I was making an overland journey via the Natchez Trace (the Natchez Trace was the old pioneer road between Natchez, Mississippi, and Nashville, Tennessee).

I was an hour from Nashville when I saw the sign of the Meriwether Lewis Monument. I was a major fan of Lewis and Clark, and I was puzzled so I drove in.

I discovered a welcome center was a recreation of the Inn known as Grinder’s Stand I went inside and read that on October 11, 1809, outside the Inn is where Meriwether Lewis died. How he died is still a debate.

Lewis is listed as buried near present-day Hohenwald, Tennessee, near his place of death. His grave is located about 200 yards outside the Grinder’s Stand, At first, the grave was unmarked, and it took 200 years for his memorial service held here on October 7. 2009.

I went back inside the Inn, saw the map of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and decided on the spot that in my lifetime, I would take this trip.

When I started the expedition in St, Louis my first stop was Bellefontaine Cemetery, and I visited the Grave of William Clark who died in 1838 at the age of 68. He is facing the confluence of the Mississippi & Missouri Rivers.

The Lewis and Clark markers commemorate the historic expedition led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, which took place from 1803 to 1806. These markers are spread across the United States, marking significant points along the journey of the Corps of Discovery as they explored the newly acquired western territories following the Louisiana Purchase.
There are historical markers and sites that are part of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, which extends 8,000 miles through the homelands of more than 60 Tribal nations, following the historic outbound and inbound routes of the expedition.

The 1804 signs outboard sign means you are heading West. The 1806 inbound sign means you are heading East.