 This
dramatic hour-long living history program
offered at Harper's Ferry features President
Thomas Jefferson (Bill Barker) and Captain
Meriwether Lewis (Dick Cheatham) discussing
plans for the extraordinary journey through
the "Louisiana Purchase" to the
Pacific which made "Lewis and Clark"
household words. Jefferson and Lewis will
also answer questions from the audience.
This dialogue takes place in the White House
as Jefferson and his personal secretary,
Virginian Meriwether Lewis, plan this amazing
exploit. Program elements include:
A recognition and discussion
of the links held in common between Jefferson
and Lewis, Lewis' service on the frontier
which prepared him so well for this great
challenge, Jefferson's long interest in
and fascination with the American west and
his previous attempts to initiate an exploration
of this vast uncharted area so important
to America's future.
Plans to send George Rogers
Clark, John Ledyard, Dr. Moses Marshall,
and Andre Michaux had all foundered for
one reason or another. Lewis' preparations
for the journey, including his selection
of personal friend William Clark as co-commander,
extensive study with astronomy Andrew Ellicot
(to learn to plot longitude and latitude),
training with the famous Dr. Benjamin Rush
(to learn about medicine) intensive study
with Dr. Benjamin Smith Barton (to learn
about botany,zoology, and Indian history),
instruction with Robert Patterson (surveying)
and finally with Dr. Caspar Wistar (to be
instructed about natural science), will
be discussed.
This Program is designed to be adaptable
so that it can be presentable in various
locations across the country, including
details which focus upon specific locations
within the journey as a report to President
Jefferson.
|
