19thcentart

Art from 19th Century U.S.Government Exploring Expeditions: 

Art from 19th Century U.S.Government Exploring Expeditions Bert Chapman Government Information Librarian-Purdue University Libraries

Profiled Exploring Expeditions: 

Profiled Exploring Expeditions Sample Expeditions Presented U.S. Exploring Expedition (Wilkes Expedition), 1838-1842 Pacific Railroad Survey, 1853-1857 Perry Expedition to Japan, 1852-1854

Purposes of Exploring Expeditions: 

Purposes of Exploring Expeditions Expanding governmental knowledge of areas coming under U.S. control or influence Increasing knowledge of these regions geographic features for mapping and hazard assessment purposes Gaining knowledge of regions agricultural resources and potential

Purposes of Exploring Expeditions: 

Purposes of Exploring Expeditions Learning about the natural resources of these areas and their potential uses for the U.S. economy Increasing scientific understanding of the plant and animal resources of these areas Increasing knowledge of the peoples of these regions

Purposes of Exploring Expeditions: 

Purposes of Exploring Expeditions Cultivating good business and personal relationships with inhabitants of these regions Providing written documentation of exploring expedition findings to the President, federal agencies, congressional oversight committees, and the American public.

Purposes of Exploring Expeditions: 

Purposes of Exploring Expeditions Providing visual documentation of expedition findings

United States Exploring Expedition: 

United States Exploring Expedition Online access provided courtesy of Smithsonian Institution Libraries www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/usexex

U.S. Exploring Expedition website: 

U.S. Exploring Expedition website http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/usexex/

U.S. Exploring Expedition Goals: 

U.S. Exploring Expedition Goals Explore and map southern Pacific Ocean Interact with native inhabitants of South America and South Pacific islands Map and determine the geographic nature of Antarctica-e.g. is it a continent?

Slide11: 

http://www.sil.si.edu/digitalcollections/usexex/

Slide15: 

U.S U.S. Exploring Expedition Accomplishments Did significant mapping and charting of South Pacific Ocean-U.S. Military used expedition charts during World War II Tarawa campaign. Proved Antarctica was a continent Gained vastly expanded knowledge of South Pacific peoples, customs, cultures. Expedition artifacts formed nucleus of Smithsonian Institution collections.

Slide16: 

Pacific Railroad Surveys Purpose was determining the best route to build for building a transcontinental railway to the Pacific Ocean Four different areas surveyed ranging from near the Mexican Border to The British North American/Canadian border 49th parallel Survey results were confused and transcontinental railroad was not completed till 1869. Reports still enhanced scientific understanding of American west.

Mission San Xavier Del Bac-Tucson: 

Mission San Xavier Del Bac-Tucson

Perry Expedition to Japan: 

Perry Expedition to Japan Purposes included opening Japan to U.S. and international trade. Gaining expanded knowledge of Japan, China, and East Asian region.

Slide21: 

Overall Exploring Expedition Results Expanded U.S. Scientific, Cultural, and Economic knowledge of areas under its control or within its national interests Represented the continuing growth of federal government support of scientific research and exploration Provided written and visual documentation of expedition research findings Can, arguably, be seen as a tentative beginning of federal government support for the arts.