Missouri is known as the Gateway to the West, but not everyone realizes how we gained that title. Back in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson signed the Louisiana Purchase and the United States grew exponentially. The Louisiana Territory was massive, so President Jefferson hired Meriweather Lewis and William Clark to explore and to map the newly acquired territory. This was the first expedition into the American West. Present day St. Charles was one of the last decently populated cities along the Missouri River and was the perfect starting spot for this great expedition. Thus, Missouri became the Gateway to the West for the hundreds of thousands of travelers who decided to make the west their home. Today you can visit the site where Lewis and Clark began their great westward journey and learn about the tools and transportation methods of their time. The Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum will teach you everything you need to know about this historic expedition.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition officially started on May 14th, 1804. However, Lewis was still in St. Charles at the time and had yet to join the expedition.
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The corps of explorers stopped in St. Charles to finish gathering supplies and to pick up Mr. Lewis. At the time St. Charles was a modest town of about 450 residents. On May 21st, 1804, Lewis and Clark set out on the Missouri River to travel west. Their journey across the country wasn't completed until September of 1806.
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Today, the historic district of St. Charles is an extremely popular tourism site. The old cobblestone streets paired with the charming brick homes and businesses make it an ideal place to reconnect with the past.
Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum/Facebook
At the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum, you can learn all about the westward expedition. The museum is open daily but if you visit in nicer weather you can also explore the riverbanks where Lewis and Clark shipped off from.
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Inside the boat house, there are life-size replicas of the boats that Lewis and Clark would have used during their travels. You can also see these boats during parades and reenactments.
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Museum employees do a great job of interpreting this epic voyage.
Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum/Facebook
Another neat activity at the museum are the reenactments. These live history lessons give visitors a first-hand account of life at the turn of the 19th century.
Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum/Facebook
Spend the day learning about Missouri's early history and how our state helped create the path to western expansion.
Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum/Facebook
Find the museum at 1050 Riverside Dr., St. Charles. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children and students.

Have you visited the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum? Tell us about it in the comments below.

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