CELEBRATING THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION

The Missouri Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission came to Cape Girardeau Tuesday looking for suggestions on how to celebrate "one of the greatest adventure stories in American history."

That was the evaluation of Lewis and Clark's expedition provided by Jim Denny, a historian with the Department of Natural Resources.

Denny was one of a number of state officials here to get local views on the bicentennial celebration, which is due to begin in 2004. Others were Jim Conley, director of the Department of Conservation; Shannon Cave, director of outreach services for the Department of Conservation; and Tami Holder, the commission coordinator.

Thirteen people attended the meeting at the University Center, including two members of the Zenon River Brigade, historical re-enactors who got into the spirit of the event by wearing period costumes.

Among others who attended were Eugene and Carolyn McCalister of Cape Girardeau. He is the great-great-great grandson of Toussant Charboneau, one of the expedition's interpreters.

Also attending was Linda Nash, a Jackson history teacher who has done years of research into the life of Cape Girardeau founder Don Louis Lorimier.

Lorimier and his family entertained Lewis at their trading post as the expedition made its way up the Mississippi to St. Louis in November 1803. Nash suggested that rebuilding Lorimier's Red House would be an appropriate local bicentennial project.

Denny said the commission is designing signs that will commemorate the expedition's route along the Missisippi and Missouri rivers. He said one possible site for a local sign is Cape Rock, where Lewis and Clark spent the night with their boats. Another is the bluffs at Trail of Tears State Park, believed to be the bluffs above Cape Girardeau described in the explorers' journals.

Other possibilites are at Apple Creek and Tower Rock.

Cave said the commission has met only enthusiasm for the bicentennial project in previous meetings held in the state. The commission is meeting in Ste. Genevieve tonight and will meet in Kansas City and St. Joseph later before formalizing its plans for the bicentennial.

Semi trucks will transport traveling exhibits along the route. A re-creation of the journey starting in Philadelphia also is planned.

An influx of tourists is expected to search out the trail. Both Cave and Denny said the occasion should be used to showcase the state's entire heritage.