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In some ways the Lewis and Clark Expedition was a direct result of the Louisiana Purchase, and in some ways it was not. President Thomas Jefferson authorized the expedition with three objectives in mind. First he wanted to find out about the plants, animals and other natural resources that existed in the vast lands that The United States had just purchased. Second, he wanted find out if there was a Northwest Passage, a river, like the Mississippi that could provide water route to the Pacific Ocean. Finally Jefferson wanted to make friendly contacts with the Native Americans who lived in the region.
Jefferson selected his personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis, to organize the expedition, and Lewis asked William Clark to him lead the project. Both men were well versed in the skills that were required to survive in the wilderness. The group set out from a location near St. Louis, Missouri on May 14, 1804 and returned on September 23, 1806. During that two year and four month journey, they covered 8,500 miles and made many important discoveries.
One of the most important members of the group was a Native American squaw, Sacagawea (translation “bird woman”) who provided invaluable support to the explorers. Sacagawea served as an interpreter, a guide and at one point when one of the boats overturned, a savior of valuable notes and instruments. She also provided a cover for the group because her presence as a woman showed that the expedition was not a military operation.
The Lewis and Clark gold dollars were sold as part of the Lewis and Clark Exposition which was held at Portland, Oregon in 1905. The coins were sold for $2.00 each, and the proceeds were used to erect a bronze statue in honor of Sacagawea. Although the Lewis Clack Expo did not have world’s fair status, a number of foreign nations did have pavilions on the grounds.
In 2004 Congress again recognized the Lewis and Clark Expedition with a commemorative silver dollar. That coin is show below the pictures of the 1904 Lewis and Clark commemorative gold dollar.