Lewis and Clark’s First Western Independence Day Celebration
The first Fourth of July in the American West wasn’t much like ours today.
On July 4, 1804, Lewis and Clark’s men fired their boat cannon at dawn while pushing up the Missouri River. The day was so hot that sand burned their feet.
When they found a small creek in what’s now Kansas, Clark named it “4th of July 1804 Creek. ” Later, they dubbed another stream “Independence Creek,” a name it still keeps.
That night, near an old Kanza village, the men got an extra shot of whiskey and fired the cannon once more. This humble party marked America’s first push west into the new Louisiana Territory.
The site now waits for history fans in Atchison, Kansas.
Six Weeks Into Their Journey, Lewis and Clark Celebrated America’s Birthday
Lewis and Clark had been pushing their boats up the Missouri River for six weeks when July 4, 1804 came around.
After leaving Camp Dubois on May 14, they made it about 45 miles past where the Kansas River joins the Missouri. The group had about 45 men in three boats – one keelboat and two smaller pirogues.
Every day brought new problems as they fought strong currents, avoided fallen trees, and got stuck on countless sandbars.
The Morning Started With A Cannon Blast
Lewis and Clark started America’s 28th birthday with a bang. At sunrise, they fired their keelboat’s swivel cannon across the water.
The day turned out very hot, even for July. The sand on the riverbanks got so hot that the men pulling the boats from shore wore moccasins to protect their feet.
This simple celebration marked the first Fourth of July held in the newly bought Louisiana Territory.
A Snake Bit One Of The Men During Their Rest Break
During a break from the hard work of boat pulling, Private Joseph Fields had a scary meeting with local wildlife. A snake bit him while the group rested.
Captain Lewis acted fast, treating the wound with a mix made from Peruvian bark and other medicines he brought along. Lewis wrote about the incident in his journal that evening.
The snake attack was just one of many wildlife dangers the men faced daily.
They Found A Small Creek And Gave It A Patriotic Name
As they moved upriver, the group found a small creek about 12 yards wide flowing into the Missouri. The stream came from a big prairie stretching far away.
Clark wrote in his journal its new name: “4th of July 1804 Creek. ” The patriotic name didn’t last forever.
Later settlers renamed it White Clay Creek, which is what you’ll find on modern maps of Kansas.
Another Waterway Got A Name That Lasted
Further along their day’s trip, they spotted another creek emptying into the Missouri. This one they called “Independence Creek” – a name that stuck.
You can still find Independence Creek on maps today in Doniphan County, Kansas.
This started a pattern for the trip, as they went on to give patriotic American names to landmarks throughout their journey west.
The Team Camped At An Empty Native American Village
As evening came, the Corps set up camp near what had been a Kanza (also called Kaw) Indian village. The village sat empty, with the tribe away hunting.
Clark wrote in his journal that the spot was “one of the most beautiful plains I ever saw. ” The empty site had earthlodges and other signs that people lived there regularly.
The location gave them everything they needed – water, potential game, and hills with good views.
Extra Whiskey Made For A Happy Fourth
To end America’s birthday, the men fired another cannon shot as the sun went down. Then came the real treat – Captain Clark gave out an extra gill (about 4 ounces) of whiskey to each man.
They normally saved whiskey for special times or when someone got sick, so this was a big deal.
While people back east celebrated with parades and speeches, the Corps made do with cannon fire and extra drinks under the stars.
Multiple Journal Keepers Wrote About The Day
We know so much about this first western Fourth of July because several trip members kept journals. William Clark, Charles Floyd, Joseph Whitehouse, John Ordway, and Patrick Gass all wrote about what happened that day.
Each man noticed different details, which gives us a fuller picture when we put their stories together. These firsthand records confirm the celebration happened as described.
No Americans Had Ever Celebrated July 4th This Far West
The modest party marked the first time Americans celebrated Independence Day in the western territories. The Louisiana Purchase had only been completed less than a year earlier, in October 1803.
As the men fired their cannon and drank their whiskey, they brought American traditions to lands that had just become part of the United States.
No American settlements existed yet in this region – just the trip itself.
The Journey Continued For Two More Years
On July 5, the Corps packed up and kept heading upstream. They spent the next Fourth of July (1805) in what’s now Montana.
By July 4, 1806, they were already heading back east after reaching the Pacific Ocean.
Each Independence Day on the trail came with similar small celebrations – a cannon shot and extra rations when they could spare them.
You Can Visit The Historic Site Today
The spot where Lewis and Clark celebrated that first western Fourth now welcomes visitors as the Independence Creek Historic Site, located five miles north of Atchison, Kansas.
The site features a marker explaining what happened there, plus a pedestrian bridge and a rebuilt Kanza earthlodge. The National Park Service includes it as part of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.
Every year, history buffs gather there to remember this small but significant celebration.
Visiting Atchison, Kansas
You can explore where Lewis and Clark celebrated the first July 4th in the American West at Independence Creek Historic Site, five miles north of Atchison’s Main Street.
The 13.5-acre prairie looks just like what the expedition saw, plus there’s a recreated Kanza Indian Earthlodge and pedestrian bridge connecting to a 5-mile trail.
Visit the Atchison County Historical Museum for $5 ($1 for kids under 12) to see the commemorative statue of Lewis, Clark, Sacagawea, York and Seaman.
This article was created with AI assistance and human editing.
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