Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance
Keepers of the Story, Stewards of the Trail SM
We preserve, promote and teach the diverse heritage of Lewis and Clark for the benefit of all people . . .
. . . and your membership or donation supports the work we do!
Our Travel Website
Lewis and Clark Trail Experience
The Lewis and Clark Trail links contemporary authentic communities and cultures—including tribes whose connections span thousands of years—to historic, vibrant and living landscapes. Whether traveling the entire length of the Trail or a short day trip, your travel experience can be greatly enhanced by the amazing tools on our travel website at lewisandclark.travel.
Our Educational Website
Discovering Lewis and Clark
The Lewis and Clark story ties together histories—her stories, American and Native American history, famous people, natural history, military history, and more. Be amazed as you explore the 2300+ pages of all thing Lewis and Clark on our educational website at lewis-clark.org.
Our Journal
We Proceeded On
We Proceeded On, is our quarterly journal. Its name derives from a phrase that appears repeatedly in the collective journals of the expedition. All issues one year or older are online along with bonus content.
Land Acknowledgement
Over the past few years, LCTA and our Chapters have taken some time during meetings to acknowledge the folks who lived on the land we are visiting. We have said our thanks to those that came before us, and appreciate their guidance and assistance when it comes to planning and preparing.
We gratefully acknowledge Native Peoples who have lived on this land for millennia. Their dedication to the land and their communities runs deep within the hearts of those past, present and future. This dedication encourages the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation to continue developing, among diverse communities, an understanding of and appreciation for the commitment of Native Peoples to this nation and the significance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Our Lewis and Clark Travel App
Explore the Trail with our Lewis and Clark Travel App:
Our 2024 Curriculum Guide
- Take your students on a journey with the Corps of Discovery
- Discover our new cross-curricular guide featuring 50+ enhanced activities for today's elementary, middle, and high school students
- Ready-to-use curriculum
See our Learning Resources page for more.
Celebrating Fifty Years!
Starting in 1964, the Lewis and Clark Trail Commission worked to identify and mark the Lewis and Clark Trail, advance public awareness of the significance of the expedition, and encourage conservation and outdoor recreation objectives along the expedition route. In 1969, the Commission issued its final report with a number of far-reaching objectives, including the establishment of one or more groups "to further the broad program developed by the Commission." In that same year, individuals who had served on the Commission and its state committees established the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation as the main group to succeed the Commission.
The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail was established by the United States Congress in 1978 as part of the national trails system. The trail "winds nearly 4,900 miles through the homelands of more than 60 Tribal nations. It follows the historic outbound and inbound routes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1803-1806 from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to the Pacific Ocean." (Lewis & Clark NHT, National Park Service).
Photo Contest
"Great Falls Canoe Camp" by Lee Ebeling, 2023 Photo Contest Winner, Historic Lewis and Clark Sites category
The 2023 winning photos are featured in our 2024 calendar—$20 each including shipping. Order here or call 406-454-1234.
The 2024 Photo Contest was open until April 30, but you can plan ahead:
More
Regions and Chapters
Foundation members are also members of at least one region. Each region sponsors its own events and newsletters and some regions have their own chapters.
William P. Sherman Library and Archives
The Sherman Library includes more than 3,000 rare and modern books, pamphlets, journals and ephemera. The archive contains the papers of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, research materials gathered by scholars, and genealogical information on each of the Corps of Discovery members. View our online catalogs.
Grant Programs
We administer a variety of grant programs that help organizations promote or protect the Lewis and Clark trail.
Wellness Challenge
We encourage Foundation members to improve their health. The Ohio River Chapter sponsors the annual Wellness Challenge from September 1 to June 30.
Reimagining America: The Maps of Lewis and Clark
A traveling exhibit from the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation
This traveling exhibit—available to libraries, museums, and visitor centers everywhere—uses large-scale reproductions of historic maps, photos, and explanatory text to show how America looked before the journey of Lewis and Clark, and what it looked like after.