Wow! They Sent Back Some Amazing Stuff! Quiz

Answer:

■ Prairie dog:
The expedition discovered this animal in 1804. They were amazed at the small, highly social burrowing rodent and famously nicknamed it a "barking squirrel". The men spent hours pouring water down a burrow to capture a live one, successfully shipping it back east as a marvel for Thomas Jefferson. Its arrival in Washington D.C. became a powerful symbol of their adventure.
■ Grizzly bear:
The expedition officially documented it in 1805. This huge and powerful predator native to the western wilderness far exceeded the size and ferocity of the eastern black bears they knew. Meriwether Lewis initially underestimated the creatures, but changed his mind after multiple encounters where grizzlies survived half a dozen rifle shots and aggressively chased his men. Bringing back its massive skins and claws proved to Thomas Jefferson that the American West was an untamed and highly dangerous frontier.
■ Great Falls of Missouri:
In June 1805, the expedition discovered this spectacular series of five massive waterfalls stretching across ten miles (16 km) of the river in modern day Montana. Seeing the falls confirmed they were on the correct river branch toward the Pacific, but it completely shattered Jefferson's dream of an easy water route to get to the ocean. The expedition was forced into a brutal, month long overland portage.
■ Shoshone tribe:
In August 1805, the expedition encountered the Shoshone, a nomadic Native American nation inhabiting the rugged valleys of the northern Rocky Mountains. This encounter was the absolute turning point of the journey. Thanks to Sacagawea surprisingly recognizing the Shoshone chief as her brother, the tribe provided the critical horses and geographical guidance the men needed to cross the mountains.
■ Bitterroot:
In September 1805, the group officially documented the bitterroot plant, a low growing wildflower with a bright pink blossom that thrived in the rocky soil of the Montana mountains. The men observed that the roots of this plant were a vital, highly nutritious food staple for the local Native American tribes, who boiled them to survive the harsh winters. This botanical discovery was so significant that the plant was eventually given the scientific name Levisia rediviva in honor of Meriwether Lewis, and it became the state flower of Montana.
■ Continental Divide:
In 1805, the expedition reached the Continental Divide at Lemhi Pass, the mountainous ridge line along the Rocky Mountains that marks the splitting point of North America, where rivers to the east flow toward the Atlantic and rivers to the west flow toward the Pacific. However, reaching this crest was beautiful but heartbreaking for Meriwether Lewis; instead of seeing a straightforward water route to the ocean, he looked out at an endless, snowy expanse of mountains that shattered their dream of an easy commercial Northwest Passage.
■ California condor:
In late 1805, the team documented the California condor near the mouth of the Columbia River. It was a massive, prehistoric looking scavenger that stands as North America's largest land bird. William Clark was awestruck by its huge wingspan and recorded its precise measurements in his journal, marveling at how gracefully this "vulture" soared over the land. Carefully recording the infromation about this bird offered Thomas Jefferson proof of the unique and completely unfamiliar wildlife thriving on the far side of the Rocky Mountains.
■ Candlefish:
In early 1806, the men documented the candlefish (or eulachon) along the lower Columbia River. The fish is a small, seasonal smelt prized by local tribes for its remarkably high oil content. The men were fascinated to learn that when the fish was dried and fitted with a bark wick, it burned with a bright, steady flame just like a candle. This not only provided them more data for their writings but also gave them a vital source of rich food and indoor light in the dark and cold winter.
■ Camas root:
In September 1805, the expedition documented this nutritious bulb that is harvested from a bright blue wildflower that carpets the meadows of the Pacific Northwest. After the starving explorers survived their brutal crossing of the Bitterroot Mountains, the Nez Perce tribe saved them by feeding them sweet, roasted camas bulbs, which Lewis later described in detail alongside the specialized earth ovens used to bake them.
■ Lewis' woodpecker:
In July 1805, the expedition documented this bird near the Rocky Mountains in Montana. It was a striking animal with a dark greenish-black back, a silver collar, and a vibrant pinkish red belly. Meriwether Lewis was especially captivated by its unusual behavior. He notated that it caught insects mid-air like a flycatcher rather than just drumming on tree bark. He recorded a meticulous, multi-page description of its unique appearance in his journal. The bird was later officially named Melanerpes lewis to permanently honor the explorer's contribution to American ornithology.

=== Niagara Falls is on the border of New York and Canada and is much farther east than from the expedition
===Although Jefferson very badly wanted to find a live mastodon, they had become extinct well before the expedition
=== The American flamingo is native strictly to tropical and subtropical coastal regions and not in the area of the journey
=== The Cheerokee people, at this time, lived entirely in the southeastern United States, far from the expedition
=== The cacao tree is an understory tropical evergreen native strictly to the hot, humid rainforests of Central and South America.