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Volume 10:3—The Lewis and Clark Expedition

The consequences of the Lewis and Clark Expedition were significant for the United States, and for other countries as well. Present-day Native Americans, some of whose ancestors encountered Lewis and Clark, have felt that their minor role in the Corps of Discovery's record was the beginning of a marginalized existence. A historical trail and a number of historic sites particularly in states west of the Mississippi River have interpreted the expedition, and historians have thoroughly chronicled the international implications of the journal. Numerous websites make it all the more accessible.

This issue of the Illinois History Teacher focuses on aspects of a subject less widely known: the Illinois Country where the expedition was launched. This issue of the Illinois History Teacher thus continues the focus of special issues in the series on little-known topics deserving fuller attention. Robert Sutton, a dean of Illinois history who contributed to the formulation of this issue, cautions against seeing the state's history like "a beautiful, cut rose," meaning Illinois' fullest significance lies in being seen within the broad sweep of history. To emphasize the Illinois country as the launching ground for the Lewis and Clark Expedition, we have invited our writers to examine the "big picture," while anchoring it fully to Camp River Dubois where the expedition began in May 1804.

Jeffrey Brown and Linda McMullen combine in the first article to introduce the expedition's background and significance. John Allen and Fred Willman collaborate for the second article to explain how the expedition achieved one of its most exemplary accomplishments, namely, mapping the area of its traverse according to the best standards of its time. You will be amazed, I think, by the differences in cultural outlook between mapmakers. Robert Hartley and Stan Mendenhall then give us the history and curriculum materials to understand what the expedition's six-month preparation in the Illinois country contributed to the Lewis and Clark team's accomplishments over the next two-and-a-half years. Lest we emerge with an unbalanced appreciation of this remarkable expedition, William Walters and Fred Walk train their keen geographers' eyes on how the expedition's transcontinental path did not significantly influence later lines of transportation and passage. The insight of Walters and Walk makes Lewis and Clark's Expedition an all the more human legacy. Lastly, we depart in the final article from the Illinois History Teacher's customary contents by offering Brad Winn's and David Blanchette's short introduction to a historic site very relevant to this volume—the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency's Lewis and Clark State Historic Site where the new interpretive center beckons. The site is by car approximately twenty minutes north of St. Louis.

When your class reaps the benefits of this volume, you will owe a thank you to several people. Professors Robert Sutton and Mary Lee Spence outlined for me a general framework of subjects that the volume should address and directed me to several of the authors who were finally commissioned for the volume. Although this is not a refereed volume, Brad Winn kindly drew on his considerable knowledge of the expedition to read materials in the early manuscript stage. Maynard Crossland and Evelyn Taylor, in their consistent support for the Illinois History Teacher series, respectively encouraged this issue and copy-edited the final text. All of the authors eagerly signed onto the project and completed their work on time. We all hope that your students and yourself will find useful the following materials, not only during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial but for years to come.

Sincerely,

Keith A. Sculle

Editor, Illinois History Teacher


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