Departure Event Celebrates History-Making Lewis and Clark Expedition with Demonstrations, Reenactors and More

HARTFORD - Community members can have an immersive experience at the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site.

From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, May 9 and Sunday, May 10, 2026, the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site will host their annual Departure Event, complete with historic demonstrations, reenactors and more. Mike Bortko shared that this is the “red-letter weekend” for the historic site, and he looks forward to engaging with community members and teaching them about the journey of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.

“One of the greatest events in our history, and maybe in world history, took place right here in our backyard,” Bortko said. “It’s a great living history and educational opportunity. If you go inside the historic site, there are some great exhibits in there, too.”

The weekend starts on Friday, May 8, with Education Day. This event is closed to the public. Over 550 fourth grade students from across the region will come to the historic site to view their exhibits and engage with historic artisans.

Everyone is invited to the Departure Event on May 9 and 10, and Bortko said they will welcome back some of the fourth graders, who will bring their families. A few military reenactors will share their stories with audiences. Attendees can enjoy demonstrations and conversations with artisans who specialize in artillery, muskets, blacksmithing, woodworking, candle-making, fiber arts and additional trades.

“We've got a lot of interesting people coming over,” Bortko said. “These are kind of the things that you needed out on the frontier 200 years ago if you wanted to survive.”

The famous White Pirogue boat will be onsite for a pioneering demonstration. This 35-foot-long boat led the expedition in the 1800s, and the historic site has an exact replica.

Jeffrey Edison, a well-known historian, will provide information about York, an enslaved man who was owned by Clark. Bortko is especially excited for this conversation, as York’s role is often overlooked in retellings of the Lewis and Clark story.

Bortko believes the Departure Event is a great opportunity to learn more about the Lewis and Clark expedition, which started from Camp Dubois in Hartford at the historic site. He feels that this expedition is a major turning point in world history.

He encourages people from across the area to come out and join them for the Departure Event. He believes this day will be fun for everyone of every age, and he looks forward to sharing his passion for history with the community.

“Mount your horses or get your automobiles and come on over, because it's interesting,” Bortko said. “It's a day both inside the museum proper and then outside where the demonstrators and the educators will be. It’s just a wonderful weekend to learn about one of the great events. It’s a great family event.”

For more information about the Departure Event, click here. To learn more about the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site, visit their official website.

This Featured Article is sponsored by the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site. To get your business or organization featured on RiverBender.com, contact us at sales@riverbender.com.

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