Great Falls of Missouri
Great Falls of Missouri, Missouri
One June 13, 1805 Lewis comes across “the grandest sight I ever beheld.” They were the Great Falls of Missouri. This was very sginificant to their journey. It was proof the capains had been correct as to which route they had taken at the fork of the river. Since the river coming in from the north most resembled the Missouri in its muddy turbulence, most of the men believed it must be the Missouri. The decision was critical. If the explorers chose the wrong river, they would not be able to find the Shoshone Indians from whom they planned to obtain horses for the portage over the Rockies. Although all of the men disagreed, Lewis and Clark decided to go up the south fork. Lewis and Clark had been correct - the south fork was the Missouri River. The mysterious northern fork was actually the Marias River.