The Lewis Cass expedition of 1820 was a survey of the western part of Michigan Territory led by Lewis Cass, governor of the territory. On January 14, 1820, United States Secretary of War John C. Calhoun authorized the governor of Michigan Territory, Lewis Cass, to lead a party of scientists, soldiers, Canadian voyageurs, and native Americans into the wilderness of western Michigan Territory. The purpose of the expedition was to:
- survey the geography and topography of the region in order to produce a complete map
- survey the flora and fauna of the region
- survey the Indians of the region, their numbers, tribes, customs, and loyalties, whether to the United States or Great Britain
- select and purchase sites for forts, especially at Sault Ste. Marie
- survey the geology of the region, especially with regard to commercially valuable minerals
- search for the source of the Mississippi River
Read more about Lewis Cass Expedition: Members of The Expedition, From Detroit To The Mississippi, Return To Detroit, Results
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