York's contribution to Lewis & Clark Expedition 1803-1806 extremely important

As part of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial celebration of retracing the expedition that was commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson in 1803 and completed in 1806, Governor Rod Blagojevich is commemorating this historic event in Illinois. The route taken is being retraced that was taken in Illinois exactly 200 years ago.

"The Lewis and Clark expedition spent more time in Illinois than in almost any other state," said Governor Blagojevich. "The preparations they made here, the people they recruited, and the supplies and information they gathered undoubtedly enabled them to successfully complete their historical mission."

It was interesting that in all the celebrations and commemorations in Illinois and other places, the name of York, the Black slave of William Clark, was not mentioned. York was with his master from the beginning to the conclusion of the exposition. His contribution was extremely important to this historic exploration of the United States.

"York was the first African American to cross the United States from coast to coast, was a famous explorer, a famous African American and a famous American," said James J. Holmberg, curator of Special Collections, Filson Historical Society.

Already several events have been celebrated in Illinois including: Old Shawneetown, the Cave-in-Rock State Park, a dedicated ceremony at Golconda with a marker in the Golconda Courtyard, the city of Metropolis where soldiers from the 1750s to the present were represented in a flag ceremony, a three day educational experience was presented to school children in Ft. Massac State Park.

At Fort Defiance in Cairo, an exhibit barge by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers was opened for tours. It was here that on Nov. 14, 1803 that Lewis and Clark along with their party landed at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, the site of present day Cairo. They spent approximately a week learning how to determine longitude and latitude which they would definitely need as they travel west. A 7-shot salute by the Orphan Brigade was featured at Thebes, which was the place where the party camped on the slate rock bank of the Mississippi River, now Alexander County. They also camped near Two Sister Island in that area and at the HorseIsland in Lake Spilway.

From Nov. 28-30 at Chester, a celebration will consist of exhibits, crafts, programs, dinners and tours and will continue until Dec. 13, where Lewis and Clark Community College hosts the unveiling of a new painting by Michael Hanes depicting a shooting contest by Lewis and Clark Expedition members at Camp River duBois.

York, however has been preserved in a book In Search of York written by Robert B. Betts that was released by the Colorado Associated University Press in a very excellent perspective of his life from the time he was brought to Louisville by the Clark family and appointed as the slave of William Clark.

Betts wrote about York's relationship to his master and how his importance to the project was often written in his diary. He also pointed out how his influence was amazing to the Indians who were intrigued because of his black skin. They believed that he was gifted with spiritual gifts and referred to him as "Big Medicine." The Indians were also impressed with his size, strength, and agility. Their respect for York was phenomenal.

While there were historical perspectives written about the importance of York to the exposition there were no authentic photos of him. Realizing that history needed a visual likeness of York, the noted sculptor, Ed Hamilton completed an eight foot bronze sculpture of him which was commission by the city of Louisville that was unveiled and dedicated in honor and memory of York Tuesday, Oct. 14 in the Belvedere, Upper Plaza in Louisville, KY. This Bicentennial Commemoration and National Signature Event was sponsored by fall of the Ohio Lewis & Clark celebration.

The four-foot sculptural "museumrock" base of "York" was designed by Forest Boone, who is the founder of Museumrock Products and is the second collaboration with sculptor Ed Hamilton. Artist Boone is a seventh generation nephew of the famous Kentucky frontiersman, Daniel Boone.

In conversation with York sculptor, Ed Hamilton, he said that he fashioned his visual concept of his subject from descriptions and from several sketches he had achieved. The sculpture if an exceptional image of the likeness of York.

Hamilton is one of America's most significant sculptors who lives and is practicing in Louisville, KY. In 2001, he was one of four jurors who selected the winning design for the Patriots Peace Memorial in Louisville.

His Spirit of Freedom: African American Civil War Memorial stands at 10th and U Streets NW in Washington, D.C. Other notable public memorials include the Amistad Memorial in New Haven, CT., boxer Joe Louis in Detroit, educator Booker T. Washington at Hampton University, civil rights leader Medgar Evers in Jackson, MS, educator and civil rights leader Whitney M. Young Jr. at Kentucky State University, and U of L and NFL football great Lenny Lyles at the University of Louisville. Hamilton also created a memorial plaque honoring Kentucky's historian laureate Dr. Thomas D. Clark.

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