Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center

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Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center

Official page of the Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center in West Point, KY

06/04/2026

ON THIS DAY: Joseph Field was one of the men unlucky enough to come face to face with a bear on the expedition. On June 4, 1805, he was out hunting alone as the other men set up camp, when they witnessed two grizzlies chase after him. Clark wrote “the bear was So near that it Struck his foot, and we were not in a Situation to give him assistance.” The rest of the party fired at the bear and it eventually left Joseph Field without injury.

He truly had unfortunate luck, as about a month later, Lewis recorded his second encounter, where he came across three more bears while hunting elk. In order to escape, he leapt down the riverbank and hid until they went away.

Grizzly bears were a new species for the expedition, and they were far larger and more dangerous than the black bears the explorers were familiar with.

05/25/2026

ON THIS DAY:
William Bratton suffered from severe back pain for several months in early 1806. Fortunately, he was eventually treated with a sweat bath created by John Shields. On May 24, 1806, Lewis wrote, “the patient was furnished with a vessell of water which he sprinkles on the bottom and sides of the hole and by that means creates as much steam or v***r as he could possibly bear, in this situation he was kept about 20 minutes after which he was taken out and suddonly plunged in cold water twise and was then immediately returned to the sweat hole” while drinking “copious draughts of a strong tea of horse mint”. Much like a modern day sauna treatment, he was able to almost fully recover in the coming weeks.

The plant featured in the photograph above is Bee Balm, most likely referred to as Horsemint in the journals of Lewis and Clark.

Learn more about the contributions of John Shields and the rest of the West Point members at the Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center.

05/18/2026

Come visit the seventh stop of the Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center Walking Trail!

Towering up to 205 feet, the western redcedar is prized for its strong, fragrant wood. It holds cultural significance among the First Nations of the Pacific Northwest, such as the Chinook and Tillamook Tribes. Expedition members’ journals document over 30 uses for redcedar. Its resinous wood serves for heating and cooking, while the bark, roots, and branches are woven into baskets, clothing, and more.

Starting at the West Point History Museum or vice versa, the walking trail takes visitors through the city with ten numbered panels along the way detailing the various flora the expedition discovered along their journey.

05/03/2026

Welcome to the Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center Walking Trail!

Follow the map to learn about ten of the plant species that Lewis and Clark encountered on their journey westward. A leisurely one-mile walk, the walking trail takes visitors from the West Point History Museum to the Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center or vice versa.

The map is also available on our website at the link in our bio! Come experience this unique outing!

04/27/2026

ON THIS DAY: While Lewis explored the confluence of the Yellowstone River with the Missouri River, Joseph Field was sent to scout the lower Yellowstone. On April 26, 1805, Clark reported, "Joseph Fields discovered a large Creek falling into the Yellowstone River on the S E Side 8 miles up," likely referring to the same location.

Learn more about Joseph Field and the rest of the West Point members at the Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center.

04/08/2026

Come visit the sixth stop of the Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center Walking Trail!

These dark colored berries are huckleberries, native to the Pacific Northwest. The evergreen variant is the most common type noted in the Lewis and Clark Expedition journals. This small, hardy shrub features dark green leaves and sweet-tart berries, typically ripening in swampy areas and drier soil in the fall. Native Americans traditionally eat them raw, dried, or mash them into cakes. They are also used for making jams and various deserts.

Starting at the West Point History Museum or vice versa, the walking trail takes visitors through the city with ten numbered panels along the way detailing the various flora the expedition discovered along their journey.

04/01/2026

After the expedition, the West Point members all returned home. The legacy of John Shields, in particular, lives on in Livingston, Montana, where the Shields River was named after him. After the expedition, Lewis wrote to the Secretary of War advocating for Shields to get more pay.

Learn more about the West Point members after the expedition’s conclusion at the Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center.

03/25/2026

The cookbook has arrived! Stop by the Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center to pick up your own copy of "Dining with the Expedition: Recipes Inspired by the Corps of Discovery" compiled by Nestor Flores, an intern at the Center.

Accompanying the Food is Fuel: What Did They Eat? exhibit, the cookbook is full of fun recipes inspired by the expedition and adapted for modern cooking. Taste the American frontier and learn more about the what the expedition foraged and ate at the Center today!

03/18/2026

Come visit the fifth stop on the Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center Walking Trail!

Named after Meriwether Lewis, Lewisia rediviva, or bitterroot, is a sturdy wildflower described by Lewis in present-day Montana in 1805. Known for its white to pink petals, it became Montana’s state flower in 1895. It was admired for its resilience since the specimen Lewis collected was able to regrow after years without soil and water. Tribes like the Nez Perce and Shoshoni traditionally use it for food and medicine.

Starting at the West Point History Museum or vice versa, the walking trail takes visitors through the city with ten numbered panels along the way detailing the various flora the expedition discovered along their journey.

03/11/2026

The West Point members along with the rest of the Expedition faced many challenges along their journey, including a failed collapsible iron boat frame, several unsuccessful trade relations with the Native Americans, and dangerous encounters with animals, including Joseph Field who was unlucky enough to be chased by grizzly bears twice.

Learn more about the challenges the Expedition faced at the Lewis and Clark Education and Research Center.

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West Point, KY

Website

https://westpointlc.my.canva.site/, http://paa.ge/westpointlc

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