Dear Friends and Facebook followers of the Virginia Lewis and Clark Legacy Trail, Inc.,(VLCLT, Inc.)
This past Tuesday, November 7, 2023, we were honored to make our 55th Power Point presentation to members and friends of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Historical society. Seventy-four in-person and 20 online guests attended.
Using our general format for this presentation, an overview of the trail’s history – the “Why, What, How, Who” was initially discussed, followed by more in-depth Lewis and Clark-connected history at the local level. Here’s a “shout-out” to Sally Thomas, VLCLT Albemarle-Charlottesville County/City Chair, who talked about a potential tour route she developed within the county/city that highlighted its many Lewis and Clark- themed historic structures, locations, with Lewis and Clark connections already documented via state historical markers, some now bearing the Lewis and Clark plaque.
Other recognition is given to Malou Stark Dichtel, President of the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center in Charlottesville, who spoke about the the purpose of the center, and it’s Lewis and Clark Expedition educational activities available to all ages. (From a personal perspective, having visited the center with grandchildren, and if you can, you might want to consider this fun outing in the future.) The Exploratory Center is also the temporary home for the exquisite Lewis, Clark, and Sacagewea statue, and is waiting to hear whether or not it can have a permanent residence there. Hearing their part of the PP presentation, we came away understanding why the Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center was chosen as the statute’s temporary home. Regarding Sacagawea’s presence on the statue, it was impressive to hear about the Exploratory Center’s collaborative work with representatives of Sacagawea’s Native American tribe, the interpretation of her posture and their teachings about the incredible skills and sacrifices she made to the success of the Expedition. As to a future permanent home for her and the two Expedition leaders on the statue, if asked and she could talk, wonder what Sacagawea would say?
This evening event would not have occurred without the assistance of the Albemarle-Charlottesville Historical Society’s Executive Director, Tom Chapman, and Programs’ Manager, Sterling Howell. A huge “thank you” is extended to them.
As we move towards Thanksgiving Day, we are forever grateful to the many VLCLT partners at federal, state, and local levels who support efforts to continue to grow the Virginia Lewis and Clark Legacy Trail. The current participating 15 counties, 6 cities, and towns, represent barely half of the Virginia jurisdictions through which the existing trail travels. Some, based on our previous experience, may not even know that one or both explorers traveled through their area and/or there may even be an extant Lewis and Clark historic structure there too! The trail’s local partners-including but not limited to their historians, historical societies, governments -are the wheels that turn out the research and resulting new linkages to and discoveries of Lewis and Clark connections in their communities. For them, and our VLCLT county/city Chairs who often initiate and facilitate these local conversations, we are especially grateful. Happy Thanksgiving to all! (See below photos and captions with thanks to Jim Johnston, VLCLT Treasurer, for his photography.)
