We’ve shown you pictures from this museum around Omaha a couple of times: replicas of Camp Dubois (or Camp Wood), and the keelboat that they took north on the Missouri River from St. Louis. Later when we’re in the Bismark, ND, area, we’ll show you another display from this museum—an earth-mound home for local Indian tribes. Today, though, we’ll show you displays about this area that we haven’t seen before: more items they were to be looking for, tents for the trip, and animals along the way.
making discoveries everywhere
On the trip, Lewis and Clark discovered about 178 plants and 122 animals that had never been described for science. The captains also recorded the changing weather and noted interesting features of the land.
Along the river they often saw deer. North of where we are, they came upon a sandbar blanketed with 5000 white pelicans. Another time a hungry Indian dog greeted them from the riverbank, and the men shared their meat with it.
Clark noticed that the tall grasses covered the plains along the river and looked like a sea of grass. This big blue-stem was a grass that grows 7-12 feet high.
As they traveled, the men often hunted beaver since they thought their tails to be a tasty delicacy.
Lewis described the Great Plains as a paradise with great open skies, fertile soil, and plenty of water and game. While the men had to struggle against the cold river current and strong winds, the men made gradual progress up the Missouri River.
tents
Lewis paid the tent-maker to waterproof the cloth by oiling it. He also wanted to use it for awnings and boat coverings, as well as tents. As they traveled upstream, the captains probably slept in their cabin on the keelboat. Clark’s slave, York, may have slept on board too.
animals to look out for
Bison were well suited to life on the plains. Most of the year, they roamed the prairies in small groups of 4-20 animals. But during the summer rut, from the middle of June to the middle of August, they came together to form the great legendary herds that became a symbol of the American West.
During the summer, bison took dust baths in “wallows” to rid their coats of insects and to relieve itching. Sometimes the bulls urinated in a dry wallow and then rolled in the mud. This resulting coat of caked mud gave them more protection against pesky insects.
A bison calf, only 90 minutes old, can already frolic. Within a few weeks it can keep up with the herd on a short dash, and by 6 months could outrun the largest bulls. If the calf couldn’t grow up so fast, it would become easy prey for wolves or hunters.
Calves are cinnamon-colored when born and do not have a humped back. After a few months, the fur changes to chocolate brown, and the hump begins to develop.
Bison and wolves were natural enemies. Wolves followed the herds across the prairies, watching for old or weak animals. Sometimes they would attack a bison just to wound it, and then a few days later, attack again. In its weakened condition, the bison would be no match for the fangs of the wolves.
They could toss a wolf in the air with their sharp-pointed horns and, with a kick of a hind leg, they could kill or cripple.
The expedition relished bear meat because it was laden with fat, which they needed because they were expending so much energy. The cooks often “rendered” bear fat, or cooked it and stored it in kegs. From one bear, they could make 8 gallons of grease.
Bears are the only large predators that regularly eat both meat and plants. The front teeth are pointed for catching and killing prey. The molars are broad and flat for chewing and grinding plant food. They’re well suited for any environment.
As with all mosquitoes, only the females feed on blood. As Lewis and Clark found, they became persistent after dark.
You’d think that we’d be done walking through this museum, but we’ll keep coming back to its displays as we continue on the Louis & Clark trail toward to the Pacific Ocean.
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