Origins & Early Life

Sacagawea ( SAK-ə-jə-WEE-ə or sə-KAH-gə-WAY-ə; also spelled Sakakawea or Sacajawea; c. May 1788 – December 20, 1812) was a Lemhi Shoshone or Hidatsa woman who, in her teens, helped the Lewis and Clark Expedition in achieving their chartered mission objectives by exploring the Louisiana Territory. Sacagawea traveled with the expedition thousands of miles from North Dakota to the Pacific Ocean, helping to establish cultural contacts with Native American people and contributing to the expedition's knowledge of natural history in different regions. The National American Woman Suffrage Association of the early 20th century adopted Sacagawea as a symbol of women's worth and independence, erecting several statues and plaques in her memory, and doing much to recount her accomplishments.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

Reliable historical information about Sacagawea is very limited. According to Toussaint Charbonneau, her husband, she was born c. 1788 into the Agaidika ('Salmon Eater', aka Lemhi Shoshone) tribe near present-day Salmon, Idaho. This is near the continental divide at the present-day Idaho-Montana border. In 1800, when she was about 12 years old, Sacagawea and several other children were taken...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Arthur Schopenhauer — Contemporary (Born in 1788) (1788): Pioneering philosopher known for 'The World as Will and Representation' and philosophical pessimism.
• Augustin-Jean Fresnel — Contemporary (Born in 1788) (1788): Pioneering optical physicist known for the wave theory of light and the invention of the Fresnel lens.
• Charles Edward Stuart — Contemporary (Died in 1788) (1788): The Young Pretender, claimant to the British thrones, leader of the Jacobite Rising of 1745.
• Charles Dickens — Contemporary (Born in 1812) (1812): Master of Victorian literature, Dickens's novels captured the spirit of his age.
• Cochise — Contemporary (Born in 1812) (1812): Noted Apache leader who fiercely resisted American and Mexican intrusions in the 19th century.
• Hugo Kołłątaj — Contemporary (Died in 1812) (1812): Key figure of the Polish Enlightenment, constitutional reformer, and educationalist.
• Andy Kaufman — Shared historical date (05-16 · Died) (1984): Pioneering performance artist known for anti-comedy and character work.
• Bronisław Malinowski — Shared historical date (05-16 · Died) (1942): Pioneering anthropologist known for intensive fieldwork and functionalist theory.
• Alexander I of Russia — Shared historical date (12-12 · Born) (1777): Emperor of Russia during the Napoleonic era, known for liberal reforms and military campaigns.
• Anne Baxter — Shared historical date (12-12 · Died) (1985): Acclaimed American actress known for her work in Hollywood and on Broadway.
• 1788 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1788
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• 1812 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1812
• December 12 (12-12) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on December 12