The City of Covington installed three new brown street signs featuring the silhouettes of two buckskin-clad American explorers, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. The signs signal Covington’s inclusion along the duo’s historic route that stretches over 5,000 miles across 16 states. Their expedition was arguably the most famous in U.S. history. The Lewis and Clark Historic Trail was blazed as the two men explored the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase.
The signs were placed along Ky. 8, specifically on W. 5th Street, E. 4th Street, and Highway Ave. The signs are part of a national expansion of The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. The trail follows the route taken by the explorers from 1803 to 1806 as they surveyed the Louisiana Purchase. The trail runs 4,900 miles from Pittsburgh, PA to the mouth of the Columbia River near Astoria, OR.
The Lewis and Clark Trust gave the Covington Public Works department the official trail markers.
“The new signs will enhance tourism throughout Covington, bringing attention to our city and our own historic preservation efforts,” said Keith Bales, assistant director of Covington’s Neighborhood Services Department.
Traditionally, the expedition was said to have started in St. Louis, but preparations actually started in Pennsylvania and the keelboat used during the expedition’s first year was launched from that point. T1,200 miles were added to the route in May 2019 as the Ohio River became an official part of the trail, increasing educational and recreational opportunities for tourists to discover throughout the communities along its path. Kentucky was one of the first states to install signs on that additional route.
James Mallory, vice chairman of the Lewis and Clark Trust, Inc., said travelers seek an “authentic” experience in the communities along the trail.
“As people travel the Lewis and Clark trail, they want a cultural experience, an authentic experience, and small local businesses provide that to them,” Mallory said. “They want to visit local museums, local wineries, breweries, to visit the farmer who sells produce in front of his farm.”
