The Journey Home
Travel: 8,000 Miles
In the spring of 1806, they started on the return trip. The Bird Woman and her husband came with them as far as the Mandan tribe. From there they traveled down the Missouri River. By the end of September they were back at St. Louis. From the time the expedition left St. Louis until its return, they had traveled over 8,000 miles. They had gone on a long, dangerous journey over a region that was almost unknown to the white man. They had suffered from cold and hunger. But they had done very well on a big job that they had started two years before.
God had used Lewis and Clark in a great way. Because of them, we learned much about the new land God had given us. The explorers talked about fertile lands, abundant food, and large rivers to be found in the new territory. Since then, the Louisiana Territory has proven to be worth many times its cost. Thirteen states have been made out of this region. It contains some of our most valuable farm lands, our richest mines, great rivers, and great mountain ranges. Lewis and Clark had been used by God to complete an important part in settling the American west.
Reflection
Making a map of an area takes many measurements. Why does it matter if your map is accurate? Why would someone need to know about distance? Elevation? Obstacles (mountains and rivers)? (Answers may include: traveling by boats or horseback explorers and settlers need to know about hardships in advance so that they can plan ahead. They can estimate the number of days to plan for, where to camp, where to find water or food, where to stop for winter.) Fun fact – Lewis and Clark made a map of the expedition and their map was only about 40 miles off between Camp Dubois in Illinois and the Pacific Ocean.
