Free Business Listing Opportunity
American Indigenous Tourism Association is now reaching out to tribes and tribal businesses and offering FREE listings on both DestinationNativeAmerica.com and LewisAndClark.travel. Don’t miss out on this exciting opportunity!
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail
American Indigenous Tourism Association Partnership
In partnership with the National Park Service, American Indigenous Tourism Association is working with tribes adjacent to the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail to develop cultural heritage content and itineraries for the Trail’s new travel website LewisandClark.travel, as well as DestinationNativeAmerica.com. The project will bring together businesses, attractions, landmarks and other points of interest on and around the trail to help promote sustainable tourism.
“We are excited to work with the National Park Service to help Tribes along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail share their stories,” said Sherry L. Rupert, Chief Executive Officer of American Indigenous Tourism Association. “Native Americans are often left out of the historical narrative, so we are thrilled that National Park Service is looking to deliver a comprehensive inventory of tribal activities and cultural tourism experiences for visitors interested in traveling all or parts of the famed route.”
In the mountain resort town of Salmon, Idaho, you’ll find this wonderful statue titled, “Sacajawea,” standing in a park-like setting outside the Sacajawea Interpretive, Cultural & Education Center. The bronze work of art was created by Agnes Vincen Talbot and was presented in August 2005.
A Complicated History
Native peoples have a complex relationship with the Lewis and Clark expedition. Most historical accounts come from the perspective of the Expedition, not from the tribes they encountered. More than a backdrop to the Expedition, these tribal narratives are an integral part of the story of the United States.
One reason the tribes were so helpful to Lewis and Clark was because of Sacagawea, and her infant son Baptiste, who accompanied them. Most accounts, however, do not even mention the two other Indian guides who were part of the expedition, George Drouillard (Shawnee) and Pierre Cruzatte (Omaha), who helped with interpretation and hunting for food to feed the Expedition.
The journals noted the Expedition passed through the territory of more than 100 tribes and bands. Some tribes have moved away from the Trail, but still have an interest in their historic territories and telling their stories. Today, the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail crosses historic lands of more than three dozen sovereign nations.
Resources
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Map
This map shows a range of features associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which commemorates the 1803-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition. The trail spans a large portion of the North American continent, from the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon. The trail is comprised of the historic route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, an auto tour route, high potential historic sites (shown in black), visitor centers (shown in orange), and pivotal places (shown in green). These features can be selected on the map to reveal additional information. Also shown is a base map displaying state boundaries, cities, rivers, and highways. The map conveys how a significant area of the North American continent was traversed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition and indicates the many places where visitors can learn about their journey and experience the landscape through which they traveled.