When was the western United States still a mysterious land? Why was it important to find a water route across the continent? What did the first explorers to the West discover on their way? Take a step back in time and discover the facts behind a groundbreaking adventure: a river-based journey across the American West. Join the Corps of Discovery as they conquer treacherous waters, make peace with Native Americans, ride horseback over mountains, and become national heroes! Find out about the difficulties the expedition faced: the hungry grizzly bears, the terrifying Great Falls, the long, icy winters, and the threat of starvation. Learn more about the wild environment of the West, and the plants and animals the Corps discovered as they boldly paved the way to the Pacific Ocean.