"The object of your mission is to explore the
Missouri river, & such principal stream of it, as, by it's course
& communication with the water of the Pacific ocean may offer the
most direct & practicable water communication across this continent,
for the purposes of commerce."
"Given under my hand at the city of Washington, this 20th. day
of June 1803."
Th:Jefferson, Pr. U.S. of America
Letter to Merriwether Lewis
What were Jefferson’s reasons for wanting to explore the West?
How and why did the United States obtain the Louisiana Purchase?
Were there other American attempts–before and after–to explore the west?
How active was the fur trade in North Dakota before Lewis and Clark?
Address:
612 East Boulevard Ave.
Bismarck, North Dakota 58505
Get Directions
Hours:
Exhibit galleries and Museum Store: 8am - 5pm M-F; Sat. & Sun. 10am - 5pm.
State Archives: 8am - 4:30pm., M-F, except legal holidays, and 2nd Sat. of each month, 10am - 4:30 pm.
State Historical Society offices: 8am - 5pm M-F, except legal holidays.
Contact Us:
phone: (701) 328-2666
fax: (701) 328-3710
email: histsoc@nd.gov
