Traveling with Lewis and Clark



Well, okay, we didn't really travel with them, they traveled with us. No, they didn't personally travel with us. I'm not that old, and we didn't reincarnate them...oh bother...I'm not doing a good job at explaining myself am I? Let me try again.

A few weeks ago my family went on one of our super trips up to our annual missionary conference in Pennsylvania and then on to New Jersey to visit my sister. It is always a grand trip. We enjoy the scenery, historical sites and tourist attractions along the way, and we enjoy our time at conference and at my sister's home. Unfortunately, despite all of the fun times, we have never taken a trip where there hasn't been some restlessness and conflict among the natives (aka. my children) in the back seat. That's why we bring a lot of things for them to do along the way including DVD's to watch and wile away the hours.

Recently we received The Historic Expedition of Lewis and Clark, a DVD from Marshall Publishing, to review. I thought it would be a perfect DVD to bring along and watch on our recent jaunt. Since we are all history and geography fans, I was hoping that it would keep the aforementioned natives' interest for at least a little while. We had reviewed other DVD's from Marshall Publishing in the past and really enjoyed them, so I knew that this DVD had the potential of being something that they might like. I just wasn't sure about the historical content. We do like history, but sometimes historical films can tend to be more like boring documentaries than interesting movies...at least for school aged kids. I just wasn't sure how the kids would react.

Well, I worried for nothing. I really should have trusted that the same quality that was in the other Marshall Publishing movies would also be in The Historic Expedition of Lewis and Clark (I call it Lewis and Clark for short). From the time the movie began until the time it ended the boys, especially our middle aspergers child, Joshua, were enthralled. Then, after it was done, Joshua said that he loved it and asked to watch it again. How many historical films do you know that eleven year olds like so much they want to watch it again right away? I was so intrigued by his enthusiasm that I couldn't wait to watch it myself (although I wasn't driving, I was in the front seat and the movie screen was behind me).



When I finally got to watch it later on, I could see why Joshua enjoyed it so much. The makers of Lewis and Clark filmed this on location throughout all of the nearly 8000 mile trail using historically accurate costumes and models of the boats that were used. As the movie progressed, the narrator and the back ground music made us feel as if we were actually on the trip with Lewis and Clark. And, the scenery was breathtaking! One could see why they were so excited about the things that they saw and the specimens that they collected. Interspersed in the movie were drawings and illustrations of the journey along with footage of historical places along the way that mark significant events that happened on the journey. It made me envious of the men that went on the actual expedition and made me want to travel the same route to visit the places that they visited and see the historical monuments and parks that are now there.

Although I love history, I am by no means an expert. However, nothing in the movie would lead me to believe that it is not historically accurate. The other movies that we have reviewed were all very well made and entertaining and this one ranks right at the top. We really enjoyed Lewis and Clark and even I was fascinated watching it.

So, how much is this video? You can find it for just $19.95 by clicking here or on any one of the hi-lighted links above. Trust me, it is well worth it. Many of the other TOS Review Crew members reviewed this DVD as well as other DVD's from Marshall publishing and you can find what they had to say by clicking here. Happy Home Schooling!

Disclaimer: As a member of the TOS Review Crew I was sent a free copy of  The Historic Expedition of Lewis and Clark from Marshall Publishing in order to watch and give my honest review on this blog.