Lewis and Clark reenactment makes three-day stop in Atchison

By Jenna Wilson

A full-sized replica of Lewis and Clark’s keelboat with a crew of living-history re-enactors made its way to Atchison, Kansas Friday morning for a three-day stop.

A crew of history re-enactors recreated the historic Lewis and Clark expedition in 1803-06, which traveled 121 miles down the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska, to the Greater Kansas City Area.

One of the key and lengthy stops for the reenactment was at the Riverfront in Atchison where students and visitors got an up-close look at how Lewis and Clark made a way of living as they traveled across the American West.

The Lewis and Clark expedition included seven stations:

The Keel Boat, Seaman the dog (aka Captain), Captain Clark’s Station, Medicine of the Expedition, Clothing of the Expedition, Weapons of the Expedition and Fire starting.

“This has been our first journey in several years,” said Jim Martin with the Discovery expedition of St. Charles. “We’re trying to bring it back alive and do more of these journeys to teach people about an important part of history.

Atchison was the first 4th of July west of the Mississippi River and the Lewis and Clark expedition was an army expedition ordered by President Thomas Jefferson. The flag at that time was 15 stars and stripes.

School groups of third through eighth graders gathered at the Riverfront to visit the expedition Friday morning, learning much about the history of Lewis and Clark.

Enthusiasts say this is a special event for the city and community to celebrate local American history which hundreds of Atchison students got to experience.

“My mom always tells me that if we don’t remember our history, it can repeat,” said Zachary Bosch, a student at Atchison County Elementary School. “So, I think that learning about Lewis and Clark can help people remember how we discovered this country.”

Bosch and students alike said they were educated on many appealing topics about Lewis and Clark’s journey, including natural remedies used to deal with aches and pains, for instance, tree bark to help with fevers.

“It was really interesting learning about all the medicines they use while on their journey,” said Kaylen Oswald, an elementary student at Atchison County. “If they did have to amputate or anything like that, they didn’t have any of the anesthesia we use and had to go through the pain themselves. I know we could never do that in 2024.”

The Discovery Expedition of St. Charles will be at the Riverfront in Atchison on Saturday, October 12 from 9 am to 4 pm and Sunday from 9 am until the keelboat leaves around 11 a.m.