This Day The Myth of The Myth of Lewis & Clark (1805)
Nov 18, 2025
On November 18, 1805, Lewis and Clark returned with mixed results from their expedition. Their initially unpublished journals led to a period of obscurity. Over time, myths surrounding their journey emerged, especially highlighting Sacagawea as a key figure. Commemorative statues and public interest fluctuated, with debates on their historical portrayal. As ecological awareness grew, Lewis and Clark were recast as early environmentalists, showing how their image evolved through different eras and cultural narratives.
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Failure Framed As Scientific Success
- Lewis and Clark reached the Pacific in November 1805 but failed to find the Northwest Passage.
- Their journals documented scientific observations that Jefferson reframed as the expedition's success.
Immediate Obscurity After Return
- Their journals languished unpublished for years and the expedition faded from public memory.
- Clark and Lewis later held political posts but did not achieve lasting fame immediately.
Suffragists Revive Sacagawea
- Interest resurged around the 1840s and especially the late 19th-century centennial.
- Suffragists revived Sacagawea's role to highlight women heroes in U.S. history.
