Cavalier of Virginia

~ Thomas Jefferson

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Thomas Jefferson’s pocket notebooks, composed of erasable ivory plates on which he would write scientific observations and memoranda before copying them into notebooks in the evening.

Some of the most beautiful words ever written.

On this day in 1806, Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and their Corps of Discovery team began their journey home. The expedition was tasked with exploring the vast, newly purchased Louisiana Territory and find a route to the Pacific coast. The Corps of Discovery were commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson in order to explore the new area and its plants and animal life, and to establish American control over Native Americans in the land. They were led by U.S. Army Captain Meriwether Lewis, who selected William Clark as his second-in-command. Lewis and Clark’s team departed from Camp Dubois in Illinois on May 14th 1804. During their travels, they were accompanied by a young Indian woman named Sacagawea who helped guide the explorers. The expedition reached the Pacific Ocean in November 1805, over a year since they embarked. Having made numerous scientific and commercial discoveries on their journey, the expedition began the arduous return journey in March 1806. They returned in September, reaching St. Louis and being hailed as American heroes.

Photo courtesy of Drew Geraci.