usiness expeditions come through the Kansas City area on a daily basis. However, 200 years ago, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, leaders in President Jefferson's Corps of Discovery, undertook an expedition which left historians, sociologists and writers marveling at the significance of their venture. After almost two months and some 390-river miles of hard traveling, the little band of explorers reached what we now call the "Heart of America"--that region of Kansas and Missouri around today's Kansas City.

Naturally, the troops were in a mood for celebration. That was July 4, 1804.

They marked the day by firing the keelboat's cannon twice--once in the morning and once in the afternoon-- their own style of fireworks if you will.

Lewis and Clark army expedition soldier reenactors on the hills near Atchison, Kansas

Then, establishing another celebratory tradition, each member of the expedition received a special extra ration--a gill (about four ounces) of whiskey. Meriwether Lewis called it Independence Day.

On July 3 & 4, 2004,--200 years after the first Independence Day celebrated in the American west--"Heart of America: A Journey Fourth" will bump up that celebration--just a bit.

Myriad activities in Kansas City, MO, Atchison and Leavenworth, KS--three cities, two states--will present a magnificent celebration of the Lewis and Clark expedition and their landings along the Missouri River. The days provide an educational review of history, excitement, fun and a discovery of places the average business traveler to the area will rarely see.

View of the Missouri River near White Cloud, Kansas

From a soaring air show by the United States Air Force Thunderbirds to a multi voiced reading of the Declaration of Independence, from a spectacular laser light show and fireworks across the Missouri River to a reenactment of

Lewis and Clark's landing and exploration in the "wilderness" near Atchison, Kansas City visitors can participate in a never-to-be-forgotten weekend.

"The exciting part of these many months of planning has been the synergy of the two states and three cities. Every volunteer involved in the celebration continually worked to complement

and support each other," Emilie Jester, executive director of the Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Signature Event, said.

"There will be many high moments including the bridge lighting, the laser light show and the reenactment of the 1804 landing in the wilderness near Atchison, Kansas. The weekend is filled with activities for those seeking education, fun and excitement," she added.

Kansas City's Berkley Riverfront Park, downriver from the site of Lewis and Clark's original landing.

The "Heart of America: A Journey Fourth" celebration in Kansas City starts with a bistate opening ceremony at 9 a.m. Saturday, July 3, at Kansas City's Berkley Riverfront Park, downriver from the site of Lewis and Clark's original landing. Throughout the day a plethora of activities, exhibits, food tastings including Buffalo brisket, burgers and brats--a "wild beast feast"--Native America events, and a myriad of musical treats in all three cities will mark the bicentennial. At 10:20 p.m. on July 3, Kansas City will light three bridges--the Paseo, Heart of American and Broadway--Red, White and Blue.

Even more grandiose activities highlight July 4 with all three cities toasting this national discovery. Culmination of the weekend on this 2004 Independence Day will include a custom-designed laser show presented on a huge inflatable screen. The show will highlight America, Lewis and Clark, and Kansas City. The spectacular combination of ground and aerial fireworks choreographed to music follows the laser show.

"All three cities are providing those "should-not-be-missed moments," Jester said. "For adults kids, business people, historians, food lovers, music aficionados, artists, theatre lovers and just people seeking fun and excitement, there's a lot for everyone."

• At one point on the expedition in August of 1805, it took five people using four languages to translate information between Captain Lewis and the Shoshone Indians: Lewis to Pvt. Labiche in English; Libache to Charbonneau in French; Charbonneau to Sacagawea in Hidatsa; Sacagawea to Cameahwait in Shoshone.
• Touissant Charbonneau, a French Canadian working among the Hidatsa as an independent trader, purchased Sacagawea as one of his wives, probably around 1804. Touissant Charbonneau and Sacagawea had a son, Jean Baptiste, born at Fort Mandan on February 11, 1805.
• Married men were the rare exception on the expedition. Besides Charbonneau, Sgt. Nathaniel Pryor married in 1798, and Private John Shields, married in 1790, were the only other two.

In 1806 Meriwether Lewis and William Clark camped for three days on the bluff that overlooks the confluence of the Kansas (or Kaw) and Missouri rivers. It was a well-deserved rest during their return trip from Oregon. From this Quality Hill point, you can read the marker that commemorates their stay and another that notes the importance of French fur traders to the area. From this Missouri bluff, the remarkable bronze statue overlooks the two rivers, the downtown airport and Kansas City, Kansas.
• When Sacagawea left Fort Mandan heading into unexplored wilderness with Lewis and Clark, she was only about 15 years old.
• Sacagawea had a difficult time with labor in the birth of her child, Jean Baptiste, until Captain Lewis gave her a small portion of crushed rattlesnake rattles. After taking the "medicine" she delivered a fine baby boy within ten minutes. Sacagawea died on December 20, 1812--still in her early 20's of "putrid fever" at Fort Lisa along the Missouri River in whatis now South Dakota. After her death, Jean Baptiste was raised and educated by Captain Clark in St. Louis.
• Sacagawea's presence of mind helped save valuable supplies when a pirogue swamped during a high wind on the Missouri River in Montana on May 14, 1805.
• To a man, the enlisted men on the Lewis and Clark expedition, believed the Marias River to be the main course to follow, not because of its size, but because it was the same color, turbidity and nature as the water they had been in for over 2,000 miles. In 1805, the Missouri River was almost perfectly transparent. Had they followed the Marias, the chances are the expedition would have failed in two months. The Marias would have taken them to Montana for the winter. They could not have survived a Montana winter, not having any horses or the help of Indians.
• Privates with the Corps of Discovery were paid $5 a month; corporals, $7 a month; Sergeants, $8 a month. Clark was paid $30 a month and Lewis was paid $20 a month.
• William Clark was never given a Captain's commission while serving on the Corps of Discovery. He was given an ensign's commission (Lieutenant). President Bill Clinton finally gave Clark a Captain's commission in the Corps of Discovery in the year 2000, 197 years after Clark joined Lewis for the famous journey.
• Meriwether Lewis had prairie dogs for supper one evening in north central Montana. He said he found them "well flavored and tender."
• Only one man died on the expedition. Charles Floyd succumbed to an infected appendix on August 20, 1804. It wouldn't have mattered if he had been with the best surgeons in Philadelphia, for it would be decades before medicine would advance far enough to have helped him.
• The only fatal confrontation with Indians on the voyage happened near Cut Bank, Montana, on July 27, 1806. Lewis and three others awoke that morning to discover that the young Blackfeet warriors they had been camped with that night were trying to steal supplies and guns. Two of the Indians were killed in the ensuing scuffle.