Atchison, Kansas

Just as Lewis and Clark decided to spend some time in the Atchison area, you might want to as well.  You can do this as a stand alone field trip with two to three hours spent at the various Atchison sites, or you could make a day of it by including the Fort Leavenworth sites as well. 

Atchison Area Sites:
 
  1.    Lewis and Clark State Park
  2.    Atchison County Historical Society Museum
  3.     4th of July 1804 Creek
  4.    Independence Park on the River Front
  5.    Independence Creek 
     Lewis and Clark State Park
"Saw a great number of Goslings to day which Were nearly grown, the before mentioned Lake is clear and Contain great quantities of fish an Gees and Goslings, The great quantity of those fowl in this lake induce me to Call it the Gosling Lake . . ." Clark's Journal, July 4, 1804


The displays at Lewis and Clark State Park  consist of three oversized panels that give background on the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark Expedition.  The middle panel contains reasonably good reproductions and typescripts of Clark's Journal pages describing their Fourth of July encampment.

Quick Research:  Students should be given a map of current day United States and asked to name the present day states that were carved out of the Louisiana Purchase.
 

If  you decide to make this your only stop on this field trip, Lewis and Clark park would make a great final stop where students could eat sack lunches and unwind.   There are spacious and comfortable picnic areas at the lake. There is easy access to HWY 45 to you back to Atchison or link with I-29 and I-435 about 20 miles or so South of this park.

 For the very adventurous, this park also has a very clean camping area that would accommodate an overnight stay about a half a mile or so from  the water.  It is the only  area Lewis and Clark site that allows for recreating the encampment of Lewis and Clark.

Contact info for Lewis and Clark State Park:

801 Lake Crest Blvd.
Rushville, MO 64484
816-579-5564
http://www.mostateparks.com/lewisandclark.htm
Atchison County Historical Society Museum


Quick Research:  Have the students look for the face at the end of Seaman's tail.
It is the artist's signature.  If you take them to Case Park on a later trip, be sure to have them see if the face made it into the final work.

The Atchison County Historical Society Museum has several displays on the expedition, including the artists model of the statue that sits in Case Park in Kansas City, MO.

Museum contact information:
Chris Taylor - gowest@atchisonhistory.org
200 S. 10TH
  816-367-6238
http://www.atchisonkansas.net/Tourism/HistSoct.htm

Lewis And Clark Web Information
 http://www.atchisonhistory.org

4th of July 1804 Creek

"as this creek has no name, and this being . . . the 4th of July the day of the independance of the U. S.
call it 4th of July 1804 Creek, . . ." Clark's Journal, July 4, 1804



 
 
 

Fourth of July  1804 Creek
   Across the parking lot from the museum is a covered bridge over 4th  of July  1804 Creek.   It is the most accessible of the Lewis and Clark sites in the area, but  it is surrounded by modern day development.

   A Wendy's is just across the parking lot  near the creek,  and students could walk there.  A MacDonalds and Sonic a block over also have spacious parking for trucks and buses.

Quick Research:  Have students read the back of the DAR marker.  How wide does Clark say the creek was in 1804?  How wide is it now?


Independence Park - River front and the Mound

"Lewis walked on Shore above this creek and discovered a high moun at the top of which he had an extensive view,  . .."Clark's Journal, July 4, 1804

Independence Park and the river front present a very nice view of the river.  The benches and picnic tables along the river front will allow a small group to eat and journal along the river.    The signage along the river is minimal.  The best location for student journaling  is at the park entrance about a quarter mile down the road on the left.

  The mound that Lewis walked on is across the road from the Independence Park sign, and is unmarked.

    Quick Research: Have the students walk the clear hill within Independence park and record what view they have and speculate on what view Lewis might have had.



Independence Creek

We came to and camped on the lower edge of a plain where the 2d old Kanzas Village formerly Stood., above the mouth of a creek 20 yards wide  this creek we call Creek Independence -  Clark's Journal, July 4, 1804


These are two views of the Independence Creek area.  This area is in the process of  being purchased and will be developed for interpretation. 

Contact Chris Taylor -  before making plans to visit this site