lewisandclark.org

We Proceeded On is the quarterly journal published by the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance (LCTA), the organization behind lewisandclark.org. Its name comes from a phrase that appears repeatedly in the collective journals of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. If you want the journal's back catalog, the key access rule is this: all issues one year or older are available online, along with bonus content. Anything published within the past year is not part of that open online archive.

What the journal is

We Proceeded On is a quarterly publication — four issues a year — centered on the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and related subjects. The title is drawn directly from the expedition's own journals, where the phrase recurs, which ties the publication's identity to the primary source material it covers.

The journal sits alongside LCTA's other channels rather than replacing them:

How to get issues

1. For recent issues: the page does not describe a free public route to the newest four issues. The archive rule is explicitly "one year or older," so current issues fall outside it. If you need the most recent quarter, treat membership or a subscription as the likely path and confirm directly with LCTA rather than assuming access.
2. For older issues: go to the We Proceeded On section of lewisandclark.org. Issues a year or more old are posted online together with bonus content.
3. For the digital library: the William P. Sherman Digital Library is flagged on the homepage as "New for members!" — the member framing suggests it is tied to membership rather than open to all visitors.

Who it's for

The journal is aimed at LCTA members and at history readers generally — people who want sustained, sourced writing on the expedition rather than a quick overview. If your interest is trip planning instead of history, the travel site (lewisandclark.travel) and the travel app are the better starting points. If your interest is teaching, LCTA also publishes curriculum guides, including one built around taking students through the Corps of Discovery.

Common sticking points

• Assuming everything is online. Only issues one year or older are. The rolling one-year window means the archive grows continuously, but the newest material stays out of it.
• Confusing the three sites. lewisandclark.org is the Alliance's home base; lewis-clark.org is the educational site; lewisandclark.travel is the travel site. The journal lives on the first.
• Expecting the Substack to be the journal. The Substack carries separate stories and news items with their own dates — it is not a substitute for We Proceeded On.

lewisandclark.org is the home of the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance (LCTA), an organization built around the history and landscapes of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The site works as a hub: it gathers the Alliance's journal, a digital library, event listings, travel resources, and educational material into one place, with quick links to each. It is most useful if you want to read expedition-related writing, plan a trip along the Trail, or find teaching material—and some features, such as the digital library, are noted as being for members.

What the site offers

The homepage points to several distinct resources rather than hosting everything itself. The main areas are:

• William P. Sherman Digital Library — labeled "New for members!"
• Our Journal — We Proceeded On, a quarterly publication
• Events Along the Trail — a listing of Trail-related events
• New on Substack — a stream of short stories and news posts
• Our Travel Website — a separate site for trip planning
• Our Educational Website — a separate site for learning and teaching

The journal: We Proceeded On

We Proceeded On is the Alliance's quarterly journal. Its name comes from a phrase that appears repeatedly in the collective journals of the expedition. According to the site, all issues one year or older are available online, along with bonus content. That makes the journal archive a practical starting point if you want to read back issues rather than current ones.

Reading and news on Substack

The Alliance publishes shorter pieces on Substack under the theme "Real Stories of the Lewis and Clark Trail." Examples listed on the homepage include:

These are short-form stories and updates, useful if you want lighter reading or current news rather than full journal articles.

Planning a trip along the Trail

The Alliance runs a separate travel site, Lewis and Clark Trail Experience, at lewisandclark.travel. The site describes the Trail as linking contemporary communities and cultures—including tribes whose connections span thousands of years—to historic and living landscapes. It notes that whether you travel the entire length of the Trail or take a short day trip, the tools on the travel site are meant to enhance the experience. There is also a travel magazine (LCTE Travel Magazine) and a Lewis and Clark Travel App for exploring the Trail.

Learning and teaching resources

For education, the Alliance points to Discovering Lewis & Clark at lewis-clark.org, which it describes as covering 2,300+ pages. The site frames the Lewis and Clark story as tying together many histories: women's history, American and Native American history, natural history, military history, and more. There is also a curriculum guide intended to take students on a journey with the Corps of Discovery.

A note on the Alliance's framing

The homepage includes a land acknowledgement, gratefully acknowledging Native Peoples who have lived on the land for millennia and stating that their dedication to the land and their communities runs deep. It says this acknowledgement encourages the Alliance to keep developing understanding and appreciation of Native Peoples' commitment to the nation and the significance of the expedition. Related links include "Native Peoples," "Beyond the Bicentennial," and "Tent of Many Voices."

How to decide if it's for you

• If you want to read expedition history and commentary — start with We Proceeded On back issues (one year or older, online) and the Substack stories.
• If you're planning a road trip — go to lewisandclark.travel for the travel site, magazine, and app.
• If you teach — the educational site at lewis-clark.org and the curriculum guide are the relevant entry points.
• If you want the digital library — note the site marks it as a member feature, so check membership details before assuming open access.

The site itself is best understood as a directory to these resources rather than a single archive; the actual content lives on the journal pages, Substack, and the two companion websites.

lewisandclark.org is the home of the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance (LCTA), and it works mainly as a hub that points visitors to four kinds of resources: a members' digital library, a quarterly journal with an online archive, trail event listings, and a Substack publication of trail stories and news. It is most useful if you want to read or research the expedition's history, follow along-the-trail events, or find your way to the Alliance's separate travel and educational sites. The site itself is a set of quick links rather than a single long archive, so expect to move between several destinations.

What you'll find on the site

William P. Sherman Digital Library

The homepage flags this as "New for members!" — a digital library reached through a "View Library" link. Because it is described as a member benefit, treat access as something tied to membership rather than an open public collection; the page does not state terms, so check with the Alliance if access matters to you.

Our Journal: We Proceeded On

The Alliance publishes a quarterly journal called We Proceeded On, named after a phrase that appears repeatedly in the expedition's collective journals. The key practical detail for researchers: all issues one year or older are online, along with bonus content. That makes the journal archive a usable starting point for back-issue reading without needing the current print issue.

Events Along the Trail

A "Trail Events" section collects events happening along the trail. Use it when you want time-bound programming rather than static history — for example, planning a trip or a local visit around something scheduled.

New on Substack: Real Stories of the Lewis and Clark Trail

The Alliance runs a Substack with story-driven posts and trail news. Headlines shown on the homepage include:

• "You know I'm Bad, I'm Bad, You Know It?" (29 Sep 2026) — how a stop at the Bad River turned worse for Lewis & Clark
• "Lewis and Clark, You Just Crossed the Continent. What Are You Going to Do Next?" (22 Sep 2026) — the return: luggage, a tavern, a tailor, a relieved president
• "Undaunted Travel Into Nez Perce Country" (24 Sep 2026) — Lewis and Clark, the Bitterroots, and the start of a remarkable story
• "Lewis and Clark Trail News" (20 Sep 2026) — September 19 edition

This is the section to check if you want shorter, narrative pieces and current updates rather than journal articles.

Where the site sends you next

The Alliance separates its work across three websites, and the homepage is explicit about which does what:

The homepage also mentions a Lewis and Clark Travel App for exploring the trail, a "latest curriculum guide" for taking students along the Corps of Discovery route, and a land acknowledgement recognizing Native Peoples who have lived on the land for millennia.

How to decide whether to use it

• Researching the expedition in depth → start with the We Proceeded On archive (issues a year or older) and then go to lewis-clark.org for the 2,300+ page educational material.
• Planning an actual trip → go straight to lewisandclark.travel and the travel app; the Alliance site is only the signpost.
• Want current, readable stories → the Substack is the liveliest part of the homepage.
• Looking for member-only material → the William P. Sherman Digital Library is the item to ask about, since access appears tied to membership.

One caveat worth noting: the homepage is a directory of links, so if you land on lewisandclark.org expecting the full content itself, you'll need to follow the links out to the journal archive, Substack, travel site, or educational site to actually read anything.

The Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance (LCTA) at lewisandclark.org is mainly a hub: it points visitors to two separate sites depending on what you need. For trip planning along the trail, go to lewisandclark.travel. For history and educational material, go to lewis-clark.org. LCTA also offers a Lewis and Clark Travel App for exploring the trail on the go. Use the sections below to pick the right entry point.

The three destinations at a glance

Travel planning: lewisandclark.travel

LCTA describes its travel website, the Lewis and Clark Trail Experience (LCTE), as a way to connect contemporary authentic communities and cultures—including tribes whose connections span thousands of years—to historic, vibrant and living landscapes.

• Use it whether you are traveling the entire length of the Trail or taking a short day trip.
• The site also includes an LCTE Travel Magazine.
• LCTA states that your travel experience "can be greatly enhanced" by the tools on this site, so treat it as the starting point for route and stop planning rather than the main LCTA page.

Education and history: lewis-clark.org

The educational website, Discovering Lewis & Clark, is where the historical depth lives.

• It holds 2,300+ pages covering the Lewis and Clark story.
• LCTA frames the story as tying together many histories: women's history, American and Native American history, famous people, natural history, and military history.
• If your goal is research, classroom use, or background reading rather than a trip, start here.

On the trail: the Lewis and Clark Travel App

LCTA promotes a Lewis and Clark Travel App for exploring the trail. It is presented as a companion to the travel website, so use it when you are actually moving along the route rather than planning at a desk.

What stays on the LCTA main site

Some resources are not on the travel or education sites and are only found at lewisandclark.org:

• William P. Sherman Digital Library — noted as new for members.
• We Proceeded On — LCTA's quarterly journal, named after a phrase that appears repeatedly in the expedition's journals. Issues one year or older are available online along with bonus content.
• Events Along the Trail — a listing of trail events.
• Substack stories — real stories of the Lewis and Clark Trail, with dated posts.
• Curriculum guide — LCTA's latest guide for taking students through the Corps of Discovery.
• Land acknowledgement and Native Peoples content, including "Beyond the Bicentennial" and "Tent of Many Voices."

How to choose

• Planning a trip, short or long: lewisandclark.travel, plus the travel app while on the move.
• Studying or teaching the expedition: lewis-clark.org for the 2,300+ page archive, and the LCTA curriculum guide for classroom use.
• Following the Alliance itself: lewisandclark.org for the journal, events, member library, and Substack posts.

One practical note: the journal archive is limited to issues one year or older, so recent issues are not in the online back catalog.

The Land Acknowledgement on lewisandclark.org is a formal statement by the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance (LCTA) recognizing the Native Peoples who have lived on the land traversed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition for millennia. It appears on the LCTA home page and serves three purposes: acknowledging Indigenous presence and stewardship predating the expedition, expressing respect for past, present, and future Native communities, and committing the organization to building understanding of Native contributions among diverse communities.

What the Acknowledgement Says

The statement, as published on the LCTA site, contains these elements:

• Recognition of millennia of habitation — it acknowledges "Native Peoples who have lived on this land for millennia."
• Recognition of dedication — it notes that their "dedication to the land and to their communities runs deep within the hearts of those past, present and future."
• A commitment by LCTA — the acknowledgement states that this dedication "encourages the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance to continue developing, among diverse communities, an understanding of and appreciation for the commitment of Native Peoples to this nation and the significance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition."

Why an Organization Like LCTA Issues One

The Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) moved through lands that were already home to dozens of Native nations. A land acknowledgement reframes the expedition story so it does not begin with the arrival of the Corps of Discovery, but with the peoples who were already there.

For LCTA specifically, the acknowledgement connects directly to its stated mission of tying "contemporary authentic communities and cultures—including tribes whose connections span thousands of years—to historic, vibrant and living landscapes." In other words, the acknowledgement is not a standalone gesture; it aligns with how the Alliance presents the Trail as a living cultural landscape rather than only a historic route.

How It Relates to the Rest of the Site

The acknowledgement sits alongside related content on lewisandclark.org, including:

This placement suggests the acknowledgement functions as a framing statement for how visitors should approach the rest of the site's historical and travel content.

What a Land Acknowledgement Is and Is Not

A land acknowledgement is a statement of recognition and respect. It is not, by itself, a transfer of land, a legal admission, or a substitute for tribal consultation. Readers who want to understand LCTA's fuller engagement with Native history should look at the "Native Peoples" section and the educational site lewis-clark.org, which the Alliance describes as covering "her stories, American and Native American history, famous people, natural history, military history, and more" across 2,300+ pages.

Where to Find It

The acknowledgement is on the LCTA home page at lewisandclark.org. It appears near the bottom of the page content, following sections on the travel app and curriculum guide. No login or membership is indicated as required to view it.