Lewis and Clark tales

While peeking around the Visitor's Center in Glacier National Park, I picked up a small quick read book with short stories about the Lewis and Clark expedition. The book proved to be a refresher course of details once covered in elementary and junior high. I was reminded of forgotten details of the Louisiana Purchase, the story of Sacagaweia, the teenage indian girl whose presence helped secure some necessary information heading west. I was also reminded that Thomas Jefferson was more than a president, but also quite interested in horticulture and animal husbandry. Jefferson hired Meriwether Lewis to lead the expedition and take note of various plants and animals spotted along the way and to send samples back, that are now in a few museums in Philadelphia and his home in Monticello. It was the Lewis and Clark expedition that first spotted the magpie, Bison, antelope, and many more animals out west. This was going to be a commercial endeavor to outwit the British, the French, the Spanish. Just days before they set out west, the United States gained a lot of the territory that they would cross found in the Louisiana purchase. History is so strange! The book proved to be more than just a refresher course of historical facts I once learned in junior high. As James and I headed home from Glacier, we crossed several of the original sites on the Lewis and Clark expedition. As we made our way back to Nevada and they made their way towards the Pacific Ocean, looking for a trade route to India, our paths crossed at these landmarks and I was in awe as I took in surroundings while reading their account of the newest landscapes US citizens had ever taken note of for posterity's sake. Several thoughts have crossed my mind since. Actually, I'm a bit disturbed at US history regarding the Indians. As bold and courageous as Lewis and Clark might have been, where is the story from an Indian's perspective? I picked up a few books written by Stephen Ambrose about the Lewis and Clark expedition. Finished one in a day but it really didn't give an Indian perspective and so I just started reading his famous "Undaunted Courage". James finished a book last summer called "Bury My Heart At Wounded Knee" from an Indian's perspective and I figured it was time to read it. Two very different perspectives on Indian history. I've always found that multi-book reading can be fun, as long as you can keep your facts straight while reading. I manage. One thing that I found ironic, driving home from Glacier - we saw several animals that the expedition also took note of. We were sooooo hoping to spot Bigfoot or a Grizzly, even prepared with bear spray and all....Instead, our drive home provided encounters with Elk, deer, antelope, coyote, we think a fox, and a beaver. Oh well, happy trails.