How do we know so much about the Lewis and Clark expedition? What happened to all of the "stuff" that Lewis and Clark collected? Join us for a tour of Lewis & Clark: The National Bicentennial Exhibition, on display at the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis. This traveling exhibition, in development for seven years, features the largest collection of artifacts and documents from the expedition, together for the first time in 200 years. The exhibit curator, Carolyn Gilman, will lead a tour through the exhibit. What stories can the objects tell about the expedition? What clues can the historical evidence reveal? The exhibit focuses on the expedition's encounters with Indian cultures and the challenges of traversing the human landscape. What did Lewis and Clark see? What didn't they see because they couldn't understand? Lewis and Clark described Indian women as oppressed and Indians as poor - were they? Their encounter with the Teton Sioux ended in a tense stand-off. What happened? This two-part program offers an introduction to this national exhibition which will travel to Philadelphia, Denver, Portland, and Washington, D.C. For more information about the exhibition and the teacher curriculum, visit www.lewisandclarkexhibit.org.
Contents of the Broadcast:
1. Opening to 8:58--Welcome, introduction of curator Carolyn Gilman who explains her job, how she came to work on this exhibition, and how the exhibition is organized. Artifacts include a Wishram statue and a statue of Thomas Jefferson which greet visitors as they enter the exhibition.
2. 8:58 to 18:32--This section focuses on the first room of the exhibtion which is entitled "The Imaginary West." This is the first of several "theme sections" of the exhibition. Topics explored in the room include their knowledge and perception of the West prior to the expedition, training done to prepare for the expedition, and the impact of the Louisiana Purchase on the expedition. Highlighted artifacts include a theodolite owned by Thomas Jefferson, Aaron Arrowsmith's 1802 map of the continent, the Louisiana Purchase transfer document which Meriwether Lewis signed as a witness to the Three Flags Ceremony of 1804, and portraits of Lewis and Clark handed down through their families until given to the Missouri Historical Society in the 1920's and 30's. Student questions are included.
3. 18:32 to 26:40--The exhibition's second room is entitled "Up the Missouri." This is the first of several "journey sections" in the exhbition. Topics explored in the room include the importance of journaling and documentation to the expedition as well as the importance of scientific exploration to the mission. Highlighted artifacts include one of Lewis' journals, one of Clark's journals as a pocket compass from the expedition, minerals gathered during the expedition, and an illustration of the magpie sent from Lewis back to Jefferson during the expedition. Student questions are included.
4. 26:40 to 34:15--The expedition's third room is entitled "Discovering Diplomacy." Topics explored in the room include the importance of diplomacy to the success of the expedition and perspectives on that diplomacy from members of the expedition and Indians they encountered. Highlighted artifacts include a pipe tomahawk owned by Meriwether Lewis, peace medals used during the early 1800's, and an Indian buffalo hide painting. Student questions are included.
5. 34:15 to 40:11--"Winter with the Mandan" is the exhibition's next section. Topics explored Mandan lifestyle and how they aided the expedition. Highlighted artifacts include a a painting of an Arikara village. Student questions are included.
6. 40:11 to 53:44--The next themes explored in the exhibition are "Women and Geography." Topics include the role of women in Indian and Euro-American society, Sacagawea's role in the expedition, and Indian map making. Highlighted artifacts include a Plains Indian woman's dress, an image of Yellow Corn taken from a painting of her made during her visit to Washington, D.C., a portrait of Lewis' mother, and a map drawn by Mandan chief Shehek-Shote to help the Corps as they traveled. Student questions are included.
7. 53:45 to End--The final room traveled through during today's webcast is entitled "To the Mountains" and reflects the lands traveled by the expedition after they left the Mandan and as they approached the Rocky Mountains. Topics explored in this room include the Indians' regard for animals, Lewis' regard for the grizzly bear and traveling difficulties in this area. Highlighted artifacts include a stuffed grizzly bear.
