United States President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the Lewis and Clark Expedition to travel through the Midwest starting from St. Louis, cross the Continental Divide and reach the Columbia River up to its mouth. Americans reached the Pacific Ocean "overland" in 1805. The Pacific Fur Company sent in 1811 an "over-lander" crew including a large contingent of Voyageurs to retrace most of the path of the earlier expedition up to the mouth of the Columbia and join the company ship. The Tonquin came oversea via Cape Horn to build and operate Fort Astoria.
united states president thomas jefferson commissioned the lewis and clark expedition to travel through the midwest starting from st louis cross the continental divide and reach the columbia river up to its mouth americans reached the pacific ocean "overland" in 1805 the pacific fur company sent in 1811 an "over-lander" crew including a large contingent of voyageurs to retrace most of the path of the earlier expedition up to the mouth of the columbia and join the company ship the tonquin came oversea via cape horn to build and operate fort astoria