See also Native Americans

Library holdings - see TIGER and Doc Indexes

• Tutt Library has many paper documents such as the Hayden, King, Powell, and Wheeler Surveys of the West, 1867-1883 at DOCS I 17., I 18., W 7.1:, W 8.1: and the Explorations and Surveys for a Railroad Route from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Ocean - search the Tiger catalog for more

General

• Exploration & Explorers - looks at Europe's view of North America before & after Columbus, Martin Waldseemuller's 1507 map of the world, Diego Gutierrez's 1562 map of America, Spanish & Portuguese encounters in America, the Dutch in America, exploration & settlement of America from British & American points of view, Lewis & Clark, Henry Hudson, Jacques Cartier, & early images of the U.S.
• American Journeys eyewitness accounts of North American exploration, from the Vikings in Canada (1000) to the diaries of mountain men (1800); read the words of ship captains, fur traders, Indians, missionaries, and settlers as they lived through the founding moments of American history; highlights include Christopher Columbus stepping ashore (1492), Indians' first resistance (1493), Pilgrims landing in Plymouth (1620), and more. Suggestions for research projects are included. (Institute of Museum and Library Services)
• Rivers, Edens, Empires: Lewis & Clark and the Revealing of America - looks at historical maps, relations with Indians, and expedition artifacts: the blunderbuss, Jefferson's secret message to Congress, his instructions for Meriwether Lewis, and speeches; Subsequent expeditions of America are also examined, including those by Lieutenant Zebulon Pike, Thomas Freeman, Major Stephen Long, Father de Smet, and John Frémont. (Library of Congress)

John Wesley Powell

• John Wesley Powell - explorer of the Colorado River Basin and the Grand Canyon, Scientist, Soldier, Director of the Bureau of Ethnology (1879-1902)
• John Wesley Powell's Voyages Down the Colorado River Canyons, (1871 to 1872) - most of the stereographic photography taken by photographers hired by explorer, John Wesley Powell, to document the adventurous exploration of the Colorado River Canyons from the initial railroad stop at Green River, Wyoming to the mouth of the Grand Canyon in Nevada. Images are available in both 3D (requiring red-and-blue glasses) and as regular images scanned from the original photographs.

Lewis and Clark

• Lewis and Clark Expedition - USGS publications and other resources
• Lewis and Clark: National Bicentennial Exhibition - multimedia exhibit that follows the Corps of Discovery from the Mississippi and Missouri Rivers through the human geography of western North America. Explore 29 places and events in the journey. See what the Corps learned about Native Americans and their world: women, maps, language, diplomacy, clothing and courage, trade and property, animals,plants and curing, and more.
• Lewis and Clark explorations with the 2 vol. set of: History of the expedition under the command of Captains Lewis and Clark, to the sources of the Missouri... (1814) vol. 1 and vol. 2
• USGS Resources for Teaching about Lewis and Clark
• Satellite View of the Journey of Lewis and Clark - collection of satellite images that provides a contemporary view of the route that Lewis and Clark took from St. Louis , Missouri , to the Pacific Coast with descriptions of events that took place at each location.
• Lewis & Clark as Naturalists - presents flora & fauna as described by the explorers during their journey across America in 1804-6. Follow their 3,700-mile trail using an interactive map, or browse the collection of plants, birds, mammals, reptiles, fish, & amphibians by category.
• Lewis and Clark Expedition - 13 documents and photos related to the 1804-6 expedition into the newly acquired Louisiana Territory including a list of Indian presents Lewis purchased, his receipts for wine and tobacco, Jefferson's letter to Madison announcing the purchase of Louisiana, and Jefferson's message to Congress communicating the discoveries of the expedition. (National Archives and Records Administration)
• Lewis and Clark Expedition: Documenting the Uncharted Northwest recounts the expedition's crossing of the Lemhi Pass and Lolo Trail, and the time spent at Fort Clatsop near the Pacific Ocean. Although the Corps of Discovery did not realize its dream of finding a water route to the Pacific Ocean, the expedition overcame many obstacles and dangers to open the Northwest to the influence of the U.S., established relations with American Indian tribes, and gathered useful scientific documentation. (National Park Service)

• Explore the West with the Lewis and Clark Expedition - travel itinerary of 41 forts, Indian villages, mounds, mountain passes, trails, caves, and other sites along the 8,000-mile journey. The expedition, launched from St. Charles, Missouri, on May 21, 1804, strengthened the U.S.’s knowledge and struggle for control of North America. It inspired many to move westward. The website includes essays on preparations for the journey, scientific encounters, and more. (National Park Service)

North Pole

Profile: Matthew Henson - biography of explorer Matthew A. Henson, who "accompanied polar explorer Robert E. Peary on a U.S. expedition to the North Pole on April 6, 1909." Includes a photo gallery and links to related stories on topics such as the 2000 event where Henson was "posthumously awarded the National Geographic Society's highest honor -- the Hubbard Medal." (National Geographic Society)

Maps

USGS Map Catalog: Culture and History - see USA History section for historic U.S. maps from 1501 to 1844. Maps include: Lewis and Clark, and Routes of the Principal Explorers, etc.

Lewis & Clark: Mapping the West - features maps of the famous expedition. The Corps of Discovery collected 30 maps from Indians, trappers, & traders, & prepared 140 maps -- most of them drawn or compiled by Clark. The website shows the King map (created for the expedition) & the first map displaying their geographical discoveries. Descriptions of expedition members, life on the trail, & help provided by Indian tribes are included.