Top 50 Lewis and Clark Books

Jump to: Lewis and Clark Journals and Letters Primary Sources, The Lewis and Clark Story, Native American, Biographies, Travel

Lewis and Clark Journals and Letters Primary Sources

The Lewis and Clark Journals: An American Epic of Discovery
Gary E Moulton (Editor)
The one volume edition of the journals written by William Clark and Meriwether Lewis condenses the seven volume set of books into one handy book. Go to Amazon

The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark (Volumes 2-8)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor)
The complete, seven volume set (volumes 2-8) of the journals written by Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark starts with Meriwether Lewis’s departure from Pittsburgh in 1803 and ends with the captains’ return to St Louis in 1806. The set is offered at a great price by Amazon. Individual volumes are also available. Volumes 9, 10, and 11 are journals written by other members of the expedition. Volume 12 is a herbarium; volume 13, an index. Volume 1 is a large size atlas only available in hardcover. Go to Amazon

2a The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, From the Ohio to the Vermillion (Volume 2)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor) Go to Amazon

2b The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, Up the Missouri to Fort Mandan (Volume 3)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor) Go to Amazon

2c The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, From Fort Mandan to Three Forks (Volume 4)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor) Go to Amazon

2d The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, Through the Rockies to the Cascades (Volume 5)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor) Go to Amazon

2e The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, Down the Columbia to Fort Clatsop (Volume 6)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor) Go to Amazon

2f The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, From the Pacific to the Rockies (Volume 7)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor) Go to Amazon

2g The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, Over the Rockies to St Louis (Volume 8)
Go to Amazon

The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, John Ordway and Charles Floyd (Volume 9)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor)
Sgt. John Ordway was the only journal keeper to make entries for every one of the 863 days of the expedition, beginning with their departure from Wood River on May 14, 1804. Sgt. Charles Floyd’s journal is the briefest, cut short by his untimely death on August 20, 1804 near present day Sioux City, Iowa. Go to Amazon

Exploring with Lewis and Clark: the 1804 Journal of Charles Floyd
by James Holmberg (Editor)
A facsimile reproduction of Sgt. Charles Floyd’s journal pages, with the text set in type on facing pages for easy reading. Commentary and biographical material is also included. It is the only book featuring actual journal pages. Go to Amazon

The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, Patrick Gass (Volume 10)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor)
Patrick Gass’s journal, published in 1807, was the first to appear in print; the captains’ account was not published until 1814. Gass, who served as the expedition’s carpenter, replaced Charles Floyd as Sergeant. Go to Amazon

The Journals of Patrick Gass: Member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Edited and annotated by Carol McGregor
Sgt. Gass was one of the most popular members of the Corps of Discovery, both then and now. This version, edited by Carol McGregor, includes his biography and account books from 1826-37 and 1847-48. Go to Amazon

The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, Joseph Whitehouse (Volume 11)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor)
Joseph Whitehouse’s journal is the only journal kept by a private that has survived. The last part of this journal is a paraphrased version written by someone else, who worked from a journal notebook which is now lost. Go to Amazon

The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, Herbarium (Volume 12)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor)
Black and white photos and drawings of 177 dried plant specimens collected by Meriwether Lewis. Most are in the herbarium of the Philadelphia Academy of Natural Sciences. Go to Amazon

The Definitive Journals of Lewis and Clark, Comprehensive Index (Volume 13)
by Gary E Moulton (Editor)
The comprehensive index to the entire Moulton edition is a must for anyone studying the individual journals, either online or in print. Go to Amazon

Atlas of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
by Gary E Moulton (Editor)
The oversized atlas, 14 x 20 inches, is not available in paperback or online. Volume 1 of the hardcover edition, it has copies of expedition maps drawn by William Clark which are now in the Western Studies Collection of Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha. Go to Amazon

Letters of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, with Related Documents, 1783-1854
by Donald Dean Jackson (Editor)
The 428 original letters and documents pertaining to the Expedition are an invaluable reference for anyone who develops a serious interest in the expedition. Go to Amazon

Dear Brother: Letters of William Clark to Jonathan Clark
by William Clark, James J. Holmberg
Revealing letters were written by William Clark regarding both his public and private life; including his stormy relationship with his slave York in the years after the expedition. Go to Amazon

The Lewis and Clark Story

Undaunted Courage: Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson and the Opening of the West
by Stephen Ambrose
This is the best-selling book that launched the bicentennial commemoration: the story of the expedition written by a master story teller and historian, who loved the story, and loved the trail. Go to Amazon

Explorations into the World of Lewis and Clark (3 volumes)
A collection of 194 essays, written by both professional and amateur Lewis and Clark scholars, which were published between 1974-1999 in We Proceeded On, the quarterly journal of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. The essays—by all the most famous Lewis and Clark authors and others—offer a wide range of viewpoints.

14a Explorations into the World of Lewis and Clark (Volume 1)
by Robert A Saindon
Biographical essays and commentaries on the events and preparations leading up to the expedition. Go to Amazon

14b Explorations into the World of Lewis and Clark (Volume 2)
by Robert A Saindon
Essays on the expedition. Go to Amazon

14c Explorations into the World of Lewis and Clark (Volume 3)
by Robert A Saindon
Essays on the aftermath of the expedition, including the death of Lewis and the present day Trail. Go to Amazon

Lewis and Clark: Partners in Discovery
by John Bakeless
A well-told joint biography and story of the expedition, first published in 1947, and still one of the best. Go to Amazon

On the River with Lewis and Clark
by Verne Huser
Huser has traveled much of Lewis and Clark’s river route; but the focus of his book is on their historic journey, not his own travels. A river guide for over forty years, a former English teacher, and a careful researcher, Huser has written a book that supplies much needed information about their boats and water experiences. Go to Amazon

Or Perish in the Attempt: Wilderness Medicine in the Lewis & Clark Expedition
by David J Peck, MD
A fascinating book that looks at the messy and frightening health aspects of the journey across the continent; and provides a wise commentary from a practicing physician, who loves the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. Go to Amazon

Lewis and Clark: Across the Divide
By Carolyn Gilman and James D Ronda
The large format book has 400 illustrations of the artifacts loaned by over fifty institutions for the traveling Lewis and Clark National Bicentennial Exhibition. Commentary is provided by Gilman, the curator of the exhibition, and historian James Ronda. The photos and illustrations provide an unparalleled look at objects associated with the expedition. It is a gorgeous book. Go to Amazon

Lewis & Clark Lexicon of Discovery
by Alan H. Hartley
Over 1,100 words found in the journals--their pronunciations, definitions, and examples of their usage—are explained in this book. Anybody reading the original journals should have a copy. Go to Amazon

Encyclopedia of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
by Elin Woodger and Brandon Toropov
One of a series of Facts on File publications sold in the school and library market. This well researched guide is comprehensive; with maps, chronologies, and background material. Go to Amazon

The Lewis and Clark Companion: An Encyclopedic Guide to the Voyage of Discovery
by Stephenie Ambrose Tubbs with Clay Straus Jenkinson
The encyclopedia was written by the daughter of the late Stephen Ambrose and Lewis and Clark scholar Clay Jenkinson. Their interesting short essays may be read as a general commentary to the expedition story. Go to Amazon

Lewis & Clark for Dummies
by Sammye Meadows and Jana Prewitt
Written by two experts, the Dummies book provides an outline of the main action in easy to read format with lots of subheadings and bulleted information. Go to Amazon

A History of the Lewis and Clark Journals
by Paul Russell Cutright
This dramatic account of the journals and their subsequent history over the next 200 years features the scholars who worked on them, their various personalities, and the resulting editions. Go to Amazon

Lewis & Clark: Pioneering Naturalists
by Paul Russell Cutright
The most comprehensive account of Lewis and Clark’s contributions to the natural sciences; the author was a distinguished biologist and Lewis and Clark scholar. Go to Amazon

Lewis and Clark’s Green World: The Expedition and Its Plants
by A Scott Earle and James L Reveal
A beautiful book filled with photos and drawings by a leading botanist, who photographed and re-collected many of Lewis and Clark’s plants for Philadelphia’s Academy of Natural Sciences, where the original collection is housed. Go to Amazon

Lewis & Clark: Tailor Made, Trail Worn—Army Life, Clothing & Weapons of the Corps of Discovery
by Robert J. Moore and Michael Haynes
Moore is the historian at the Gateway Arch in St Louis, and Haynes is the premiere artist of the Lewis and Clark world; his artwork is comparable to Charles Russell and Frederick Remington. Go to Amazon

Art of the Lewis & Clark Trail
by Jeff Evenson
A large format book with artwork by Charles Russell, Robert Bateman, John Clymer, Karl Bodmer, Michael Haynes and others; the interesting facing page quotations from the expedition journals were selected by Jeff Evenson. Go to Amazon

Native American

The Salish People and the Lewis and Clark Expedition
by Salish-Pend d’Oreille Culture Committee and Elders Cultural Advisory Council Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes
One of the most important books to come out of the Bicentennial, this illustrated book tells the story of the Flathead Indians and their meeting with Lewis and Clark. The book may be unique in the historical record as an account written by a tribal people with over 10,000 years of living in one place. Go to Amazon

Lewis and Clark Among the Indians
by James Ronda
Ronda’s account of the Indian tribes which Lewis and Clark encountered remains a classic on the Lewis and Clark bookshelf. Ronda is a popular speaker, and the author of numerous books of essays on Lewis and Clark. Go to Amazon

Sheheke, Mandan Indian Diplomat: The Story of White Coyote, Thomas Jefferson, and Lewis and Clark
by Tracy Potter
Potter has combined both Euro-American and Native American sources to produce a fine biography of the Mandan chief who accompanied Lewis and Clark to Washington to meet President Jefferson. Go to Amazon

Sacagawea’s Child: The Life and Times of Jean-Baptiste (Pomp) Charbonneau
by Susan M Colby
This recent biography is the story of Jean-Baptiste and his amazing adventures in later life; it is also a fine biography of Sacagawea. Colby's account (published in the Western Frontiersmen Series of the Arthur H. Clark Company) should become a classic in the literature of the American West. Go to Amazon

Sacagawea Speaks: Beyond the Shining Mountains with Lewis and Clark
by Joyce Badgley Hunsaker
The author, of part Native American ancestry, appears nationwide as a story teller. The book is beautifully illustrated, showcasing her sensitive, award-winning presentation with photographs and historical documentation. Go to Amazon

Lewis and Clark Through Indian Eyes
by Alvin M Josephy, Jr.
Essays written by distinguished Native American writers and leaders who participated in the Bicentennial commemoration. The authors represent nine different tribes. The late Alvin Josephy was a great historian of the American West and Native American history. Go to Amazon

Do Them No Harm: Lewis and Clark among the Nez Perce
by Zoa L Swayne
A local resident, Zoa Swayne collected material for 55 years (1934-89) regarding Nez Perce memories of Lewis and Clark. The narrative is filled with vivid insights as to how the Nez Perce viewed events. Go to Amazon

Native America, Discovered and Conquered: Thomas Jefferson, Lewis & Clark, and Manifest Destiny
by Robert J. Miller
A law professor, and member of the Eastern Shawnee Tribe of Oklahoma, Miller has written the definitive study of the “Doctrine of Discovery,” by which land was taken from indigenous people. This book is an important contribution to American history written by a Native American scholar in response to the bicentennial. The essays will be on interest to both the general reader and specialist. Go to Amazon

Atlas of the North American Indian
by Carl Waldman with maps and illustrations by Molly Braun
This compact atlas covers the indigenous peoples on the North American continent from prehistoric times to the present. Integrating history and geography, the atlas makes a complex subject clear and understandable. Go to Amazon

Biographies

The Fate of the Corps: What Became of the Lewis and Clark Explorers After the Expedition
by Larry E Morris
This recent book satisfies our curiosity regarding what happened next to the members of the expedition. They have become members of our extended family; their life stories intersect with other major historical events. Go to Amazon

William Clark and the Shaping of the West
by Landon Y Jones
The biographer, a former editor of People magazine, has written an honest and nuanced account of Clark’s multi-faceted career and life, utilizing many personal details from his journals and letters. Go to Amazon

Suicide or Murder: The Strange Death of Governor Meriwether Lewis
by Vardis Fisher
This 1962 book remains a classic. It is carefully researched, well written, and supplies documentation and sources. Fisher presents the case for suicide or murder made by many different people, from the time of Lewis’s death onward. Go to Amazon

By His Own Hand: The Mysterious Death of Meriwether Lewis
by John D W Guice (Editor) with contributions by James J Holmberg, John D W Guice, and Jay H Buckley
Recent books have followed the lead of Stephen Ambrose’s Undaunted Courage in declaring Lewis’s death a suicide; but at the conclusion of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial, and as the 2009 bicentennial of Lewis’s death approaches, modern scholars are raising new questions. Go to Amazon

In Search of York: The Slave Who Went to the Pacific with Lewis and Clark
by Robert B Betts with a new epilogue by James J Holmberg
A fine biography with a new epilogue added, regarding the estrangement between York and Clark in later years; based on recently discovered letters written by William Clark to his brother (Dear Brother: Letters of William Clark to Jonathan Clark by James Holmberg). Go to Amazon

Lewis and Clark Travel

Lewis and Clark Road Trips: Exploring the Trail Across America
by Kira Gale
You are visiting its website. Maybe you might want to buy copies to give to your friends and family? All purchases made through this website bookstore are appreciated, and help to support the website. Go to Amazon

Traveling the Lewis and Clark Trail
by Julie Fanselow
We used this popular guide book while traveling and found some memorable motels along the Columbia River. It will be issued in a 4th edition in June, 2007. Go to Amazon

Along the Trail with Lewis and Clark
by Barbara Fifer, Vicky Soderberg, Joseph Mussulman
This guide was the one used by everyone before Lewis and Clark Road Trips. Musselman’s website, www.lewis-clark.org is the best source of historical information on the trail. Go to Amazon

National Geographic’s Guide to the Lewis & Clark Trail
by Thomas Schmidt
A small guide book, with beautiful photos and great destinations; combines nicely with Lewis and Clark Road Trips. Go to Amazon

River-Horse: Across America by Boat
by William Least Heat Moon
The best-selling author of Blue Highways took to the water this time, and traveled across America from the Atlantic to the Pacific in a 22 foot motor boat, the River-Horse, retracing the Lewis and Clark route along the way. His motto was “Proceed as the Way Opens.” Go to Amazon

Out West: An American Journey
by Dayton Duncan
A wonderful road trips book, written in the 1980’s. It’s a great read, and a great travel planner; another classic on the Lewis and Clark bookshelf. Duncan is the author of several Lewis and Clark books, other road trip narratives, and a contributor to PBS specials. Go to Amazon

Bicycling the Lewis and Clark Trail
by Michael McCoy and the Adventure Cycling Association
An excellent guidebook with good maps and routing supplied by the Adventure Cycling Association. Forty daily rides, from 45 to 113 miles in length feature some of the best areas of the trail, from the St Louis area to Astoria, Oregon. Go to Amazon

The Lewis and Clark Columbia River Water Trail: A Guide for Paddlers, Hikers and Other Explorers
by Keith G Hay
The book covers the area known as the Lower Columbia, from the Bonneville Dam to the Pacific Ocean. It is about 135 miles by road to Astoria, Oregon; the area has perhaps the most beautiful scenery of the entire trail. The guide is carefully researched; with maps, safety tips, rental and contact information. There are also beautiful photos. Go to Amazon

A Current Adventure: In the Wake of Lewis & Clark
by Chris Bechtold
In 1998 Bechtold, a young biologist and wilderness guide in Chouteau, Montana, set out with his dog Herschel to travel from Wood River Camp to the Pacific Ocean, a journey of over 3,100 river miles, in a 14 foot boat. He had been out on the river only two times—water skiing--before embarking on this adventure of a lifetime. The book is a great read. Go to Amazon