LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL TRAIL

President Thomas Jefferson asked Congress to fund an expedition that would cross the Louisiana territory, regardless of who controlled it, and proceed on to the Pacific. This became known as the Lewis & Clark Expedition. 

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is a route across the United States commemorating the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804 to 1806. It is part of the National Trails System of the United States and extends for 3,700 miles from Illinois to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon.

The trail is not a hiking trail, but provides opportunities at many locations along the route for hiking, boating and horseback riding. The trail is the second longest of the 23 National Scenic and National Historic Trails.

In 1803 the U. S. acquired approximately 827,000 square miles of land west of the Mississippi River for $15 million. This is important because it gave the U. S. control of the Mississippi River and the port city of New Orleans which were both use by farmers to ship their products such as flour, tobacco, pork, bacon, lard, feathers, cider, butter and cheese. 

A gold star represents Bird's Point

The black granite map of the continental United States outlines the Louisiana Purchase. Acquiring the territory doubled the size of the U. S. (13 states worth) for a sum less than three cents per acre.

The murals 

The six columns supporting the murals are from the 1903 county courthouse that burned down in  1997.  The 11 1/2 feet columns each weigh one tone each and are constructed of limestone.