Holidays

Joy to the Trail: A Look Inside what Holidays were Like on the Lewis and Clark Expedition

We often get questions about what the holidays were like in the past. Although the holidays were celebrated differently in the nineteenth century, primary sources such as the Lewis and Clark Journals offer a window to the past. It is important to note that many holidays were not formally celebrated at the time the expedition took place. For instance, Christmas didn’t become an official US holiday until 1870. Depending on the region or family, Christmas was just another ordinary day.

The articles below presents information from journal entries of a number of members of the Corps of Discovery, including Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.