Split Rock Studios created a series of thirty-eight paintings interpreting the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s journey. The large works hung for several years in a Sioux City, Iowa mall before being archived by the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage, this site’s manager. Several paintings, photographed by Kristopher K. Townsend, illustrate pages on this website.
Pages with Paintings from Split Rock Studios
The Expedition’s Flags
by Joseph A. Mussulman
The expedition’s supplies included an unknown number of American flags. Those that the journals refer to only as being “of second size,” and “of third size,” were given to selected Indian leaders as tokens of peace.
July 14, 1804
Sudden storm
When they encounter a sudden storm, the men jump into the water to save the boats. An elk is wounded, and Lewis’s dog, Seaman, joins the chase. They encamp southwest of present Langdon, Missouri.
August 18, 1804
The Omahas arrive
At Fish Camp near present Homer, Nebraska, the Omahas arrive for a council. Three Otoe chiefs witnessing deserter Pvt. Reed’s corporeal punishment ask for mercy, and Lewis’s birthday is celebrated.
August 19, 1804
Otoe's council, Floyd's illness
During a council at Fish Camp near present Homer, Nebraska, speeches with the Otoes are exchanged, but they appear dissatisfied with their gifts. Sgt. Floyd becomes seriously ill requiring urgent care.
September 7, 1804
Prairie dog town
Old Baldy [The Tower], SD The expedition encounters its first village of prairie dogs. They pour barrels of water down burrow holes eventually catching one as a specimen. Hunter George Shannon is still missing.
September 25, 1804
Good humor left behind
Pierre, SD At Good Humor Island, a council with the Lakota Sioux brings diplomatic speeches, a military parade, and gifts. During a tour of the barge, relationships sour. When they try to disembark, Clark draws his sword.
October 19, 1804
Gangs of buffalo
Above Graner Bottoms, ND With a favorable wind, the expedition makes 17½ miles stopping near the mouth of the Little Heart River in present-day North Dakota. Along the way, they encounter large herds of bison and elk, golden eagle nesting areas, and an old Mandan village.
November 1, 1804
Dropping downriver
Ruptáre, second Mandan village, ND Clark takes a group down the river to find a suitable site for winter quarters. Lewis, with the main party, arrives at camp after dark.
January 1, 1805
A new year at Fort Mandan
Fort Mandan, ND New Year’s day is celebrated with cannon fire and several men are allowed to visit a nearby Mandan village to celebrate and dance. Clark orders York to dance. The day is warm with rain but the night is cold and snowy.
January 8, 1805
Visiting a Mandan village
Fort Mandan, ND With a cold northwest wind blowing, John Ordway visits a Mandan village, likely the one nearest, Mitutanka. In present-day Arkansas, the Hunter and Dunbar Expedition turns back.
April 7, 1805
Leaving Fort Mandan
The permanent party leaves Fort Mandan bound for the Pacific Ocean. They make it only as far as Mitutanka, one of the Knife River Villages. In the barge, the return party heads towards St. Louis.
June 13, 1805
"sublimely grand specticle"
At the Grand Fall, Lewis marvels at the “sublimely grand specticle”. Downriver, Clark gives Sacagawea a dose of salts. At Fort Massac, General Wilkinson has questions about the people sent to him in the barge.
June 23, 1805
Portage route adjustments
At the White Bear Islands, Lewis establishes an area to assemble the iron-framed boat. On the way back to the lower camp, prickly pears make walking difficult and the men suffer from fatigue.
August 29, 1805
Upper Village reunion
Clark travels to the Lemhi village where Lewis is trading for horses. He trades a pistol, 100 balls, powder, and a knife for a horse. Sgt. Gass describes sunflower bread and how the Shoshones make fire.
September 15, 1805
Climbing to Snowbank Camp
Snowbank Camp, Lolo Trail, ID The corps travels four miles down the Lochsa, and then takes a steep trail to return to the main Northern Nez Perce Trail. Several horses injure themselves slipping and rolling. They camp in an area with banks of snow that are used for water.
September 22, 1805
Bitterroot Mountain triumph
Weippe Prairie villages, ID Lewis feels a sense of triumph as he and the main party descend to the Nez Perce villages. Clark and Twisted Hair climb up from the Clearwater River for a Weippe reunion. In St. Louis, a large deputation of Indians have assembled at Lewis’s invitation.
October 25, 1805
A "bad whorl & Suck"
Fort Rock, The Dalles, OR The enlisted men carry the most valuable cargo past the Long Narrows, and then the paddlers run the rapids. They continue down the rapid river and set up camp on a high basalt outcrop which they would call Fort Rock Camp.
November 19, 1805
Exploring a long beach
Long Beach and Station Camp, WA Clark and his group continue over rugged hills from Cape Disappointment to present-day Long Beach, Washington. At Station Camp, one of the men trades his old razor for a Chinookan woven hat.
June 16, 1806
Return to Horsesteak Meadow
On the Northern Nez Perce Trail, fallen trees slow progress while deeper and deeper snowbanks appear. They encamp where Clark had shot a stray horse last fall. Lewis prepares two plant specimens.
July 16, 1806
Off to the Marias
Lewis heads to the Marias River while Gass prepares wagon trucks above the Great Falls. Clark moves down the Yellowstone River by horse and Ordway paddles through the Gates of the Mountains.
July 27, 1806
Fight with the Blackfeet
Lewis has a fatal fight with the Blackfeet, Ordway paddles down the Missouri, Gass takes horses to the Teton River, Clark paddles through the Yellowstone Badlands, and Pryor is stranded without horses.
August 13, 1806
All hands aboard
With all hands aboard, they start the day as one corps for the first time since separating on 3 July 1806. With favorable winds, they make eighty-six miles and pass the Little Missouri River.
August 17, 1806
An offer to raise Jean Baptiste
The expedition leaves the Knife River Villages without Pvt. Colter and the Charbonneau family. Clark encourages the Charbonneaus to come to St. Louis where he can arrange the education of Jean Baptiste.
September 4, 1806
Floyd's grave
Dakota City, NE The expedition sets out with an ample supply of tobacco and flour obtained from trader James Aird. They stop to visit Sgt. Floyd’s grave and camp early to dry out items.
September 21, 1806
St. Charles hospitality
St. Charles, MO The boatmen paddle or row the forty-eight miles from La Charrette to St. Charles. They are greeted by the latter’s citizens with great cheer and hospitality. Lewis starts a letter to Thomas Jefferson.
