October 14, 1803
Louisville arrival
According to a Lexington, Kentucky newspaper article, Meriwether Lewis arrives with his crew and boats at the Louisville port above the Falls of the Ohio. William Clark is likely there to meet him.
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October 13, 1803
Giant cane and headwinds
One day above Louisville, Lewis encounters several islands named for their distance from the Falls of the Ohio. Here, giant cane begins to appear, and constant headwinds often blow.
October 12, 1803
Ohio River mosquitoes
Lewis and his crew are about halfway between Big Bone Lick and the Falls of the Ohio. As reported by contemporary traveler Thomas Rodney, mosquitoes begin to appear.
October 11, 1803
News from fellow travelers
Lewis and the boats are moving down the Ohio towards Louisville where Clark is expecting his arrival. Just days up the Ohio River, the nephew of Daniel Boone shares news with Thomas Rodney.
October 9, 1803
Young islands
Lewis travels between Big Bone Lick and the Falls of the Ohio where William Clark is expecting him. Fellow traveler Thomas Rodney describes that section of the Ohio River with its “young” islands.
October 5, 1803
Big Bone Lick
Lewis is likely at Big Bone Lick collecting fossils and fellow travelers Thomas Rodney and Nicholas Cresswell describe the diggings that he saw. Elsewhere, the U.S. Army expects problems with Spain.
October 4, 1803
To Big Bone Lick
On or near this date, Lewis leaves Cincinnati for Big Bone Lick where he expects to collect fossils for Thomas Jefferson. Elsewhere, tensions rise between Spain and the United States over Louisiana.
October 3, 1803
Spoiled smallpox vaccine
Lewis writes a letter to Jefferson describing his time in Cincinnati. He says that his kinepox vaccine—used to prevent smallpox—has spoiled and also asks for a copy of the Louisiana Purchase treaty.
October 2, 1803
The North Bend of the Ohio
Lewis is in Cincinnati while the boats continue down the Ohio. On or near this day, they pass the Miami River. In 1749, French explorer Céloron left a lead plate there claiming possession of the Ohio.
September 29, 1803
Mastodon bones
At Cincinnati, Ohio, Lewis rests his crew and works with Dr. Goforth to examine the fossil bones excavated from nearby Big Bone Lick. William Claiborne writes an update on the Louisiana Territory.
September 21, 1803
Entering Kentucky
On or near this date, Lewis enters Kentucky and passes Hanging Rock. Like fellow traveler Thomas Rodney, he likely notices the many Eastern spiny soft-shelled turtles in this stretch of the Ohio River.
September 20, 1803
Guyandotte Rivers
On or near this day, Lewis passes present Guyan Creek and speeds through a narrow section of the Ohio River. He would encounter an “ugly” riffle at the mouth of the Guyandotte River.
September 18, 1803
Letart Falls
The expedition heads out down the Ohio before sunrise. They safely pass a rapid near the present community of Letart Falls, and Lewis writes his last journal entry until 11 November 1803.
September 11, 1803
Swimming squirrels
The boats enter the Long Reach of the Ohio River where Lewis sees squirrels swimming across the river. He has his dog, Seaman, capture several and when fried, he finds them fat and tasty.
July 29, 1803
Lewis receives Clark's answer
In Pittsburgh, Meriwether Lewis receives William Clark‘s answer to his offer to join the expedition. Clark promises to recruit a few suitable men and meet Lewis at the Falls of the Ohio.
July 27, 1803
Orders for Kaskaskia
Lewis is in Pittsburgh having a military barge built prior to departure down the Ohio River. From Washington City, orders are issued to lease land in Kaskaskia to build an American Army post.
July 26, 1803
Lewis and Hooke Expedition?
In Pittsburgh, Meriwether Lewis recommends Lt. Moses Hooke—the commander of Fort Fayette—to co-lead the Western Expedition should William Clark decline.
July 24, 1803
Some eligible recruits
Clark writes a letter from the Falls of the Ohio telling Lewis who is in Pittsburgh that he has found some eligible recruits and is getting his affairs ready for departure down the Ohio River.
July 23, 1803
Timber for building ships
Lewis is in Pittsburgh waiting for the barge to be built prior to departure down the Ohio. The timber used for Ohio River shipbuilding was described by François André Michaux during his visit in 1802.
July 19, 1803
Stoddard's new orders
Amos Stoddard given orders to establish an Army fort in preparation for the transfer of Louisiana and Jefferson’s Western expeditions. Meriwether Lewis is in Pittsburgh having the barge built.
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Lewis and Clark Trail Alliance
with cooperation and funding from the following organizations:
- Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
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- The Capital Gallery (Lewis and Clark Fort Mandan Foundation)
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Unless otherwise noted, journal excerpts are from The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, edited by Gary E. Moulton, 13 vols. (Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press, 1983-2001).