FIRST - Entry into Illinois Country - Lewis & Clark - Shawneetown, IL
Posted by: 
YoSam.
N 37° 41.766 W 088° 08.112
16S E 399920 N 4172703
Famous town on the Ohio River, no town was there back then
Waymark Code: WMVKKY
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 04/30/2017
Views: 0
County of marker: Gallatin County
Location of marker: Main St. & Old Shawneetown Rd., Vintage Gas Station Lawn, Shawneetown
Marker erected by: The Illinois Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission, The Illinois Bureau of Tourism, The National Park Service, & Gallatin County Historical Society
Marker erected: 2003
Marker Text:
Lewis and Clark Expedition
1803 ~ 1806
Lewis and Clark made their
first entry into the "Illinois Country" as it was known in 1803, near this location. The primary purpose for the stop was to procure a supply of salt for their journey. Here they would have encountered the "squatters" which represented future builders of the society. This would shortly become the gateway for the settlement in the future State of Illinois.
Local LoreLocal settlers had heard of President Jefferson's plans for western expansion and were not excited. By the time that Lewis and Clark visited, they had become supporters.
Early settlers to this area, prior to and shortly after the arrival of Lewis and Clark, were: Michael Sprinkle, Issac White, John Marshall, Pierre La Boissiere and John Caldwell.
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