By Kimberly Buchheit
Dog Post Daily contributor, Kimberly Buchheit recently ventured out to experience the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site in Hartford, Illinois. We are delighted to share original photographs from Kim’s visit with this feature.
We at Dog Post Daily have become very interested in the documented details of Seaman’s journey with the Lewis & Clark Expedition from 1804 to 1806. Seaman was the Newfoundland dog that Captain Meriwether Lewis purchased for $20 in 1803 to serve as a working companion on the expedition to explore the new American territory, just purchased under President Thomas Jefferson’s leadership and vision.
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Seaman was mentioned numerous times in the journals of the Expedition. He often assisted with hunting duties and alerting his master and other members of the Corps to dangerous animals entering their wilderness camps. Seaman was seriously injured when bitten by a wounded Beaver that he was retrieving from the river. Seaman required emergency medical attention, and ultimately survived significant blood loss, trauma and crude and non-sterile first aid methods. At another point in the expedition, Seaman was stolen by a native tribe. Fortunately Seaman was reunited with Lewis and the crew after some pressure was exerted on the dog thieves. Seaman was a notable member of the Corps of Discovery and is commemorated in several statues and numerous historical accounts of the Expedition.
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The statue of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark and Seaman pictured in this feature is locate inside the welcome area of the Interpretive Center. The statue is entitled, “The Spirit of Discovery” by artist Pat Kennedy, 2006. The commemorative plaque for this piece is also pictured.
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This particular location is minutes outside of St. Louis, Missouri. The site is home to a lovely Interpretive Center, a gift shop (with some really cute Seaman items) and a fascinating replica of the 1803-1804 Camp River Dubois where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark assembled equipment, supplies and men in preparation for the Lewis & Clark Expedition. More information about the Lewis & Clark State Historic Site in Hartford, Illinois can be found here. http://www.campdubois.com/
