New Salem program Saturday welcomes expert on Lewis and Clark trek

[September 24, 2013]  PETERSBURG -- The manager of the Lewis and Clark State Historic Site followed the trail of the famous explorers from Illinois to the Pacific coast and back, and he'll describe his adventure Saturday in a presentation at Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site.

Brad Winn made his journey in 12 days, compared with two years and four months for Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Still, Winn set out from Illinois as Lewis and Clark did, then followed rivers across the Great Plains and into the Rocky Mountains as they did. The trip provided Winn his first view of the Pacific Ocean, as it did for Lewis and Clark.

Winn even carried a 15-star flag on his trip, like the one carried by the expedition more than 200 years ago.

Winn will relate his experiences at 6 p.m. in the Lincoln's New Salem Visitor Center. The event is free and refreshments will be served afterward.

Lincoln's New Salem State Historic Site, administered by the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency, is a reconstruction of the 1830s log village where Abraham Lincoln, the future president, lived for six years as a young adult. The site is about 20 miles northwest of Springfield and two miles south of Petersburg on Route 97 and is open for free public tours.

[Text from file received from the Illinois Historic Preservation Agency]