NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Image above: The National Lewis and Clark Education Project engages educators in a dynamic understanding of the Lewis and Clark expedition (1803-1806) and the nature of the trail's historical and modern landscapes. Credit: NASA

With four compasses, two thermometers and a telescope, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark probably considered themselves well-stocked when they embarked on their journey across the American West in 1804. Still, they would most certainly be jealous of the state-of-the-art satellite imagery and interactive maps available today to those interested in exploring that same path.

The Lewis and Clark Education Project Web site, an initiative of the NASA-sponsored University of Montana's Earth Observation System Education Project, utilizes remote sensing and geographic information system technology to give students and teachers a highly detailed view of the terrain and ecosystems along the 3700-mile trail traversed by Lewis and Clark.

Images captured by NASA (and privately owned) satellites, photographs taken by astronauts from space, and historical and political maps provide perspectives on the area from the Mississippi River to the Pacific Northwest that Lewis and Clark could only have dreamed about. Web site visitors can also download lesson plans, join a discussion board or online chat, and search the journals kept by Lewis and Clark during their adventure.

Image to right: The Lewis and Clark Information System allows students to see what technological changes have occurred since Lewis and Clark made their journey. Credit: NASA

In addition, students are encouraged to submit observations of the current climate, ecology, geology and hydrology along the Lewis and Clark trail. These data can then be used to compare present-day conditions with those of 200 years ago.

The Lewis and Clark Project Web site:
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Related Resource
Earth Observing System Education Project
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Dan Stillman, Institute for Global Environmental Strategies