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CONTACT: |
Cara Schneider |
GPTMC |
(215) 599-0780 | cara@gptmc.com |
PHILADELPHIA, JULY 28, 2003 — As the nation’s leading center for medicine in the early 19th century, Philadelphia played a major role in the success of Lewis and Clark’s journey through the Louisiana Territory to find a water route to the Pacific Ocean. It was here that the heroic duo prepared for their 1803 western trek: Captain Meriwether Lewis met with his mentors, notably Dr. Benjamin Rush, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, who helped him with his studies in botany, field medicine, paleontology and mathematics. Lewis also purchased 3,500 pounds of supplies, including clothing, Native American trading goods and navigational and cartographic instruments.
Visitors heading to Philadelphia to celebrate Lewis and Clark’s historic journey can visit gophila.com to make travel plans and book hotel reservations. Once in town, they won’t want to miss the following:
The First Bank of the United States at Independence National Historical Park features a special exhibition on the explorers, artists, scientists and politicians who contributed to the development of America’s geographic identity. On display are the only known portraits of Lewis and Clark, as well as portraits of John Bartram, Zebulon Montgomery Pike and Thomas Jefferson. Through spring 2004. 120 S. 3rd Street, (215) 597-8974, www.nps.gov/inde
The American Philosophical Society presents Stuffing Birds, Pressing Plants, Shaping Knowledge: Natural History in North America, 1730-1860, featuring more than 260 images and artifacts that explore the study of natural history as it was developed in North America. Historic natural history specimens, including plants collected by Lewis and Clark on their epic trek across the continent, will be on display as well as rare books, manuscripts and works of art. Through December 2004. Philosophical Hall, 104 S. 5th Street, (215) 440-3400, www.amphilsoc.org
The College of Physicians presents Only One Man Died: Medical Adventures on the Lewis & Clark Trail, an exhibit offering a window into the world of health and medicine circa 1803. The exhibit examines how the explorers coped with challenges that arose during their journey, as well as how they lived, what they ate and ways they amused themselves. Among the treasures on display are Dr. Benjamin Rush’s medicine chest, period medical instruments from the College’s Mütter Museum, sections of an early 19th-century pharmacy and a reconstruction of a Native American sweat lodge. Through February 2006. 19 S. 22nd Street, (215) 563-3737, www.collphyphil.org
The Lewis and Clark celebration in Philadelphia culminates with Lewis and Clark: The National Bicentennial Exhibition at the Academy of Natural Sciences. Philadelphia will be the first East Coast venue and one of only five cities to host this display, comparing the assumptions of Lewis and Clark and Native Americans in such areas as politics and diplomacy, women, geography, animals, language, property and health. The Academy’s collection of plant specimens collected by the explorers also will figure prominently. November 6, 2004-March 20, 2005, 1900 Benjamin Franklin Parkway, (215) 299-1000, www.acnatsci.org, www.lewisandclarkexhibit.org
The Athenaeum will mount an extensive exhibit of its engravings of Birch’s Views to coincide with the Lewis and Clark: The National Bicentennial Exhibition hosted by the Academy of Natural Sciences. November 6, 2004-March 20, 2005. 219 S. 6th Street, (215) 925-2688, www.philaathenaeum.org
GPTMC is a non-profit organization dedicated to generating awareness of and visitation to Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties. For more information about travel to Philadelphia, visit gophila.com or call the new Independence Visitor Center, located in Independence National Historical Park, at (800) 537-7676. For information about arts and cultural attractions in the region, visit the Philadelphia CultureFiles at gophila.com.
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Note to Editors: For story angles and photographic images of Philadelphia and its surrounding countryside, visit
gophila.com/pressroom.
