St. Louis - Gateway to the West---Starting Louis and Clark Tour

 The Gateway Arch National Park

A tribute to the Lewis & Clark Voyage in 1804 , the westward expansion and an engineering marvel.

view from the entrance to the park

The engineering marvel that would build elevators that utilize self leveling mechanism as it rises to the top.

Riding to the top in a pod that carries 5 people takes 4 minutes

and there are 16 of these narrow windows and 80 people at a time.

There were over 2 million visitors in 2023.

(Those with claustrophobia chose not to come.)

Looking to the west we were able to view the shadow of the arch.

The Mighty Mississippi to the east.

Coming out is a breathtaking view--

(literally)

that can cause you to lose your balance when you look straight up!

The ponds we viewed from the top are lovely.

The "Official" beginning  of the Lewis and Clark Trail

Camp River Debois

May 21, 1804

we started May 21, 2025

How to take 33 men, enough provisions to go up the Missouri River 1500 miles while being able to defend against attacks?

The keelboat was 55 feet long.

Lou with the 1790 Girandoni Air rifle that was used to amaze the Indians with its power. A highlight for Lou as he is into airguns.

Sometimes the men who abused the privilege were severely punished with lashing and then had to work the next day pulling the boats  up the river.

A major part of the voyage was making friends with the Indians by gifting and bartering.

Bear Grease for cooking and mosquito repellant.

Bear rugs are handy.

Three boats were used to haul the equipment up the Missouri river as far as North Dakota. 14 tons in the large keelboat and about 8 tons in each of the large row boats.

And the men had to haul these boats up river!!!

We had a great 'Live Presentation" of one of the explorers in the party explaining the hazards and affairs of the trek.

We heard stories of the rough waters and the need to rescue the important items.

Camp Dubois just north of St Louis where they organized all the supplies before they started the Journey.  

They often had to stay in a camp for months, sometimes waiting for supplies, sometimes building or rebuilding boats, or maybe the weather.

There will be many statues of Lewis and Clark until we reach Oregon!