Gettysburg – Pittsburgh, PA via Harpers Ferry, West Virginia (260 miles)
Following in the footsteps of Meriwether Lewis, this leg of the journey takes you through rolling hills, historic waterways, and key sites where Lewis prepared for the expedition that would change American history.
Retracing Lewis’ Journey
On March 16, 1803, Meriwether Lewis arrived in Harpers Ferry carrying a letter from Secretary of War Henry Dearborn to Armory Superintendent Joseph Perkins. The letter was direct:
"Sir: You will be pleased to make such arms & Iron work, as requested by the Bearer Captain Meriwether Lewis and to have them completed with the least possible delay."
In Harpers Ferry, Lewis oversaw the production of vital equipment, including:
✅ 15 rifles
✅ 15 powder horns
✅ 30 bullet molds
✅ 30 ball screws
✅ Extra rifle and musket locks
✅ Gunsmith's repair tools
✅ Several dozen tomahawks
✅ 24 large knives
✅ A collapsible iron boat frame of his own design, a bold innovation for navigating unknown waters.
As he moved westward, Lewis ensured that his supplies and watercraft were ready for the arduous expedition ahead.
POINTS OF INTEREST
📍Harpers Ferry, West Virginia
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Harpers Ferry National Historical Park – Explore the historic town where Lewis gathered supplies, tested his iron boat, and prepared for the journey west.
📍Elizabeth, PA
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In 1803, Lewis is believed to have had his first two pirogues built here. These sturdy wooden boats would be critical for transporting men and supplies along the rivers. Visit the banks of the Monongahela River, which flows northward from West Virginia and merges with the Allegheny River in Pittsburgh to form the Ohio River—the true gateway to the West.
📍Pittsburgh, PA
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On July 15, 1803, Lewis arrived in Pittsburgh to oversee the construction of a 55-foot keelboat. Delays plagued the process, and it wasn't until August 31, 1803, that he finally launched down the Ohio River.
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Carnegie Museum of Natural History – Experience an in-depth look at the natural landscapes and indigenous cultures that shaped Lewis and Clark’s journey.
Follow in Lewis’ Footsteps
Drive this historic route and imagine the challenges, ingenuity, and determination that went into preparing for one of the greatest explorations in American history. From Harpers Ferry’s blacksmith forges to Pittsburgh’s shipyards, every stop along the way holds a piece of the journey that forever changed the map of the United States.
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Lewis and Clark Trail
Icons, Treasures, Legends & Lore
Travelers' Stories
"My family traveled west by car from St. Louis, Missouri to Great Fall,Montana."
"We never knew history could come alive in such a fascinating way. The Lewis and Clark Trail journey was a perfect blend of education and adventure, leaving us with a deeper appreciation for our past.”
Doug M.
"As the boat swung around, the mountains looked like they moved apart and opened up, and when we passed through they seemed to close (or shut) behind us."
" Meriwether Lewis from the same spot beheld this phenomenon and journaled, "from the singular appearance of this place I called it The Gates of The Rocky Mountains."
Mary B.
"From a bluff high above the Missouri River I could see the Lewis and Clark Expedition campsite of May 30, 1805 near Pablo Island."
"Lewis writes about the beauty of the place: "The hills and river Clifts which we passed today exhibit a most romantic appearance."
Dawn C.
Explore some of the most beautiful and rugged
areas in America
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