Very Special Group of Small Beads: Identical to those used by Lewis & Clark in Trading

This strand and loose beads are the age and type that were carried by Lewis & Clark 200+ years ago on their journey across the breadth of the new Louisiana territory. Because this is the Pacific NW, I studied about Lewis & Clark in elementary and junior high school in Washington State history classes.

I never realized I was destined to be a historian and author, but I was certainly enamored of the information at a young age. I probably retained a bit more of what I learned in those classes than most....but I was still horrible at memorizing information. I never learned to study well and what I learned was because I was interested and soaked it up like a sponge in spite of bad (or non-existent) study habits.

I have been interested in the Lewis & Clark expedition since I first was introduced to them in school. They took hundreds of strands of beads for trading for items they needed and I'm sure weight even of beads was important so rather than elaborate, colorful and large beads, these were what they carried with them. It's impossible to know specific history but one can imagine strands like this being integral in the friendly trading. It's also quite interesting that unlike television westerns, the Lewis & Clark party weren't followed, attacked and ambushed; rather, they establish excellent relationships with local tribes. Having an Indian guide/translator with them was not just helpful but necessary.

I only have this large and broken strand that you would want to restring I'm sure. Wear them or display them! Rare indeed!