Historical Museum Presents An Evening With Meriwether Lewis At BPA

It's May 1804! Travel with Meriwether Lewis as he begins his journey up the Missouri River, over the Continental Divide and down the Clearwater, Snake and Columbia Rivers to the Pacific. This incredible explorer will share his adventures at a fundraising performance for the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum on Tuesday, March 20.

Portraying Meriwether Lewis is Clay Jenkinson, nationally renowned humanities scholar, author and social commentator. Mr. Jenkinson has performed as Thomas Jefferson, Teddy Roosevelt and Robert Oppenheimer to sold-out audiences in recent years for Historical Museum fundraisers.

In the words and costume of Meriwether Lewis, Jenkinson explores the vision of Thomas Jefferson's "Corps of Discovery." With a stroke of a pen, Jefferson doubled the size of the United States. Now he is eager to explore the newly purchased Louisiana Territory and the land beyond the Rockies, all the way to the Pacific Ocean. Meriwether Lewis is tasked with discovering, measuring, mapping, collecting, observing, cataloguing and classifying everything: plants, animals, soils, climate and especially Indians on his incredible journey.

Clay Jenkinson is considered to be one of the most entertaining public speakers in the United States. He has been a researcher and commentator on Jefferson for Ken Burns' film, Thomas Jefferson as well as on Burns' film The Roosevelts broadcast on PBS. Jenkinson is host of the nationally syndicated National Public Radio show The Thomas Jefferson Hour. He has performed in nearly every state to thousands, including students, Supreme Court Justices and U.S. Presidents.

For the Bainbridge program Jenkinson will utilize the Chautauqua form - a monologue in costume as Lewis, a Q&A session in character, and finally a Q&A as himself. The evening will be informative and very thought provoking. Historically, Bainbridge Island was on the Chautauqua circuit in the early 1900's, hosting speakers and entertainers at Skiff Point, in the area where Messenger House now stands. Early accounts say William Jennings Bryan and John Phillip Sousa were featured.

This fundraising event will benefit the many education and preservation activities of the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum. The museum is proud to partner with the Bainbridge Schools Foundation during Jenkinson's visit to the Island. He will spend a day at Bainbridge High School portraying President Theodore Roosevelt for American Studies classes. History teacher Larry Holland said "This is as close as we can come to allowing students to hear from, and ask questions of, one of the central figures in American history. Jenkinson is very knowledgeable and gifted at bringing historical figures to life."

Join us for An Evening With Meriwether Lewis, one night only on March 20 at 7:30 p.m. at Bainbridge Performing Arts. Tickets, $125 per person, may be purchased online at www.bainbridgehistory.org, or by calling the Bainbridge Island Historical Museum at 206.842.2773.

BPA is supported, in part, by Bainbridge Community Foundation, the City of Bainbridge Island, and One Call for All. Bainbridge Performing Arts is pleased to offer an "Open Doors" program. Free and reduced-cost tickets to most events are available to community members in need through our partner Helpline House thanks to grants from BCF, the Mabee Family Foundation, and the Alder Fund at the Bainbridge Community Foundation. Please contact the BPA Box Office at 206.842.8569 or Helpline House to reserve tickets today.

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