Exploring The Seas: The Voyage Of Lewis' Boat

The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was a journey to explore the western portion of the United States following the Louisiana Purchase. The expedition, led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, set off from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1803, and travelled over 10,000 miles, with 85% of the journey completed by boat. The boat used for the first year of the journey was a keelboat, built in Pittsburgh to Lewis's specifications. It was completed on August 31, 1803, and was immediately loaded with equipment and provisions. Lewis dubbed the boat The Experiment, and it served as the expedition's flagship until the spring of 1805 when it was returned to St. Louis.

The keelboat was built in Pittsburgh in 1803

The keelboat used by Lewis and Clark for their expedition was built in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1803. The boat was constructed according to detailed specifications provided by Meriwether Lewis, who co-led the expedition with his close friend, Second Lieutenant William Clark.

The keelboat was built as a galley, a type of vessel not commonly found west of the Appalachians, although it was a standard type used on inland waters in the east. It was 55 feet long, with an 8-foot beam, and a shallow draft. The 32-foot mast could be lowered, and the boat could carry a headsail and a square-rigged sail. The boat had a 10-foot-long deck at the bow, forming a forecastle, and a raised aftercastle of the same length, which contained a cabin. The hold had a capacity of 12 tons, and the deck in front of the aftercastle had 11 benches for the oarsmen.

Lewis designed and supervised the construction of the keelboat, making changes and additions as needed. However, he was dissatisfied with the progress of the boat's construction, as the boatbuilder was tardy and quarrelsome, causing delays. Despite his concerns, the keelboat was completed on August 31, 1803, and Lewis set sail that very afternoon, travelling down the Ohio River to meet Clark near Louisville, Kentucky, in October 1803.

The keelboat served as the expedition's main vessel until the spring of 1805, when it was returned to St. Louis. During its use, the boat could be propelled by oars, sails, poles, and towlines. The towlines were used by men, horses, or oxen to pull the boat. The keelboat played a crucial role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, which aimed to explore and detail the newly acquired western portion of the United States after the Louisiana Purchase.

Meriwether Lewis designed the boat

The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was a United States expedition to explore the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. The expedition was led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark.

The keelboat was built according to detailed specifications provided by Lewis and was completed on August 31, 1803. It was immediately loaded with equipment and provisions, and Lewis and his crew set sail that afternoon, travelling down the Ohio River to meet Clark near Louisville, Kentucky, in October 1803. The keelboat served as the expedition's main vessel until the spring of 1805, when it was returned to St. Louis.

In addition to the keelboat, Lewis also designed a collapsible iron-framed boat dubbed "The Experiment." This boat was designed to be transported over land and used when the river became too shallow for heavy wooden boats to navigate. It was comprised of an iron frame that came apart in sections, over which animal hide was stretched.

Lewis played a significant role in the design and construction of the boats used during the Lewis and Clark Expedition, ensuring they were equipped to handle the challenges of river navigation and exploration.

It was 55 feet long and could be propelled by oars, sails, poles and towlines

The keelboat used by Lewis and Clark for their expedition was built in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in 1803. It was 55 feet long and could be propelled by oars, sails, poles, and towlines. The boat was crewed by 11 oarsmen, with a sergeant at the helm, one sergeant amidships, and one at the bow. The boat was designed by Meriwether Lewis, who also supervised its construction.

The keelboat was the expedition's main vessel until the spring of 1805, when it was returned to St. Louis. The boat was used to travel down the Ohio River to meet up with Clark near Louisville, Kentucky, in October 1803. The expedition then left Clarksville, Indiana, on October 26, with the keelboat as their flagship, accompanied by two pirogues.

The keelboat was a galley, a type of vessel not commonly found west of the Appalachians but was standard on inland waters in the east. It had a shallow draft, with an 8-foot beam, and a 32-foot mast that could be lowered. The boat could carry a headsail and a square-rigged sail. It featured a 10-foot-long deck at the bow, forming a forecastle, and a raised aftercastle of the same length that contained a cabin. The hold had a capacity of 12 tons.

The keelboat could be propelled by multiple means. In addition to the oars, it could be sailed using the square-rigged sail. Poles could be used by the crew to push off the bottom of the river while walking from the bow to the stern. Towlines could be used by men or animals, such as horses or oxen, to pull the boat.

The keelboat played a crucial role in the Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition. The expedition, led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, aimed to explore the newly acquired western portion of the United States following the Louisiana Purchase. The keelboat allowed them to travel great distances and navigate rivers, contributing to the expedition's success in mapping and establishing a US presence in the new territories.

The boat was called The Experiment

The Experiment was assembled in the early summer of 1805 at the Upper Portage Camp, upstream of the Great Falls. The boat was intended to be used following the portage around the Great Falls of the Missouri River, when the river got too shallow for heavy wooden boats to navigate. Lewis and his men put together the frame, and Sergeant Patrick Gass wrote in his journal, "We called her the Experiment".

The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, travelled approximately 10,600 miles, of which 85% (over 9,000 miles) was by boat. The flotilla included a variety of vessels such as a military barge, pirogues, dugout canoes, rafts, and boats covered with animal hides, like The Experiment. The journey began in Pittsburgh, travelling to the Pacific Ocean, and then returning to St. Louis.

The keelboat used for the first year of the journey was built in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1803, according to Lewis's specifications. This keelboat was the expedition's main vessel until the spring of 1805, when it was returned to St. Louis. The keelboat could be propelled by oars, sails, poles, and towlines. It played a crucial role in the expedition's transportation before the adoption of The Experiment and other vessels.

The keelboat was the expedition's main vessel until the spring of 1805

The Lewis and Clark Expedition, also known as the Corps of Discovery Expedition, was a United States expedition to explore the newly acquired western portion of the country after the Louisiana Purchase. The expedition was led by Captain Meriwether Lewis and Second Lieutenant William Clark, and their journey began in 1803.

The keelboat was built in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, in the summer of 1803, to Lewis's specifications. It was completed on August 31, 1803, and was immediately loaded with equipment and provisions. The keelboat was 55 feet long, with an 8-foot beam, and a shallow draft. It could be propelled by oars, sails, poles, and towlines.

The keelboat was the main vessel of the expedition until the spring of 1805. On April 6, 1805, the keelboat was sent back to St. Louis with the returning party, while the rest of the expedition continued overland to the Pacific Ocean. The journey downstream took just 43 days, and despite spring floods, the boat and its contents, including diaries and scientific specimens, remained undamaged.

The keelboat was likely then auctioned off to the highest bidder. Its role as the main vessel of the expedition was replaced by pirogues (long canoes), a military barge, dugout canoes, rafts, and boats covered with animal hides.

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