Lewis and Clark Festival

Lewis and Clark Festival

June

This five-day festival commemorates the Lewis and Clark expedition, an early exploration of the vast wilderness of what is now the northwestern United States. The expedition was sponsored by the U.S. government and led by President Thomas Jefferson's secretary Meriwether Lewis (1774-1809) and U.S. Army officer William Clark (1770-1838).
Lewis and Clark covered a total of about 8,000 miles. Starting near St. Louis in May 1804, they journeyed up the Missouri River, across the Rocky Mountains, and along the Columbia and other rivers to the Pacific coast. They returned to St. Louis in September 1806 with maps of their route and the surrounding regions; specimens and descriptions of plant, animal, and mineral resources; and information about the native peoples of the West. The success of the expedition enabled the United States to claim the Oregon region, which included what are now the states of Oregon, Washington, and Idaho.
The Lewis and Clark Festival in Great Falls, Montana, celebrates the expedition's stay there in 1805. Giant Springs Heritage State Park is the site of living history reenactments and encampments, where visitors can experience what daily life was like in the early 19th century, watch interpretive demonstrations, and eat typical expedition fare. The festival also features lectures at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, exhibits, seminars, tours of historic sites, float trips, nature hikes, and a treasure hunt.

CONTACTS:
Lewis and Clark Festival
4201 Giant Springs Rd.
P.O. Box 2848
Great Falls, MT 59403
406-452-5661; fax: 406-453-6157
lewisandclark.state.mt.us