bike their way along 185 miles of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail via the Katy Trail State Park, a hard-packed gravel trail, which winds its way along the Missouri River from St. Charles through Missouri's scenic wine country to Sedalia. Travelers can explore the beauty of the Missouri River Valley as they follow the longest nonmotorized public portion of the entire Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. St. Stanislaus Conservation Area, St. Louis County North of St. Charles in St. Louis County, travelers can visit the St. Stanislaus Conservation Area, noted in Clark's journal on May 16, 1804. Modern day explorers can appreciate the "remarkable coal hill," which the men passed on their journey, with a hike along St. Stanislaus' many trails. Defiance Located just a few miles from St. Charles is the town of Defiance and the Daniel Boone Home. The legendary frontiersman was living here when Lewis and Clark passed through, however, there is no record of them having met. Guests can tour the house in which Boone spent the last years of his life, dying here in 1820. St. Albans The village of St. Albans, just south of Defiance, is the site of the Tavern Cave visited by Lewis and Clark on May 23, 1804. Lewis narrowly avoided a 300-foot fall near the cave. Though there is no public access to the cave, an interpretive sign and marker are located in the village of St. Albans. Jefferson City, Capitol Building Jefferson City, the capital of the state, named after Thomas Jefferson, welcomes visitors to the Capitol Building, where visitors can view statues of the three major figures in the Lewis and Clark Expedition: the two captains, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark; and Sacagawea, their Shoshone guide. Outside, a prominent statue of President Thomas Jefferson welcomes visitors. The Capitol grounds offer a high vantage point to survey Missouri River country. A bronze relief depicting the signing of the Louisiana Purchase is found here. Jefferson Landing State Historic Site Travelers also can make their way to the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site and see the original buildings that once served the steamboat trade. Today, the buildings house exhibits about daily life in the 1800s. The site also offers visitors a brief, 20-minute documentary film on the Lewis and Clark Expedition. On the grounds of the nearby Governor's Mansion, a marker identifies a point where the explorers stopped on their journey west. Columbia Just a short drive from Jefferson City, travelers can stop by the college town of Columbia to view Thomas Jefferson's original gravemarker. The gravemarker is located at the heart of the picturesque University of Missouri-Columbia campus. The University of Missouri-Columbia is also home to the Museum of Anthropology, housing art and artifacts from prehistory to the present. The museum has an outfitted fur traders canoe, Pacific Northwest cultural artifacts, a replica pioneer cabin and American Indian exhibits that will be of interest to Lewis and Clark aficionados. Rocheport Snugly nestled amid a tight valley and towering limestone bluffs is the small town of Rocheport, a popular trailhead for the Katy Trail State Park. The general area, noted in Clark's journal in June of 1804, features scenic bluff overviews and spectacular river views. A quick stroll along the Katy Trail on either side of Rocheport offers travelers insight into the explorers' journey through mid-Missouri. Signage about the expedition is posted at the entrance to the Katy Trail Tunnel to the west of Rocheport. To the town's east also along the Katy Trail, travelers can see the Lewis and Clark Cave and view pictographs, on the Missouri River bluffs similar to those observed by William Clark and noted in his journal on June 5, 1804. Arrow Rock Following the trail, travelers come upon the tiny village (pop. 70) of Arrow Rock. Although not settled at the time of Lewis and Clark's journey, the two explorers noted the bluff and nearby salt licks as they labored up the Missouri River in 1804. Visitors can tour the interpretive center at Arrow Rock State Historic Site. Today's site brings to life the Missouri villages of the 19th century with historic homes and businesses. A campground and picnic area overlooks the Missouri River. Sibley Continuing west to Sibley, travelers can visit Fort Osage. Fort Osage was the second U.S. outpost built in Louisiana Purchase territory. The site, overlooking the bends and currents of the Missouri River, was first noted by Lewis and Clark as a likely spot for a fort. Four years later in 1808, Clark returned to design and build this outpost in an effort to strengthen ties with the Osage Indians. The post remained the westernmost government presence until 1818. Today's fort is a reconstruction from original plans still in existence in Washington, D.C. Today, the fort holds authentic barracks, trade houses, surveillance posts and ample grounds for visitors to explore. Independence Known as the Queen City of the Trails, Independence is considered the official starting point for the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails. Visitors can find out more about these and many other trails at the National Frontier Trails Center. The Trails Center presents the history of the trails and the personal trials and adventures of the pioneers who opened the West as well as the fur trade era. The Trails Center also features a new permanent "Trail Blazers" exhibit about the Lewis and Clark expedition. An award-winning film takes visitors on a visual journey from Independence to Oregon. The center also features interpretive exhibits and artifacts. The Merrill J. Mattes Research Library, housed at the Trails Center, is recognized as the largest collection of books, documents and manuscripts on the westward expansion. Clark's Point, Kansas City Trailblazers can visit Clark's Point, located in Kansas City's renovated Case Park in the Quality Hill area, on the western edge of downtown. A bronze plaque identifies the point where the two captains viewed the valleys of the Missouri and Kansas rivers on their journey toward home in 1806. The marker also notes that on June 26-29, 1804, the Corps of Discovery camped near this point at the mouth of the Kansas River on their westward journey. In the fall of 2000, a new Lewis and Clark statue, the "Corps of Discovery," was erected near the marker. The statue, which overlooks the Missouri and Kansas rivers, includes Meriwether Lewis; William Clark; Sacagawea, their Shoshone guide; and York, Clark's African-American slave. Lewis' dog, Seaman, also is represented. Westport, Kansas City While in Kansas City, modern explorers should visit the Westport area. Pioneer Park, at the corner of Westport Road and Broadway, features an in-ground map of the United States during the time of westward expansion complete with pioneer and explorer routes marked allowing history buffs to trace the early trails. A statue of Westport's earliest contributors also is found in the park. Weston The trail leaves Kansas City and heads north through Platte County, whose beauty Clark described in great detail in his journals. Located in western Platte County, the antebellum town of Weston marks the site where Lewis and Clark enjoyed limestone springs in 1804. A marker at the foot of Main Street identifies Lewis and Clark's campsite and the former channel of the Missouri River. Near the town of Weston, Weston Bend State Park features a Lewis and Clark interpretive sign on the scenic Missouri River outlook. Rushville Rushville marks the site of Lewis and Clark State Park, where the explorers spent the first Independence Day of their journey. The park is on the banks of Lewis and Clark Lake, which Lewis and Clark called "Gosling Lake" in their journals in reference to the many nearly grown geese the Corps noted in the area. Just as in Lewis and Clark's day, waterfowl still flock to this oxbow lake. Geese, great blue herons, snowy egrets and many types of ducks often make an appearance at Lewis and Clark Lake. Jentell Brees River Access, St. Joseph The trail then takes travelers north to St. Joseph, an important site in the history of western trails. The city, located north of Kansas City along the Missouri River, was described in detail in the voyagers' journals. In St. Joseph, visitors can visit the Jentell Brees River Access, the approximate location of Lewis and Clark's July 6, 1804, campsite. The access, now managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation, was named for a description of the area in Sgt. Floyd's journal entry on July 6, 1804. St. Joseph Museum, St. Joseph Modern-day explorers can learn about the trail's history at the St. Joseph Museum, which features a detailed Lewis and Clark exhibit with Clark's journal entries from July 7, 1804, describing St. Michael's Prairie, now the site of St. Joseph. Exhibits include a panoramic view of the prairie and Missouri River. A large sculpture of Lewis, Clark, Sacagawea, York and Seaman also is featured. Riverfront Park, St. Joseph At St. Joseph's Riverfront Park travelers can walk part of St. Michael's Prairie, the large raised prairie referenced in Clark's journal in Sept. 12, 1806, when the Corps set up camp on the land during their return trip. Wyeth Park St. Joseph Nearby Wyeth Park overlooks St. Michael's Prairie and offers visitors a panoramic view of the Missouri River Valley and the remaining oxbow lake. From this vantage point, travelers can see the changes in the river channel over the years. The Corps of Discovery passed this area on July 7, 1804, as they headed westward and on September 12, 1806, on their return trip. French Bottoms River Access, St. Joseph Just upriver from Wyeth Park, the French Bottoms River Access features an interpretive sign that marks the area the Corps of Discover passed on July 7, 1804, and again on Sept. 12, 1806. Today, the area is the site of a large riverfront development project by the City of St. Joseph. Sunset Grill, St. Joseph Travelers can grab a bite to eat... and a little history at St. Joseph's Sunset Grill, the approximate site of the Corps July 7, 1804, camp. An interpretive sign at the restaurant marks the spot where Lewis issued a set of orders to reorganize the cooking responsibilities. Sunbridge Hills Conservation Area, St. Joseph Sunbridge Hills Conservation Area, located on the northern edge of St. Joseph, offers travelers spectacular views of the Missouri River Valley from its bluffs. The area overlooks the July 8, 1804, and Sept. 11, 1806, route of the Corps of Discovery.