The odyssey of the Lewis and Clark Expedition continues to capture the hearts of those who love tales of adventure and unknown lands. In light of the bicentennial celebration that began in 2003 and continued through 2006, the popularity and aggrandizement of Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and their Corps of Discovery has never been greater. Clearly, none can deny that they were essential to expanding the geographical horizons of a fledgling nation coming to grips with the rich resources that the vast expanse of the Louisiana Territory would offer. However, lost in the glorification of these intrepid explorers are the exploits of earlier voyagers who contributed greatly to European, and later, American understanding of the Great Plains and the rest of the Trans-Mississippi West.