The Lewis and Clark Expedition, commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson after the Louisiana Purchase, began its journey westward from St. Louis, Missouri, on May 14, 1804. Led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, this expedition aimed to explore the newly acquired western portion of the United States and to find a practical route across the western half of the continent. Their extensive journey, filled with detailed maps and observations of previously undocumented flora and fauna, significantly contributed to the geographic and scientific knowledge of the American frontier.
