Lewis and Clark Archives - Lewis & Clark Research Database

Historic Homecoming. Sacajawea, the Bird Woman of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, finds her Shoshone people on Horse Prairie Creek, Montana

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:46:25 +0000

Colored plate of a Western scene published in Westward America by H .R. Driggs.
Colored plate of a Western scene published in Westward America by H .R. Driggs.

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Allegorical Scene of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:46:24 +0000

This ambitious and romanticized composition captures a defining moment in American history: the Lewis and Clark Expedition, commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson to chart a route to the Pacific Ocean through the newly acquired western territories. The painting centers on meticulously rendered figures–Lewis, Clark, Seaman (?), Charbonneau, Sacajawea, and her brother–each embodying the mythos surrounding the legendary journey.

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Lewis and Clark Reach Shoshone Camp Led by Sacajawea the “Bird Woman”

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:46:24 +0000

Renowned as an iconic figure in early 20th-century American art for his portrayals of the American West, Charles M. Russell’s (1864-1926) masterworks and ephemera form a significant part of the Gilcrease collection. Examples of Charles M. Russell’s mature painting style are enriched by Gilcrease Museum’s equally important collection of the artist’s bronze sculptures, sketches, preparatory drawings, illustrated letters, and personal belongings. In addition to Russell’s acclaim as a painter and sculptor he is also considered a noteworthy humorist across different media.

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Lewis and Clark at Eagle Creek

Wed, 18 Feb 2026 18:46:24 +0000

The noted American muralist, Thomas Hart Benton, had often painted historical themes. In 1965, accompanied by the National Park Service and the Army Corps of Engineers, he took a three-week trip up the Missouri River to make sketches along the Lewis and Clark Trail. Benton also wanted to visit corresponding sites painted by world-renowned painter Karl Bodmer in 1833. The majority of the trip was spent in Montana’s White Cliffs area and resulted in his large painting of Lewis and Clark at Eagle Creek. Benton was 76 years old at the time of this expedition.

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