Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail |
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| Location | IL, MO, KS, IA, NE, SD, ND, MT, ID, OR, and WA, USA |
| Nearest city | Omaha, NE |
| Established | November 10, 1978 |
| Visitors | 250,000 (in 2004) |
| Administrator | National Park Service |
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is a special route across the United States. It celebrates the amazing journey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition from 1804 to 1806. This trail is part of the National Trails System, which protects important routes in the U.S.
The trail is about 4,900 miles (7,900 km) long. It stretches all the way from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon. This path follows the exact routes that Lewis and Clark took. It includes their journey out west and their return trip. It also covers the part of their trip before they officially started exploring.
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail passes through 16 states. These states include Pennsylvania, Ohio, West Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Idaho, Washington, and Oregon. It also crosses many Native American tribal lands.
Even though it's called a "trail," it's not just for hiking. You can hike, boat, or even ride horses in many places along the route. The National Park Service helps manage this trail. Different parts of the trail are also looked after by local groups and Native American tribes.
Where to Learn About the Trail
The main office for the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is in Omaha, Nebraska. It's located at the National Park Service Midwest Regional Headquarters.
At the visitor center, you can see cool exhibits. These exhibits tell the story of the explorers and their historic journey. You can also get information about other places to visit along the trail.
How the Trail Was Created
People have wanted to honor the Lewis and Clark journey for a long time. In 1948, the National Park Service suggested a "Lewis and Clark Tour-way." This route would follow the Missouri River.
Later, a man named Jay "Ding" Darling thought the expedition route would make a great recreational trail. In 1978, a new law was passed. This law created a special type of trail called a National Historic Trail. The Lewis and Clark trail was one of the first to get this special title.
From 2003 to 2006, the National Park Service celebrated the 200th anniversary of the expedition. They had a traveling exhibit called "Corps of Discovery II." This exhibit helped people learn more about Lewis and Clark's amazing adventure.
In 2019, the trail was made even longer. It added about 1,200 miles (1,900 km) along the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers. This new section goes from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to Wood River, Illinois.
