Funds to support expedition bicentennial

Funds to support expedition bicentennial

The federal government has approved an additional $1.1 million in federal grants to help the College prepare to commemorate the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The U.S. Congress approved $700,000 last December for construction of Bicentennial Hall and for renovation and expansion of the College’s historic Albany Quadrangle. The funding continues congressional support of the project through the Department of Veterans Affairs/ Housing and Urban Development Appropriations Bill. Congress previously appropriated $1 million to be applied toward the architectural and engineering costs of the project.

Congress also approved $400,000 last December through a Department of Labor/Health and Human Services Appropriations Bill to mount educational programs that will commemorate the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the American Enlightenment. The monies will fund lectures, symposia and institutes and will help launch on-campus and traveling exhibitions.

“Lewis & Clark College has been entrusted to preserve the memory of the intrepid explorers who crossed the continent in the service of science and discovery,” said Sen. Gordon Smith. “These funds will allow the College to showcase its archives and to provide scholars with the facilities they need to further contemporary appreciation of Lewis and Clark’s remarkable feat.”

The project involves renovating and expanding the 12,000-square-foot Albany Quadrangle to provide space for scholarly and public activities to commemorate the upcoming bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The new multipurpose building will include seminar rooms and a great hall for exhibitions, conferences and lectures. The building will also house offices for the National Council of the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial.

“This honor is of special significance to the College,” said Michael Mooney, president of Lewis & Clark College.

“Senator Smith was tireless in his efforts to persuade colleagues of the benefits of this project, and we owe him a special debt of gratitude,” said Mooney. “I am also grateful for the support of Representatives Earl Blumenauer, Darlene Hooley, David Wu and Ron Wyden.”

The College expects to begin construction of the bicentennial project in 2002 and to complete work in time for the beginning of bicentennial activities in 2003. The architect is Thomas Hacker and Associates of Portland.