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A new historical marker commemorating Meriwether Lewis and William Clark’s connections to Botetourt County has been approved by the Virginia Department of Historic Resources (DHR). The marker, which includes a plaque, was officially approved on March 21 during the DHR’s quarterly meeting in Richmond.
The text for the marker was initiated by local representatives from the Virginia Lewis and Clark Trail (VLCLT), Inc., Kip and Lyn Burton of Fincastle. It was reviewed and edited by DHR staff and the DHR Editorial Board. The marker text reads as follows:
“Meriwether Lewis and William Clark were friends of Botetourt Co. native William Preston Jr. and spent time here. On a visit early in the 1800s, Clark met his future wife, Julia Hancock, of Santillane. After the expedition to the Pacific Ocean (1803-06), Lewis and a group of Mandan Indians passed through on their way to Washington, D.C., and Clark received a congratulatory address from the citizens of Fincastle. Clark was here when he received his commission as brigadier general of militia for the Louisiana Territory in 1807 and was married here in 1808. Nicholas Biddle, a young writer and future financier, met with Clark in Fincastle in 1810 before editing the official narrative of the expedition.”
This new marker is the 16th to be approved for installation along the Lewis and Clark Trail, which spans several local communities. The process of selecting and documenting these historic sites often requires extensive research to verify their connection to the expedition. In many cases, this volunteer-driven research can take years to uncover and confirm new discoveries.
Botetourt County’s ties to Lewis and Clark are particularly rich and well-documented, thanks to the hard work of local citizens and historians. This wealth of authenticated history made crafting a concise 700-character historical marker text challenging. For example, the decision was made to highlight William Clark’s relationship to Botetourt’s Billy Preston Jr. (his brother-in-law), rather than delve into the lesser-known fact that part of the editing process for the “Lewis and Clark Expedition Journals” occurred in Botetourt County after Meriwether Lewis’ death.
The new marker will complement an existing historical marker at the Rt. 220 entrance to the Santillane home, which focuses on John Hancock and the relationship between William Clark and Julia Hancock. Additionally, there may be future applications for replacement markers at the Botetourt County Courthouse and other sites related to the Lewis and Clark expedition.
The approval of the Botetourt County marker joins recent applications for similar markers in King and Queen County, Abingdon, Culpeper County, and other locations. Another six applications are currently in the works.
Fabrication of the marker and plaque will take approximately 4-5 months due to limited manufacturers, a result of the pandemic. During this period, a local citizens group will be formed to help select and recommend an appropriate location for the marker in collaboration with county administration.
Stay tuned for updates on when the new marker will be installed and unveiled. For more information or to suggest a historical marker location, contact Lyn Burton at 540-239-3185.
~ Fincastle Herald staff report
