Cincinnati, OH – Louisville, KY  (110 miles) 
 

On October 14, 1803, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark met in Louisville, Kentucky, forming one of the most famous and successful partnerships in history. Just days later, on October 26, 1803, they, along with the nucleus of the Corps of Discovery, embarked on their journey down the Ohio River, setting the stage for one of the greatest expeditions in American history.

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POINTS OF INTEREST

📍 Kentucky Derby Museum – Louisville, KY
Located at Churchill Downs, this museum chronicles the history of the Kentucky Derby and its founder, Meriwether Lewis Clark, Jr., the grandson of William Clark. Explore the legacy of horse racing and its deep-rooted connections to American history.

📍 Historic Locust Grove – Louisville, KY
A National Historic Landmark, Locust Grove was the home of William and Lucy Clark Croghan, established in 1790. This 55-acre estate preserves the early frontier history of the region and showcases William Clark’s family heritage.

📍 Filson Historical Society – Louisville, KY
Home to a nationally significant Lewis and Clark collection, including:

• Six expedition-era letters from William Clark and one from Meriwether Lewis

• An 1817 portrait of Clark

• A bighorn sheep specimen collected during the journey

• Diaries, documents, and personal artifacts from the expedition

📍 The Belvedere / Riverfront Plaza – Louisville, KY
Visit the YORK Statue, dedicated on October 14, 2003, in honor of York, William Clark’s enslaved man who played a crucial role in the expedition.

📍 Falls of the Ohio State Park & Interpretive Center – Clarksville, IN
This significant geological and cultural site was a major landmark for Lewis and Clark. The park features a statue of Lewis and Clark, dedicated to historian Stephen E. Ambrose on October 26, 2003.

• 📍Just a short walk downstream, explore Clarksville Bicentennial Park. Here, you’ll find:

  • A replica keelboat like the one used during the expedition

  • Several interpretive signs that tell the story of the Corps of Discovery

  • A reconstructed early 19th-century cabin, similar to the one once occupied by George Rogers Clark, where William Clark lived before joining the expedition

This historic site offers not only scenic views of the Ohio River, but also a chance to stand where the journey of discovery truly began.
 

Travel Notes

This region is rich in history and tradition. Long before the arrival of European explorers, Indigenous tribes such as the Shawnee, Miami, Potawatomi, and Wyandotte established thriving villages along the Ohio River and its tributaries. By the 18th century, French and English settlers encountered these communities, leading to a cultural exchange that shaped the course of American history.

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