Lewis & Clark Foundation

The Lewis & Clark Foundation is the nonprofit partner of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, which is owned and operated by the U.S. Forest Service. Today, the Foundation continues its mission by raising funds through grants, charitable contributions, fundraising events, memberships, and proceeds from the Portage Cache Gift Shop. Every dollar raised helps ensure that the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center remains an inspiring destination where visitors of all ages can discover, explore, and connect with the remarkable story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.

The Lewis & Clark Foundation was established in 1991 by a group of visionary Montana leaders in partnership with the U.S. Forest Service to raise the funds needed to build the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Interpretive Center.

The Center opened to the public on May 5, 1998. As the Center's nonprofit partner, the Foundation has since contributed more than $7.3 million to support exhibits, educational programs, facility improvements, outreach initiatives, and visitor experiences. In 2010, the Foundation merged with the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Association to create one unified organization dedicated to supporting the Center.

Today, the Lewis & Clark Foundation raises funds through grants, memberships, donations, fundraising events, and the Portage Cache Gift Shop to help ensure the Interpretive Center continues to educate, inspire, and engage visitors for generations to come.

Mission: To champion the efforts of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center to educate the public of the saga of the Corps of Discovery, the people they encountered and the wild lands they explored. Vision: To financially support the Center in its endeavor to remain the premiere source of lifelong learning and shared appreciation for the cultures and the wild lands of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.