January 1803- Thomas Jefferson proposes that an expedition be carried out to explore the west. Meriwether Lewis accepted this challenge, and asks William Clark to join him.
April 30, 1803- United States buys Louisiana Territory for 15 million dollars.
May 14, 1804- The Corps of Discovery leaves traveling up the Missouri River.
October 1804- Lewis decides to spend long winter with the Mandan Indians.
November 1804- Corps hires Toussaint Charbonneau as an interpreter and a cook. He brought along his wife Sacagawea.
April 1805- Expedition leaves Mandan villages and heads toward Pacific Ocean.
May 1805- Lewis sights Rocky Mountains.
August 1805- They find Shoshone tribe and Sacagawea recognizes the chief which is her brother.
September 1805- Expedition crosses Bitter Route Mountains.
October 1805- Expedition reaches Colombia River.
November 6, 1805- Lewis exclaims, “Ocean in view!”
December 1805- Expedition lives in Fort Clatsop for winter.
March 1806- Expedition leaves Fort Clatsop to return home.
September 23, 1806- Expedition ends in St. Louis.
December 1806- Lewis gets in touch with President Jefferson in Washington D.C.
Timeline
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