Three cheers for the men of the Corps of Discovery! After two years, four months and ten days, and a total distance of 7,689 miles, the Corps of Discovery returned to St. Louis on this date in 1806!
It took the men approximately 550 days to get from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean, but only 184 days to make the trip home from Fort Clatsop.
According to Sergeant Ordway’s journal, the men first stopped at Camp River Debois, and after a short delay paddled downstream to St. Louis, arriving at about 12 noon. From his journal: “we Set out after breakfast and procd. on Soon arived at the Mouth of the Missourie entered the Mississippi River and landed at River deboise where we wintered in 1804. we delayed a Short time and about 12 oClock we arived in Site of St. Louis fired three Rounds as we approached the Town and landed oppocit the center of the Town, the people gathred on the Shore and Huzzared three cheers”
This statue titled “Captain’s Return” stands near the Gateway Arch at the edge of the Mississippi River in St. Louis. It was created in 2006 by sculpture Harry Weber as the final “signature event” of the Expedition’s Bicentennial.
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