Camp River Dubois, Illinois (CoD Winter 1803)

After the Corp of Discovery (CoD) left Clarksville Indiana in September 1803, they continued down the Ohio River to it’s confluence with the Mississippi. They then turned north into the Mississippi’s current for the slog to St. Louis. They camped on the Illinois side of the river opposite St. Louis, on December 12, 1803 and spent their first winter on the trail here.
The CoD cleared land in the woods and built the first of 3 forts on the expedition. The first 2 photos shows a re-creation of that fort, built for the bicentennial. The 3rd photo shows a replica of the keelboat, inside the visitor center.
Over the long winter, Capt Clark worked with the men of the CoD to shape them into a military unit capable of the long and arduous undertaking.
During their stay in Illinois, the Louisiana Purchase became official and on March 11, the American flag was raised over the Louisiana territory for the first time.