Prairie State Wire

The Lewis and Clark State Historic Site is set to commemorate the 221st anniversary of the Lewis and Clark Expedition with its annual Point of Departure Commemoration on May 10 and 11. The event, free to the public, will run from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on both days, offering a range of historical activities and exhibits.

Attendees will have the opportunity to engage with military demonstrators, historic artisans, and various hands-on history displays. Skilled artisans will demonstrate historic crafts such as candle making, leatherworking, tanning, gunsmithing, spinning, and woodworking. The event aims to provide insight into historical craftsmanship and life in the Illinois Country. Additionally, there will be an exploration of early 19th-century frontier medicine, featuring a display of medical instruments and common treatments from that period.

Military reenactors will represent soldiers from the Lewis and Clark Expedition's Corps of Discovery, interpreting the "White Pirogue," a replica of the expedition's boat. These reenactors will illustrate the challenges of navigating the Missouri River. Members of the War of 1812 American 2nd Regiment Artillery will discuss the war, showcase black powder muskets, and conduct artillery firing demonstrations.

Historian Jeffrey Edison will present on York's role in the expedition, highlighting his contribution as an enslaved servant to Captain William Clark and his significant, yet often overlooked, role in the expedition's success.

A notable element of the event will be a reenactment of Thomas Jefferson, portrayed by Kurt Smith from Colonial Williamsburg. Jefferson, the third president of the United States, who completed the Louisiana Purchase, is recognized as the architect of the transcontinental mission. Smith will share insights from Jefferson's life based on extensive research of Jefferson's journal entries, letters, and documents. He will interact with visitors during programs at 10:30 a.m. and 1 p.m. both days in the Interpretive Center Theater and will be available for discussions throughout the day. This special visit is sponsored by the Lewis and Clark Society of America.

Located at 1 Lewis and Clark Trail in Hartford, the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site is open daily during the summer from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The site is managed by the Illinois Department of Natural Resources and supported by the Lewis and Clark Society of America. The Interpretive Center highlights Illinois's role in the Corps of Discovery's preparations, during which they wintered in the region from December 1803 to May 1804.