Research Database

The Lewis and Clark Trust's research brings the national scope of the Lewis and Clark Story and Expedition into full view, a nexus of history and geography.

Through the compilation of print and digital resources, the first United States military exploration of the American West is presented in chronological order. Planning, equipping, escorting Sovereign Nation Tribal Chiefs, reporting to President Jefferson, and the Lewis and Clark Journal printing are all in the fabric of the Lewis and Clark Story. The referenced sources explain how the labors of the men and women of the Expedition are still guide posts for all people and ages.

The theoretical Northwest Passage and foreign financial rivalry was never far from Thomas Jefferson's mind. The first successful military exploration of the West by Lewis and Clark is clearly founded in planning, preparation, and recruitment of people with the "right stuff." The exploration included recording the findings and experiences as outlined in President Jefferson's Instructions to Meriwether Lewis.

This research database is the product of a sustained collaboration between the Lewis and Clark Trust, the National Park Service, dedicated interns, and professional historians and researchers. Together, we have worked to compile, digitize, and cross-reference thousands of primary sources — journal entries, treaties, maps, artwork, and more — into a single searchable archive, making this unparalleled chapter of American history accessible to researchers, educators, and the public.