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

•  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

• 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

•  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.

• 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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