This month in St. Louis history

1904 World's Fair and Lewis and Clark

In June, 1904, Missouri kids had a big hand in getting the famous Liberty Bell displayed here at the 1904 World's Fair.

Another key historical date for St. Louis: On June 20, 1803, President Thomas Jefferson wrote the letter explaining the need for the historic Lewis and Clark trip. That exploration up the Missouri River later started at St. Charles, Mo.

Petitions from 75,000 Missouri kids asked that the Liberty Bell be sent from Philadelphia for display at the World's Fair here. That's the same famed bell that cracked while ringing to proclaim the country's independence in 1776.

When the bell arrived in St. Louis on June 8, 1904, it was exhibited in the Pennsylvania State Exhibition Hall in Forest Park.

For neat websites about the Liberty Bell, check www.nps.gov/inde/liberty-bell.html and www.libertybellmuseum.com/WorldsFair/1904.htm.

For 1904 World's Fair information, check tlaupp.com

President Jefferson's June 20, 1803, letter was addressed to Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. They were the two men who would lead the westward exploration of the U.S.

First, the explorers traveled up the Missouri River to it's headwaters in the Rocky Mountains. Then, they went on to reach the Pacific Ocean.

In his letter, Jefferson said:

"The object of your mission is to explore the Missouri River, & such principal streams of it, as, by its course and communication with the waters of the Pacific Ocean...may offer the most direct & practicable water communication across the continent for purposes of commerce."

A neat website to get more information is www.pbs.org/lewisandclark/