Lewis and Clark Trail Maps: A Cartographic Reconstruction, Volume I [Hardcover]

Martin Plamondon (Author)

Book Description

Series: Cartographic Reconstruction | Publication Date: September 2000

During the Corps of Discovery's 1804-06 trek, Captain William Clark suveyed the expedition's traverse to the Pacific Ocean and back. Clark assumed that this information would be converted to maps soon after the journey's completion. For various reasons this did not occur and for nearly two centuries Clark's invaluable data remained untapped in the expedition's annals.

Now, for the first time, the cartographic reconstruction that Clark expected has been rendered. By using the daily measurements and notes in Clark's journals, as well as other sources, Plamondon has created maps depicting the Corps' route on the Missouri River from Illinois to North Dakota. This first volume includes 153 full-page maps.

In addition to presenting key geographic and historic features, the maps compare the modern beds of streams to their courses at the time of exploration. The contrast is striking between what Lewis and Clark saw and what we see today. The ever meandering Missouri River, in particular, has changed its channel hundreds of times since the expedition fought its currents. Even Clark commented on the return trip of 1806 that some sections of the river were barely recognizable compared to when they passed by two years earlier. Modern America likewise has wrought great change.

Of further interest are the many excerpts from the expedition diaries and an insightful essay on frontier surveying.

Editorial Reviews

Review

As never before, we can now see clearly the explorers' trail...William Clark would love these maps. -- Gary E. Moulton, editor of The Journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition

Plamondon's reconstruction of [Clark's] maps helps modern-day explorers reconstruct the world that the Corps of Discovery saw with fresh eyes. -- Dayton Duncan, author of Out West and Lewis & Clark: The Journey of hte Corps of Discovery

From the Publisher

Other maps of the Lewis and Clark trail have been published but they are based on Clark's sketches. Plamondon's maps are the only ones based on Clark's actual measurements.

Volume I covers the Missouri River between Camp River Dubois (Illinois) and Fort Mandan (North Dakota), outbound in 1804 and return in 1806.

Volume II, due for publication in November, 2001, will cover beyond Fort Mandan (North Dakota/Montana) to the Continental Divide and Snake River (Idaho/Washington), outbound in 1805 and return in 1806.

Volume III will cover from the mouth of the Snake River to the coast and the route back east that was different from the outbound route. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 206 pages
• Publisher: Washington State Univ Pr (September 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 087422232X
• ISBN-13: 978-0874222326
• Product Dimensions: 12.4 x 9.4 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.7 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,161,507 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars An absolutely wonderful addition to L&C resources ..., October 4, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Lewis and Clark Trail Maps: A Cartographic Reconstruction, Volume I (Hardcover)

With this volume, Martin Plamondon has created a wonderful resource, fulfilling a dream of William Clark. Once you see this volume, you will wonder how you ever got along without it as a companion when reading the journals. The feature of showing dual footprints of riverbeds now and then is fascinating and the list of identified campsites is truly useful for following progress of the Corps of Discovery. Martin's love of, and dedication to this "little" project of his shows clearly throughout the volume. I can't wait for volumes 2 and 3 to complete the trail.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars On the Trail, December 9, 2002

By 

Therese Yeaton "Hopeful optimist" (Renton, Wa USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lewis and Clark Trail Maps: A Cartographic Reconstruction, Volume I (Hardcover)

Everyone with any interest in Lewis and Clark shoul own this book, and the companion Volume 2.

I find it so much more interesting to read "The Journals of Lewis and Clark" (Moulton Edition) or Stephen Ambrose's "Undaunted Courage" with these books at my side. To be able to pore over them and see where the Corps of Discovery was is great fun.

Last year I taught a class on Explorers for 6th to 8th graders and we ended the year with five weeks of Lewis and Clark. They were fascinated by these maps and spent lots of time with them.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Jewel of a historic Atlas, May 30, 2004

By 

Wipf Karl A. Dr "Smokey" (CH 8500 Frauenfeld) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Lewis and Clark Trail Maps: A Cartographic Reconstruction, Volume I (Hardcover)

What an immense and high quality work! I never saw a comparable one. There are the maps, and in the maps quotations of the diaries of the explorers. You can exactly follow the route in word and maps. And underled the reconstructed maps you can see side for side a modern map, who allows to find your way today. The size of the maps is perfect, also the clear print. Everyone, who is interested in the Lewis and Clark expedition needs this books (vol I and II edited) and for a fruitful scientific work it is simply a must.
I can only say: Excellent and congratulations.