Charlottesville, Virginia - Lewis and Clark Starting Point Geodetic Marker

At Monticello, a modest brass plaque is set into the ground facing Thomas Jefferson's home. The plaque marks the "symbolic" starting place of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The 12-inch diameter disk was dedicated on Jan. 14, 2003, as the 200th Anniversary celebration started to crank up. On Jan. 18, 1803, Jefferson sent a letter to Congress requesting funds for the trip. Two centuries later, we're embarking on a four-year odyssey of Lewis and Clark worship in towns and parks along the historic route.

To help us, the National Geodetic Survey has installed brass plates at key GPS targets along the Expedition's path to the Pacific. The disk reads: "Corps of Discovery II - 200 Years to the Future." Interspersed with the words "Peace and Friendship" are a crossed tomahawk and peace pipe, and a handshake between White Man and Indian.

We bet L. & C. would've traded all their Indian guides for a GPS receiver and a wagonload of batteries... [Roadsideamerica.com Team, 09/27/2003]