Bicentennial project garners $400,000 grant

Recognizing that Lewis & Clark College holds a national treasure, the U.S. Department of Interior approved $400,000 to help preserve, exhibit, and share with the nation the College’s collection of materials related to the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

“These funds will allow Lewis & Clark College to make its premier collection of Lewis and Clark memorabilia accessible to scholars, historians, and visitors for years to come,” said Gordon Smith, U.S. senator from Oregon, who has a strong interest in history and has personally visited the College’s collection.

“Lewis & Clark College is the namesake of America’s greatest adventurers,” Smith said. “This support will allow the College to better fulfill its role as the guardian of this important legacy.”

The College’s treasure trove includes the finest and most complete collection known to exist of printed materials related to the Lewis and Clark Expedition, including a word-for-word handwritten copy of the original journals; every edition of every published journal, foreign and domestic; maps, letters, field notes, articles, pamphlets, and much more.

The federal grant will help fund the Bicentennial Project, which includes bicentennial activities, the renovation and expansion of the College’s historic Albany Quadrangle, and construction of John Howard Hall.

During the bicentennial, the College will use parts of both buildings for education programs to study the impact of the expedition on the nation.

Albany Quadrangle will become a multipurpose building with seminar rooms and a great hall for exhibitions, conferences, and lectures. It will also include a café and offices for the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.

Renovation of Albany Quadrangle began in January and will end this summer. Construction of Howard Hall will begin in 2003 and will end by 2004, when it, too, will be used for certain bicentennial activities.

After bicentennial activities conclude, Albany Quadrangle will house academic administrative offices. Howard Hall will house offices and classrooms for the social sciences.

In addition to the grant from the U.S. Department of Interior, the College has already received $3 million in private donations and $2.1 million in federal funds toward the $26-million Bicentennial Project.

“We, again, owe a special debt of gratitude to Senator Gordon Smith for his efforts to persuade colleagues of the benefits of this project,” said Michael Mooney, president. “I am also grateful to Senator Ron Wyden and Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Darlene Hooley, and David Wu for their support.”