Thomas Jefferson and Mastodon

Did you know that our third President was not only a great statesman but a scientist as well? Thomas Jefferson was fascinated with nature and, in particular, great animals of the western world. So keen was Jefferson’s interest and knowledge on the subject that he published a book on the topic. Jefferson, ever the defender of the American political experiment, was also dedicated to defending the flora and fauna of America as well. During Jefferson’s era, European scientists were convinced that the animals and plants found in the western hemisphere were inferior, smaller and weaker than similar species found in Europe. Not to let this slight pass, Jefferson became obsessed with disproving this argument and at the heart of his argument lay the hope that mastodon still roamed areas beyond the Mississippi. As a result during the great expedition that Jefferson chartered under Merriwether Lewis and William Clark, Jefferson gave specific instructions to look for these creatures. We invite you to do a little searching of your own and delve into the debate that drove Thomas Jefferson as well as William Clark’s contributions to paleontology.

For more information about the history of Mastodon State Historic Site, please visit the museum right at the top of the stairs!