The Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center of Virginia is directing the construction of a full sized replica of the keelboat and pirogue that Meriwether Lewis and William Clark used in the first leg of their expedition. Uniquely, it is being built by young people from Central Virginia under adult supervision. Last summer over 250 children participated.

Boat-building takes place each third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Darden Towe Park in Albemarle County. Come by and pitch in! Reservation is encouraged for groups. Other times can be arranged for groups of children to engage in the boat-building and learn about the history of the Expedition’s water travel. The May 1, 2004, festival will include an apprentice boat-builder program for anyone who visits the downtown Charlottesville site beside Lee Park. If you would like to participate or know of a group that would like to participate in the Saturday activity or make other arrangements, please contact Mr. Fran Lawrence at 434-296-7138 or fml@stlawva.com.

In the plans, but not yet certain, is a “wet launch” of the keelboat to correspond with issuance of the U.S. nickel with the keelboat’s image, sometime in the fall of 2004.

Aiming for that completion date this year, the group is constructing a 22-foot long, 22-oar sailing vessel. The keel was laid October 13, 2001 at the Lewis and Clark Festival in Charlottesville, and the center has engaged technical assistance from a builder of historic boats. The Center held a celebration in October 2003 so the keelboat could be pulled from its barn and turned upright so that construction can continue. That celebration corresponded to the Corps of Discovery’s historical keelboat launching on Oct. 26, 1803. On that date, William Clark joined Meriwether Lewis and the keelboat and the two together left Louisville, Kentucky/Clarksville, Indiana on that date. Since the selected site for the Exploratory Center is on the Clark family's homeplace and birthplace of George Rogers Clark, William Clark's older brother, we note that William and George Rogers were together before the launching in Clarksville, and they partied together in Clarksville prior to the launch.

The Lewis and Clark Exploratory Center will be a "hands-on" facility commemorating the origins of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in Virginia. The construction of the keelboat is the first step in creating this Center. By building the boat, the young people not only will gain a sense of history and use of tools, but also will play a part in creating an important display for the new Center.

Master historical boat builder Butch Bouvier is providing technical assistance to build an 18th century keeelboat, pirogues, and dugout canoes. Check out his website at http://www.keelboat.com/. Butch, "Mr. Keelboat" will be in Charlottesville for the October events.

The Boat building Committee is directing this activity on the third Saturday of the month from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Darden Towe Park in Albemarle County. Other times can be arranged for groups of children by contacting the committee. If you would like to participate or know of a group that would like to participate, please contact Fran Lawrence at 434-296-7138 or fml@stlawva.com.

The collaborative effort includes corporate sponsors: Better Living, Inc., the Children's Furniture Company, Chips, Inc., Digs, Inc., Mountain Lumber Co., Inc., and St. John, Bowling and Lawrence, LLP.