Ep. 88 Sacagawea: How Lewis and Clark's Indigenous Guide Did So Much More Than That

It’s the greatest adventure story ever told, Lewis and Clark’s daring pursuit to cross thousands of miles of rugged terrain, to explore the rest of the continent, to finally reach the Pacific Ocean, gaze out over its vast expanse, with their faithful guide by their side of course, Sacagawea. You know Sacagawea, she’s the most famous American woman of all time. I’m not kidding. She’s the only one with her face on a coin, with more statues than any other woman in American history. It’s safe to say her story absolutely captivated Americans. I mean, truly, what is not to love about a young mother fearlessly guiding white men through the wilderness with a baby strapped to her back? But did you know, she didn’t actually serve as a guide for most of the expedition? That’s not even why they brought her along. And did you know that, despite having her face on a coin and all of those statues, we know very little at all about the real Sacagawea? We’re not even sure how to properly say her name. Let’s fix that.

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Sources: 

• National Women's History Museum "Sacagawea"
• Encyclopedia Britannica "Lewis and Clark Expedition"
• National Park Service "Sacagawea"
• National Geographic "Sex, Dog Meat, and the Lash: Odd Facts About Lewis and Clark"
• Grunge "The Messed Up Truth About the Lewis and Clark Expedition"
• State Historical Society of North Dakota "Was Meriwether Lewis Murdered or Did He Commit Suicide?"
• The Lewis and Clark Rediscovery Project "Agaidika Perspective on Sacagawea"
• The New York Times "After 500 Years, Cortes's Girlfriend Is Not Forgiven"