Lewis and Clark

Gifts of the Mandan

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Information and photographs provided in these pages may be used by the media to discuss the show "Lewis and Clark: Gifts of the Mandan."

"Lewis and Clark: Gifts of the Mandan" celebrates the 200th anniversary of the Corps of Discovery, led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. From May 14, 1804 to September 23, 1806 they led a team that varied between 30 and 40 individuals in an epic journey of exploration. For most of the journey, they were the first white men to explore the region and meet the Indians. The Expedition was treated with both curiosity and generosity. Through the recreated artifacts of this exhibition we celebrate the expedition and the Indians they met. We offer our thanks for the cultural gifts and knowledge the expedition received from these people.

Most of the objects originally collected by the Expedition were gradually lost. A few still exist in the Peabody Museum at Harvard. For the most part, what remains of the Mandan gifts and those of the other Plains people is not physical. The gift is the knowledge recorded by the expedition and its followers a few years later. That knowledge is evident in this exhibit. The objects made are replicas of probable gifts. They were made by craftsmen working with the knowledge of the past such as methods of tanning hides, shaping buffalo horn and applying porcupine quills. These craftsmen, through their knowledge and work, provide a link to the Mandan.

Press Release: View pictures which may be used for show discussion/publicity.	Photos and Captions
Information relating to the Corps of Discovery. This has a small amount of material; for more comprehensive information go to some of the many books on the expedition. A few are listed in the source material.	Background
To find the individuals working on the exhibit artifacts and photography.	Contacts
Here are a few of the many books relating to Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery that were consulted in the preparation of this exhibit.	Source Material
Teacher's Guide and Student Activities link.	Guide and Activities