How to Make Use of Lewis and Clark Maps
Old Lewis and Clark maps are one of the rare, well-preserved artifacts that symbolize the perilous but magnificent expedition of the two. Updated maps, however, are needed if you are inclined to make a similar journey on your own or you wish to teach your kids about geography.
A Geography Project
If you haven’t yet found a way to keep your children entertained and safe from trouble during the weekend, how about giving them a geography project? There are blank maps you can purchase from the bookstore or printable ones you can download from the Internet.
Give your kids research materials and ask them to recreate the trail that Lewis and Clark had made during the expedition.
Preparing for Your Journey
Are you aware that there are vacations offered nowadays which offer travelers the opportunity to travel almost the exact same route that Lewis and Clark had used during their journey? You can book for such vacations online and travel with other tourists.
Lewis and Clark maps are essential, however, if you wish to follow the trail set by the two famous explorers without the guidance of an expert.
Before you start your journey, consider visiting the public library in your area to view original maps made by Lewis and Clark themselves. They are quite remarkable to behold and sure to fill you with a sense of wonder for what they have accomplished for the country.
Many of these maps also have digital photographs available for viewing and maybe even downloading from the Internet.
Did You Know?
The Lewis and Clark expedition spanned several years and during that time, William Clark – who had extensive background in cartography, the study of maps – had been able to produce over 140 maps. These maps were the first to accurately represent the uncharted territories of the Northwest.
At that time, maps had been anything but affordable. Not only were they quite costly to purchase, they were also produced in limited numbers since the process for creating maps then had been very time-consuming and required extensive skills. More importantly, majority of maps then had been imported from its original creators based in England and France.
Nevertheless, Jefferson made sure that Lewis and Clark would not leave without the best maps in their possession.
Eventually, the duo had not been able to satisfy the main objective of their expedition, which is to find a navigable route across the country, but they were still able to offer significant contribution in the field of cartography and geography as well as botany and biology.
