Lewis & Clark Expedition 1804 Mural

Nice place to come for a bit of history! I love walking along the trail and watch the activities in the Kaw River!

If you have not made a full walking tour of the River Market area, you need to! One of the many treasures you will find is this mural, located on the West façade of the River Market Antique Mall. Most Kansas Citians have seen it, but I feel that not too many have actually really looked at it. I personally think it is just grand. I mean, am I a history nerd? Yes! Am I a sucker for public art? Yes! Ergo, I think historical public art is just tops!
Many, if not all, know that our area was one of many stops along Lewis and Clarks long journey to the Pacific Northwest. They used our own Quality Hill to survey the river, and I’m sure at some point our own river to relieve themselves. How historically amazing! This very grand mural commemorates the launching of that journey. These two fair men launching an expedition into the wilds of the American West. In the mural you can see how the landscape may have looked along the river before the Army Corps of Engineers set the Mighty Mo to its current course in the early twentieth century, doing away its meandering through our fertile flood plains. Sacajawea and her famous wrapped baby are in the foreground along with her French-​Canadian husband, both not looking very historical at all. Weren’t they the guides or at least helped with such matters? It seems our artist thought they mostly stared at the ground, pondering as to why in a god’s name they were helping these white dudes bring on an onslaught of Western explores who would systematically destroy the world as they new it… but I digress. My favorite part of this piece, with out a doubt, is our fearless explorer giving the largest thumbs-​up sign he possibly could. He was one excited man, full of vigor and childish quandary as to what lay in front of him. History my friend… History!