The Louisiana Purchase was a watershed moment in American history. So, too, was the Lewis & Clark Expedition that began the following year. With the invaluable assistance of Sacagawea, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark traveled more than 8,000 miles gathering information and initiating contact between the United States and dozens of Native nations across the West. In this livestream we focus on Jefferson’s purposes for the expedition, its discoveries, and the millions of lives and lands forever altered by it, with Thomas Jefferson (interpreted by Bill Barker).

This livestream was made possible in part by a major grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of the National Endowment for the Humanities.