Westward the Course of Empire Takes Its Way

While not specifically depicting Lewis and Clark, this monumental mural in the U.S. Capitol captures the spirit of westward expansion that the expedition inaugurated. Leutze shows settlers crossing the Rocky Mountains, with a panoramic golden vista of the promised land ahead. The mural draws directly on the legacy of Lewis and Clark, whose reports opened the West to American settlement. The border includes vignettes of exploration, including references to the expedition.