Lewis and Clark’s journey became a blueprint for future exploration

Jefferson’s Lewis and Clark expedition joined the centuries-long hunt for Northwest Passage

For centuries, leaders pursued a direct seafaring trade route from Europe to Asia. Jefferson joined this quest by sending Lewis and Clark west, though they confirmed no such practical interior route existed across the continent.

Explore Lewis and Clark’s 8,000-mile journey in Google Earth

Follow the Corps of Discovery’s full route from St. Louis to the Pacific and back on Google Earth. Explore key camps, Native encounters, and natural landmarks through satellite imagery and on-the-ground photos.

The Lewis and Clark expedition lasted over two years

The Corps of Discovery departed St. Louis in May 1804 and returned in September 1806, covering more than 8,000 miles by boat, horseback, and on foot. See a timeline of the journey’s key events.

The Corps of Discovery braved wildlife, weather, and near-starvation

Along their 8,000-mile trek through territory populated by tribes suspicious of their intentions, Lewis and Clark’s party faced many dangers—including grizzly bear attacks, freezing winters, treacherous river crossings, and periods of near-starvation. Watch a 30-minute elaboration of their heroic efforts here.

Lewis and Clark encountered more than 70 Native tribes during their journey

The Corps of Discovery’s diplomacy ranged from peaceful trade and vital aid from tribes like the Shoshone and Nez Perce to tense standoffs, most notably with the Teton Sioux, who nearly brought the expedition to a halt.

The expedition produced the first detailed climate records of the West

Lewis and Clark logged daily temperature, weather, and seasonal patterns throughout their journey, creating the earliest systematic meteorological record for the western territories of the United States. Their observations helped overturn longstanding views that weather west of the Appalachians was similar to the East Coast.

Native voices share their histories along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail

Tribal historians recount their peoples' histories and perspectives on the Lewis and Clark expedition, offering an Indigenous narrative of the lands, encounters, and legacies that shaped the journey.

Discover the 'American Serengeti' Lewis and Clark first recorded

This podcast traces the 19th-century exploration of the Great Plains’ biodiversity—beginning with Lewis and Clark’s wildlife cataloging and continuing through a century of documenting the Natural West’s remarkable species and landscapes.

The expedition documented 240 plant species, 178 new to western science

Lewis and Clark’s botanical records introduced species to Americans like bitterroot, ponderosa pine, and Oregon grape—plants unknown to western science at the time. See a selection of these species in this image gallery.

Lewis brought his loyal Newfoundland dog on the expedition

Meriwether Lewis was accompanied by his dog, Seaman, a Newfoundland who traveled the entire journey—helping hunt, guarding camp, and even rescuing supplies from a river.

'The urge to explore has propelled evolution since the first water creatures reconnoitered the land. Like all living systems, cultures cannot remain static; they evolve or decline. They explore or expire.'

- Astronaut Buzz Aldrin (1930-present)

A data visualization exploring six decades of spacewalks

Astronauts' initial small step for mankind may standout, but how many steps have we taken so far? Space and moonwalks further our understanding of spaceflight, celestial bodies, and space itself. Created to resemble a constellation map, this chart...

George Washington was an expert in maps and cartography

Trained as a surveyor, Washington routinely studied, annotated, and drew maps throughout his life. He relied on cartography to navigate frontier lands, plan military campaigns across vast distances, and make strategic decisions on borders, settlement, and governance.

Planetary exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life kicked off with Viking

NASA's Viking 1 and 2 missions revealed Mars' geological activity and potential for past life through their evidence of past surface water. Viking 1 held the record for the longest Mars surface operation until the Opportunity rover surpassed it in 2010.

Science is rarely a linear progression of understanding

Particularly at the frontiers, investigations conducted based on established knowledge can provide unexpected results. This opens the door to revising existing models, inspiring new lines of research, and ultimately leading to better future comprehension. For instance, experiments on the speed of light and the expansion of the universe yielded then-confusing data that led to revolutionary insights.

'Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone,' a work by American painter Thomas Moran, inspired Congress to establish Yellowstone National Park.

How the Discovery Channel was originally built for lifetime learners

Founder John Hendricks envisioned Discovery as a launchpad for educational content that was both informative and engaging. Since, the channel has spawned dozens of other channels, merged with major studios, and launched its own streaming platforms.

NASA was created by Congress in 1958

Created by Congress under the National Aeronautics and Space Act, NASA officially began in 1958, building on earlier aviation research and positioning the US to compete in the Space Race and lead global space exploration.

American archaeology has a complicated legacy

Many national parks were discovered through American archaeological expeditions and, consequently, included the looting of Native American cultural sites and artifacts.

Cook’s ‘Travellers Handbooks’ were precursors to the travel guide

Long before Rick Steves or Lonely Planet, Thomas Cook’s “Travellers Handbooks” offered maps, recommendations, and tips for 19th-century tourists in unfamiliar locations.

How George Lucas used Joseph Campbell's 'hero's journey' to revise 'Star Wars'

Lucas was struggling with an unwieldy early draft of "Star Wars" when he discovered the literary theorist Campbell's "The Hero With a Thousand Faces," which compared the narrative journeys of heroes across cultures, suggesting they generally followed the same path. Lucas used the concept to revise "Star Wars" and credited Campbell's book with clarifying the story.

'Through this unique means, I convey to you and all mankind, America’s wish for peace on Earth and goodwill to men everywhere.'

- President Dwight Eisenhower (1890-1969) sending a message from space

Before humans, the Soviet Union and the United States sent animals—including apes, dogs, and cats—to space during the Space Race.

The history of Vannevar Bush, who influenced the creation of hyperlinks and the NSF

As director of the Office of Scientific Research and Development, Bush submitted a report outlining how to support basic research at American colleges and universities by establishing an independent funding agency, which laid the groundwork for the National Science Foundation. His idea for a Memex machine that connected microfilm content in "associative trails" of links would influence Douglas Engelbart's development of hypertext.

The Leopold Report was an early blueprint for ecosystem management

The 1963 report, officially known as Wildlife Management in the National Parks, recommended wildlife management and ecological preservation. In 2012, a follow-up report built upon the original paper to guide future park service policies based on scientific findings.

Modern consulting traces its roots to 1886

Arthur D. Little Inc. was the first management consulting firm. Starting as a chemical analysis lab, the firm evolved to play pivotal roles in projects like developing the NASDAQ system and supporting Apollo 11.

The American Revolution became a template for a colonized world

The robust and radical transformation during the American Revolution created a template for dozens of future independence movements. Its key ideas of republicanism, individualism, and equality inspired revolutions in France, Haiti, Ireland, and more, paving the way for the broadly democratic world we know today.

Explore our favorite visualization of the immense scale of space, from an astronaut to the size of the observable universe

Stanford built a Google Maps for the Roman Empire, revealing how much it cost to travel in the ancient world

Track the location of the Voyager probes, currently between 13 and 15 billion miles away from Earth.

Explore fun facts from the USPS, including unique post office buildings, a stamp that traveled past Pluto, and more.

See the most iconic photos from four decades of LIFE magazine

Explore an interactive map of battles from the American Revolution, along with detailed summaries of each engagement

Watch this video that uses Lego bricks to explain how venture capital works.

Scientists can determine Earth's past climate conditions by analyzing air trapped in microscopic bubbles within ice cores—columns of compressed snow layers that build up over hundreds of thousands of years.

Mid-century modern graphic designers, known for their bright colors and bold lines in advertising, also found success with children's books.

Jimmy Carter signed a 1978 bill that legalized home brewing, a move credited with kick-starting the craft beer industry.

During the French Revolution, a botanist's letter asking about "dear Rhus" (poison ivy) was intercepted, leading authorities to suspect he was conspiring with the Russians.

In 2025, four executives from large tech companies were given positions in the US Army Reserves—including Palantir Chief Technology Officer Shyam Sankar, which reinforced Palantir's ties with the US military and its role as a leading defense partner.

Some Pokémon have been named after real and fictional organisms, while some real-world species have been named after Pokémon, such as Chilicola charizard and Binburrum zapdos.

Legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright designed the SC Johnson headquarters in Wisconsin, aiming to make a cathedral-like workplace

Learn more about the history of fireworks, which dates back to an accidental invention during an alchemist's quest for information about immortality.

See the evolution of Ebola vaccine and treatment development.

In 2018, 26-year-old missionary John Allen Chau was killed by tribesmen after attempting to reach and evangelize on India's isolated North Sentinel Island

In 1915, workers recovered a submarine-like vessel from the Chicago River, prompting fears of German espionage

'Shogun,' a 1980s TV series, helped popularize sushi in the US by stimulating an American interest in Japanese culture.

Hear 50 years of iconic hip-hop samples, the genre's foundational looped tracks

A researcher recently discovered an interview from 1967 between groundbreaking journalist Joan Didion and the Grateful Dead, years before the band became an institution.

The American Society of Civil Engineers' infrastructure report card gave the US a C in 2025, its highest grade since the project launched in 1998.