About Us

Statue of an explorer tipping his hat towards the Western Gateway
By Tony Huhn, 2022 Photo Contest Winner. © 2022 LCTHF.

Mission

We preserve, promote and teach the diverse heritage of Lewis and Clark for the benefit of all people.

Vision

The Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, Inc., doing business as the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance (LCTA), is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail and sharing the many stories of the Expedition and its enduring legacy.

In 2025, the Foundation made a purposeful decision to adopt the public-facing name Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance. This change reflects an intentional evolution in how the organization engages with the public, builds partnerships, and advances its mission. The name Alliance better expresses our commitment to bringing together the people, organizations, Tribal Nations, businesses, educators, and public agencies that share an interest in the Trail and its stories.

The Foundation’s mission remains rooted in its longstanding commitment to education, research, preservation, and public understanding. For more than 60 years, the Foundation and its chapters have supported Lewis and Clark scholarship, developed educational programs, advocated for the Trail, and encouraged the telling of the Expedition’s many stories, including those of the Native Nations and peoples whose histories are inseparable from it.

Today, the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance builds on that foundation by connecting partners, expanding public engagement, and creating new opportunities for people to discover, experience, and understand the Trail. The Alliance name signals not a departure from our history, but a broader vision for fulfilling our mission through collaboration, shared resources, and a more inclusive understanding of the Lewis and Clark experience.

Established in 1969, we are a non-profit, 501(c)(3), corporation.

History

In 2014, we observed the 50th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Trail Commission. The Commission worked for five years 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 in support of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

A Transparent, Non-profit, 501(c)(3) Corporation

Past Reports and Filings

Related Pages

  • Annual Report - The latest annual report of the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance—a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation—celebrates our achievements for the past year. See the grants given, donations received, awards given, goals accomplished, and view financial reports. Open directly at https://publuu.com/flip-book/561309/2361953. For past annual reports, 990 filings, and more, see our About Us page.
  • Our People - Our most important people are members, volunteers, and partners! Staff Chief Executive Officer Richard Huntdirector@lewisandclark.org 406-204-7504 Richard Hunt became Chief Executive Officer of the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance (LCTA) in February 2024, bringing more than 40 years of executive leadership and management experience to the organization. His career spans senior leadership roles with IBM, […]
  • Regions - The Alliance is composed of nine regions, and members can join as many regions as they desire. If you would like to modify your regional memberships, click here. Great Lakes www.facebook.com/groups/1523363644716461 Northeast Ohio River Latest Newsletter www.facebook.com/LCTHFOhioRiverChapter Pacific Northwest Latest Newsletter pnw-lcta.org Idaho Chapter: Web site Oregon Chapter: Web site Washington Chapter: Web site Southeast […]
  • Grants - Apply for a 2026 Grant We award grants for use in trail stewardship and education. NOTE – the 2026 Grant Application cycle is closed. Maintaining the historic Lolo Trail has been one of the projects funded in part from the Lewis & Clark Trail Stewardship Endowment (LCTSE). Trail Stewardship Grants (LCTSE) The Lewis & Clark […]
  • Awards - We reward volunteers and organizations with several types of awards. Awards are typically presented at each Annual Meeting. If you would like to nominate and individual or organization, the forms you need are below. Types Distinguished Service Award recognizes a Foundation member who has made an outstanding contribution toward furthering the purpose and objectives of […]
  • Contact Us - Email: info@lewisandclark.orgPhone: 888.701.3434 and 406.454.1234Business Hours:W-F 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Mountain Time) Mailing Address:Lewis and Clark Trail AllianceP.O. Box 3434Great Falls, MT 59403 We are physically located within the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center at 4201 Giant Springs Road, Great Falls, MT 59405.
  • Open Positions - There are currently no open postions under recruitment
  • Reflections - Memorials of past members and essays about the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance. Memorials Ambrose, Stephen (1936–2002) Anderson, Irving W. (1920–1999) Bain, Hazel (1905–1993) Bivens, Bob (1936–1991) Budde, Gus (–1985) Burroughs, R. Darwin (1899–1976) Caylor, John (1920–1984) Chapman, Carl (1902–1987) Chapman, Eleanor (–1987) Chuinard, Frenchy (1904–1993) Cook, Chuck (1928–2010) Craft, Roy (1908–1989) Decker, Clarence (1917–1984) […]
  • Our Partners - We work in partnership with a wide variety of governmental agencies and non-profit organizations. Lewis and Clark National Historic TrailNational Park Service National Trails System Honoring Tribal Legacies U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service U.S. Forest Service Tribal Legacies and the Circle of Tribal Advisors (COTA) America’s Byways Lewis & Clark Discovery Expedition (DESC) Great Falls […]