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.
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September 22, 1803
Hanging Rock
On or near this date, Lewis passes a notable hanging rock and the Ohio River towns of Alexandria (Portsmouth, Ohio) and Vanceburg, Kentucky. Travelers Fortescue Cuming and Thomas Rodney describe the area.
September 4, 1803
Leaky boats
As they leave Pennsylvania along the Ohio River, the pirogue springs a serious leak, so they must stop to repair it. Lewis buys a canoe, but it too leaks. Camp is near Newell in present West Virginia.
August 29, 1803
Ohio River flatboats
As he waits in Pittsburgh for the military barge to be completed, Lewis leaves little record of his day-to-day activities. The role of flatboats in Ohio River commerce was described by other travelers.
August 24, 1803
New Orleans smugglers
From Natchez, William Claiborne, Governor of the Mississippi Territory, answers President Jefferson‘s Louisiana questions and describes smuggling at New Orleans—an activity experienced by William Clark.
July 30, 1803
Forts Duquesne and Pitt
In Pittsburgh, Lewis oversees construction of the expedition’s military-style barge prior to departing down the Ohio River. His base is the U.S. Army headquarters at Fort Fayette. Nearby, remnants of two earlier forts—Pitt and Duquesne—can still be seen.
July 27, 1803
Building Fort Kaskaskia
In Pittsburgh, Lewis oversees construction of the barge and waits to see if Clark will accept or decline his offer to co-command his Western expedition. In Washington City, orders are issued to lease land in Kaskaskia to build an American Army post to support the transfer of Louisiana and Jefferson’s Western expeditions.
July 19, 1803
Stoddard's orders
In Pittsburgh, Lewis is working and waiting for the day he can begin down the Ohio River.
In Washington City, Cpt. Stoddard’s orders are to support President Jefferson’s Western expeditions and the transfer of Louisiana to the United States by recommending the best location for an Army fort west of the Mississippi.
May 18, 1803
Gifts and fishing tackle
In Philadelphia, Purveyor of Public Supplies Israel Whelan buys over $150 of gifts and trade items and $25 of fishing tackle.
Spain announces the retrocession of Louisiana to France, and Washington City residents learn that the port of New Orleans has reopened to American trade.
April 29, 1803
The price for Louisiana
In Paris, France, the Louisiana Purchase negotiators settle on a price—80 million francs (about 15 million dollars) plus payment of French debts worth about 20 million francs (3.75 million dollars). This is twice as much as Napoleon originally desired.
April 27, 1803
Philadelphia mentors
From Washington City, President Jefferson tells Lewis that he has mentors waiting for him in Philadelphia. He also misinforms the public by saying his Western Expedition will explore the Mississippi River.
In Paris, James Monroe, Robert Livingston, and François Barbé-Marbois negotiate a price for Louisiana’s purchase.
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