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CNN Sunday Morning

Interview With Bob Archibald

Aired January 11, 2004 - 07:16   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: There you see that quote from "The Journal of Lewis and Clark." "Great joy in camp. We are in view of the ocean, this great Pacific Ocean which we have been so long anxious to see, and the roaring or noise made by the waves breaking on the rocky shores...may be heard distinctly." That quote from Clark of Lewis and Clark back in 1805 from their journals.
As we mentioned, President Bush is expected to announce plans to send astronauts to the moon and eventually to Mars as well. 200 years ago, President Thomas Jefferson launched an expedition that for its day, was just as ambitious. He sent Lewis and Clark to explore the new Louisiana territory. Over a period of three years, the explorers fearlessly trekked their way through a country that is now part of 11 states.

Now they were told to keep journals, part of what you just saw. Along the way, record what they experienced, the people, the culture, and species, and of course, the beautiful landscape.

Bob Archibald, the Missouri Historical Society, joins us from St. Louis, where the journey began, to tell us about the bicentennial plans. Good morning to you, sir.

BOB ARCHIBALD, MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Good morning, how are you?

OSBORN: I'm well, thanks. What can you tell us about this exhibit?

ARCHIBALD: Well, it opens next Saturday. And it's the largest reunion of Lewis and Clark artifacts ever assembled since the expedition returned to St. Louis in 1806. And so, it's hundreds of objects. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to see what remains that's testimony to the epic expedition of Lewis and Clark.

OSBORN: Well, let's talk about some of those historic items cherished by so many, such as President Jefferson's letter.

ARCHIBALD: Well,, this is an interesting document, because it's a letter of credit. It is the first credit card, if you will. It was a letter in which Jefferson agreed that the United States government would pay all of the expenses incurred by Lewis in the course of the expedition. And Lewis used the letter very liberally.

OSBORN: And what about the kettle map? ARCHIBALD: Well, the kettle map is interesting because that's a map drawn by the Nes (ph) first Indians, for Lewis and Clark on the return journey. And of course, what's often lost is the fact that the expedition ultimately depended upon native people, both for maps and directions, but also for food, for horses, and for literally teaching the members of the expedition how to live in that land.

OSBORN: Well, let's talk about that, because you talk about some of their interaction with the Indians, because that's something that's talked about a lot in their journals, about how they really liked a lot of the clothing. In one case, bartering or trying to trade for otter skins that were part of a robe. Let's talk about that.

ARCHIBALD: Well, there's an image there of Lewis wearing an otter skin that was decorated with ermin (ph), that was given to him by a Shoshoni Indian by the name of Camiowi (ph). And it's a gorgeous shirt. But when Lewis put it on out there in what is now southwestern Montana, he said in the journals I was completely metamorphosed into an Indian, which to me means that Lewis had been so far away from home for so long, living among native people, seeing the land and eating food that they ate and saw, that he began to think of himself as an Indian.

Lewis and the members of the core of discovery were farther away from home than we can ever get, farther away from home than a man on the moon because Lewis and Clark had no communication or supply line from home.

OSBORN: Well, Bob, what about that journey? It's so many territories, so many different parts of the states, etcetera. The western point, perhaps you can clear up some of the disagreement. Some scholars say that the western most point where they saw the Pacific Ocean was in what is now Washington. Others say Oregon.

ARCHIBALD: Well, I don't want to get into the debate. But as far as I'm concerned, it was at Fort Classa (ph), which is in Oregon.

OSBORN: Thank you very much, as we look at a map of this historic trek across the northern portion of the United States. Bob Archibald, thank you very much. Missouri Historical, appreciate it.

ARCHIBALD: Thank you. It's a pleasure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired January 11, 2004 - 07:16   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KRIS OSBORN, CNN ANCHOR: There you see that quote from "The Journal of Lewis and Clark." "Great joy in camp. We are in view of the ocean, this great Pacific Ocean which we have been so long anxious to see, and the roaring or noise made by the waves breaking on the rocky shores...may be heard distinctly." That quote from Clark of Lewis and Clark back in 1805 from their journals.
As we mentioned, President Bush is expected to announce plans to send astronauts to the moon and eventually to Mars as well. 200 years ago, President Thomas Jefferson launched an expedition that for its day, was just as ambitious. He sent Lewis and Clark to explore the new Louisiana territory. Over a period of three years, the explorers fearlessly trekked their way through a country that is now part of 11 states.

Now they were told to keep journals, part of what you just saw. Along the way, record what they experienced, the people, the culture, and species, and of course, the beautiful landscape.

Bob Archibald, the Missouri Historical Society, joins us from St. Louis, where the journey began, to tell us about the bicentennial plans. Good morning to you, sir.

BOB ARCHIBALD, MISSOURI HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Good morning, how are you?

OSBORN: I'm well, thanks. What can you tell us about this exhibit?

ARCHIBALD: Well, it opens next Saturday. And it's the largest reunion of Lewis and Clark artifacts ever assembled since the expedition returned to St. Louis in 1806. And so, it's hundreds of objects. It's a once in a lifetime opportunity to see what remains that's testimony to the epic expedition of Lewis and Clark.

OSBORN: Well, let's talk about some of those historic items cherished by so many, such as President Jefferson's letter.

ARCHIBALD: Well,, this is an interesting document, because it's a letter of credit. It is the first credit card, if you will. It was a letter in which Jefferson agreed that the United States government would pay all of the expenses incurred by Lewis in the course of the expedition. And Lewis used the letter very liberally.

OSBORN: And what about the kettle map? ARCHIBALD: Well, the kettle map is interesting because that's a map drawn by the Nes (ph) first Indians, for Lewis and Clark on the return journey. And of course, what's often lost is the fact that the expedition ultimately depended upon native people, both for maps and directions, but also for food, for horses, and for literally teaching the members of the expedition how to live in that land.

OSBORN: Well, let's talk about that, because you talk about some of their interaction with the Indians, because that's something that's talked about a lot in their journals, about how they really liked a lot of the clothing. In one case, bartering or trying to trade for otter skins that were part of a robe. Let's talk about that.

ARCHIBALD: Well, there's an image there of Lewis wearing an otter skin that was decorated with ermin (ph), that was given to him by a Shoshoni Indian by the name of Camiowi (ph). And it's a gorgeous shirt. But when Lewis put it on out there in what is now southwestern Montana, he said in the journals I was completely metamorphosed into an Indian, which to me means that Lewis had been so far away from home for so long, living among native people, seeing the land and eating food that they ate and saw, that he began to think of himself as an Indian.

Lewis and the members of the core of discovery were farther away from home than we can ever get, farther away from home than a man on the moon because Lewis and Clark had no communication or supply line from home.

OSBORN: Well, Bob, what about that journey? It's so many territories, so many different parts of the states, etcetera. The western point, perhaps you can clear up some of the disagreement. Some scholars say that the western most point where they saw the Pacific Ocean was in what is now Washington. Others say Oregon.

ARCHIBALD: Well, I don't want to get into the debate. But as far as I'm concerned, it was at Fort Classa (ph), which is in Oregon.

OSBORN: Thank you very much, as we look at a map of this historic trek across the northern portion of the United States. Bob Archibald, thank you very much. Missouri Historical, appreciate it.

ARCHIBALD: Thank you. It's a pleasure.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com