October–November 1805 and March–May 1806
"Ocian in View! O! the Joy"
~William Clark, Nov. 7, 1805
"We are now at the end of our voyage, which has been completely accomplished according to the
intent of the expedition..."
~Patrick Gass, Nov. 16, 1805
Commemorate History with State Parks
Appointed by President Thomas Jefferson 200 years ago, Captain Meriwether Lewis was assigned to explore
the unknown Northwest Territory and find a navigable passage to the Pacific Ocean. Lewis selected William
Clark as his co-commander. Near the end of their westward journey (during the autumn of 1805), they traveled
through one of the most scenic and spectacular parts of their expedition – present-day Washington
state from the Snake River to the Columbia River Gorge region and the Pacific.
In addition to "tracing" Lewis and Clark's steps through the state and "re-living" the adventures by
visiting Washington's state parks, you can learn all about the famous trek through Washington 200 years in
the "History of the Journey."
Discover the landscapes of the great northwest that were both unknown and beautiful to the members of
the Lewis and Clark Expedition, hear the stories of hardship, courage and friendship, and enjoy interpretive
opportunities and the beauty of state parks along the way.
To learn more about the Lewis & Clark journey, events/activities at state parks and more, select one of the links below:
The Lewis & Clark Journey
State parks along the way
Events and activities
Sacajawea Interpretive Center
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
Lewis & Clark commemorative stamps
Other Sites
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail (National Park Service)
Washington State Department of Tourism
Washington State Department of Transportation
Washington State Historical Society