Counting Cats in Zanzibar, or, Lewis and Clark Reconsidered

James P. Ronda

The Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition offers an opportunity to reconsider the journey of the Corps of Discovery as an emblematic moment in the history of the North American West. This essay examines the current popular fascination with Lewis and Clark, comments on key books in the revival of exploration studies, and suggests ways to expand the traditional story to include Native American voices.

It is not worth the while to go round the world to count the cats in Zanzibar.

– Henry David Thoreau, Walden

James P. Ronda Thirty-ninth President of the Western History Association

Let me begin with the obvious--we are now deep into the Lewis and Clark bicentennial.* It is only 2001, but many Americans are already enjoying a glorious Lewis and Clark wallow. One way or another, and for all sorts of reasons, whole battalions of otherwise sensible folks are head-over-heels in love with the Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery. The story of Jefferson's intrepid captains pushing their way up the Missouri, struggling over the mountains, and then rushing down the Columbia to the Pacific Ocean seems endlessly fascinating. So, be warned. We are going to hear tales of captains courageous and explorers triumphant for a long time to come.

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The Lewis and Clark obsession knows no boundaries. Corps of Discovery trekkies are of both genders, all ages, and nearly every occupation. Maybe the Lewis and Clark frenzy has something to do with adventure fantasies. Perhaps it is an expression of genuine interest in what Henry James called "the visitable past."1 Some of the popular versions are not much more than patriotic self-congratulation, reassuring us that out West all things have a happy ending. Searching for explanations, we should not ignore the glitzy commercial promotions that continue to feed the fires of enthusiasm. Hal Rothman would want to remind us that many Lewis and Clark promotions are prime examples of heritage tourism with a vengeance. Market research tells the tale--Lewis and Clark sell, no matter what the product. All the signs are here: a best-selling book, three television documentaries, and a list of publications so vast in size and varied in quality as to defy comprehensive cataloging. There are Lewis and Clark trail guidebooks, coloring books, and cookbooks. At least three books depict the Corps of Discovery through the eyes of the expedition's dog Seaman. The United States Mint has gotten into the act by stamping out the most collectible coin in recent memory. While Americans rejected Susan B. Anthony, the Sacagawea gold dollar is so much in demand that few can be found in circulation. Never mind that the talking head in the television commercial was George Washington's instead of hers. She said not a word, and, strangely enough, no one even mentioned her name! Festivals, seminars, museum exhibitions, and reenactments all crowd the bicentennial calendar. The Lewis and Clark trail now joins the list of America's sacred places, a list that includes Plymouth, Valley Forge, the Alamo, Gettysburg, and the Little Big Horn. Lewis and Clark have become cultural shorthand for all western explorers. They have captured the public imagination, to say nothing of memory's marketplace.

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