History of North America

When did American explorers come to the northwest?

The first recorded American expedition into the Pacific Northwest (PNW) was the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1805–06. Led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, the expedition party was charged with exploring the newly acquired Louisiana Territory and finding a route to the Pacific Ocean. It marked the beginning of American exploration of the region.

During their expedition, Lewis and Clark encountered numerous Native American tribes, documented the flora and fauna of the region, and made detailed observations of the landscape and its geographical features. Their journey had a significant impact on the subsequent westward expansion of the United States, as it provided invaluable information about the PNW to the American government.