Kansas Attractions
Along the Trail in Kansas
The Lewis and Clark Expedition is one of America's greatest adventure stories and has inspired many a venturesome soul to follow the famous trail. Kansas happily welcomes you to explore Lewis and Clark sites along the trail and the historic and unique cities and towns along the Missouri River, which forms the extreme northeast corner of Kansas.
| Kansas City/Wyandotte County The Lewis and Clark Expedition arrived at Kaw Point on June 26, 1804. Kaw Point is where the Kansas River enters the Missouri River. Due to changes in the rivers' flow, the point of land in 1804 was about a quarter mile up the Missouri River from its current location. Lewis and Clark halted at the mouth of the Kansas River for three days. More about Lewis and Clark sites... Leavenworth/Fort Leavenworth Lewis and Clark noted in their journals they camped on the banks of the Missouri River, where Fort Leavenworth is now located, on July 2, 1804. They noted seeing evidence of a former Kanza village just north of Fort Leavenworth. They also saw the remains of Fort de Cavignial, about a mile behind the village, as they traveled north. Leavenworth also was the location of the last botanical specimen, a wild grape leaf, collected during their journey back in 1806. More about Lewis and Clark sites... Atchison On July 4, 1804, members of the Lewis and Clark expedition passed through what is today the Atchison area. They celebrated Independence Day by firing the keelboat's swivel gun at dawn and dusk, naming two local streams - Fourth of July 1804 Creek and Independence Creek - and enjoying extra rations of whiskey in the evening. Early in the day, Joseph Field was bitten by a snake in the river bottoms of present southern Atchison County. More about Lewis and Clark sites... Doniphan County (includes White Cloud, Troy, Elwood and Highland) The Lewis and Clark expedition camped near Independence Creek in the vicinity where the town of Doniphan was established 50 years later. The camp was near an uninhabited village of the Kanza Indians. While journeying up the river past what is now Doniphan County, several of the men became sick with headaches and boils and were treated by Captain Lewis. On July 10, 1804, they made camp across the river from what is now White Cloud, their final stop in Kansas, until they returned in September 1806. They departed the area on July 11, 1804, and proceeded on in their quest to reach the Pacific Ocean. Doniphan County is the headquarters of two emigrant tribes that remain in Kansas today - the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska, and the Sac and Fox Nation of Missouri in Kansas. More about Lewis and Clark sites... |
  
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So Much More to Explore
In addition to the many Lewis and Clark attractions and special commemoration events in Wyandotte, Leavenworth, Atchison and Doniphan counties, your visit to Kansas will also provide countless opportunities for adventure. From the rowdy spirit of the Old West to the serene splendor of America's largest tallgrass prairie, to big city flavor and small town festivals, you can discover it all in Kansas. Kansas offers nature enthusiasts some of the most unspoiled and diverse ecosystems in the country. Get outdoors within ninety-nine state wildlife areas, four national wildlife refuges, a national grassland, a national preserve, and forty-one state parks and Army Corps of Engineers recreation areas. More than 450 species of migratory birds make Kansas part of their route each year providing excellent opportunities for bird watching, especially in Cheyenne Bottoms and Quivira National Wildlife Refuge. Here, bison graze the open prairie, which still bears the deeply cut grooves of pioneer wagon wheels. In fact, there's no better place for history buffs to explore the legacy of the western frontier than in Kansas. The Santa Fe, Oregon and Chisholm trails lead visitors to many historic frontier communities that still thrive today. Kansas' historic forts also offer a fascinating glimpse of frontier military life. Kansas is a state that caters to the most diverse of interests, including art, aviation, agriculture, hunting and fishing and NASCAR. In Kansas, there really is something for everyone. To plan your excursion, visit www.travelKS.com where you'll find more information about all that Kansas has to offer. |
  
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