Arrival at the Mouth of the Kansas River

After six weeks on the Missouri, the expedition reached the confluence with the Kansas River at present-day Kansas City. Clark carefully documented the width and condition of the river, as mapping waterways was one of the expedition’s primary objectives.

“The Mouth of the river Kanzas is 230 yds Wide. We Camped at the point. This river is Muddy at this time.”

Clark also noted the Carolina parakeet (which he called “Parrot queets”), a species that would later become extinct in the early 20th century. The expedition remained here several days to rest, hunt, and make observations.