This is my last email about Lewis and Clarke’s expedition toward the western coast. Following the captains to some of the towns and sites that they had discovered made me feel grounded in the country, made the land real for me. To continue, on September 23, 1806, the Corps of Discovery returned to St. Louis. An excerpt from Lewis’s letter to President Jefferson reads: “Sir, it is with pleasure that I announce to you the safe arrival of myself and party with our papers and baggage. No accident has deprived us of a single member of our party since I last wrote you from the Mandan in April 1804.” In his reply the President wrote: “I received, my dear Sir, with unspeakable joy your letter of September 23 announcing the......

Lewis and Clark Exploration (The Corps of Discovery) shifted into settlements when fur traders and explorersmoved westward within a few years after the captions and their crew returned home. Within 30 years (1830s-1850’s) began large scale settlements by ordinary families. That’s from where small American towns west of Mississippi trace their origin. Such historic towns, nestled in beautiful landscapes, reflect the persona of the American people – down to earth and friendly, proud of who they are and where they live.  Before taking the Corps of Discovery voyage, we had visited cosmopolitan cities in the United States – New York, Washington, Chicago, Boston, and Los Angeles – and capital cities of the world – Cape Town, Beijing, Tokyo, New Delhi, London, Paris, Rome and Lhasa. We had gazed at great monuments and sailed long......

On our way to Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming, the bus stopped for a photo break of the spectacular peaks of the Teton mountain range. The driver pointed to a log cabin in the distance, a cottage in the middle of a meadow of swaying yellow flowers and wild grass. Behind these was the restroom. I hurried toward it when I noticed a sign board: “The Episcopal Chapel of the Transfiguration” in front of a chapel. I wondered, what exactly does transfiguration mean? When I returned, people had already seen the chapel and left. I entered, looked around its sparse decoration and plain walls constructed with logs. It moved me. The space felt cool and comfortable. In front of a large rectangular glass window was a table on which was placed a cross......