Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Celebration
Planning is underway for the upcoming National Bicentennial commemorating 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition. After arriving December 12, 1803 and wintering at Camp River Dubois, the Corps of Discovery departed from Illinois on May 14, 1804. Illinois has been designated as a Signature Event from the National Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission promising a grand national event to tell the world that Illinois indeed is a Lewis and Clark State. Illinois' Signature Event is one of thirteen events scheduled across the nation to commemorate the Corps of Discovery tremendous journey. The New York Times estimates that 31 million people will visit a Lewis and Clark Site during the Bicentennial 2003-2006.
The Village of Hartford is very excited about the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial and the opportunities that the Bicentennial offers Illinois. Illinois is the home of the five month encampment where the men prepared for their arduous journey. Hartford is the home of Trail Site #1 of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. Hundreds of thousands of visitors will be coming to visit where Lewis and Clark prepared their men for the journey and we plan to welcome them in such a way that they will return to Site #1 again and again. The National spot light is going to be on the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial and we want to show the nation and the world what a great place Illinois is. The western states have been touting Lewis and Clark for many years and have many coordinated efforts to prepare for the Bicentennial. Illinois has a great opportunity to become a Lewis and Clark player and make it known that indeed Lewis and Clark began in Illinois. Site #1 is only 20 minutes from downtown St. Louis and the St. Louis Arch which includes the Museum of Western Expansion that tells the Lewis and Clark story. How many tourist out of the four million visitors a year to the St. Louis Arch wouldn't drive 20 minutes to see where Lewis and Clark prepared for their journey? Come See Us!
