Famous Women in History: Sacagawea: Guide to the Corps of Discovery

By Nicole Orr

The fascinating story Sacagawea, a young Native American mother who became entrenched in American history. Sacagawea was born into the Shoshone Lemhi tribe in 1788 and at the age of 12, kidnapped by another tribe where she was kept as a slave. At the age of 16, she was forced to marry a violent French-Canadian fur trader who won her in a bet. It was then she met the leaders of the Corps of Discovery, Lewis and Clark, when they hired her husband to act as their guide for the remainder of their Louisiana Territory expedition to the Pacific coast. Sacagawea would accompany the team, with her 2-month-old son strapped to her back, to serve as their translator. The biography chronicles historical facts and speculated accounts of her role in the expedition, and her later years, from the conflicting details of her death to how she is now viewed as the face of female strength and courage. Contextual side stories offer further perspective on key details, locations, and people referenced in Sacagawea's story. Archival photographs, drawings, and paintings are chronologically arranged, adding visual context to her compelling story, as well as the inclusion of further reading and website recommendations, maps, glossary, and index. Content developed for young readers, interest level grades 4-6 (reading level, grade 5).

• Language: English
• Publisher: Curious Fox Books
• Release date: Feb 25, 2025
• ISBN: 9781637415719

Book preview

© 2025 by Curious Fox Books™, an imprint of Fox Chapel Publishing Company, Inc.

Famous Women in History: Sacagawea is a revision of Wonder Women: Heroines of History: Sacagawea, published in 2019 by Purple Toad Publishing, Inc. Reproduction of its contents is strictly prohibited without written permission from the rights holder.

Paperback ISBN 979-8-89094-152-7

Hardcover ISBN 979-8-89094-153-4

eISBN 978-1-63741-571-9

Library of Congress Control Number: 2024947178

To learn more about the other great books from Fox Chapel Publishing, or to find a retailer near you, call toll-free 800-457-9112, send mail to , 903 Square Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552, or visit us at www.FoxChapelPublishing.com.

We are always looking for talented authors. To submit an idea, please send a brief inquiry to [e-mail].

Fox Chapel Publishing makes every effort to use environmentally friendly paper for printing.

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Of Births and Beginnings

What’s Her Name Again?

Chapter Two

The Mystery of Sacagawea

An Unpopular Man

Chapter Three

Lewis and Clark Meet Sacagawea

What Became of William Clark?

Chapter Four

Proving Herself

What Became of Meriwether Lewis?

Chapter Five

A Woman, a Mother, and a Symbol of Peace

The Long Life of Jean Baptiste Charbonneau

Timeline

Chapter Notes

Further Reading

Books

Works Consulted

On the Internet

Glossary

OF BIRTHS

AND BEGINNINGS

CHAPTER ONE

Sacagawea had experienced many things in her life. She was taken captive by people in differing Native American tribes and was forced to marry a man she didn’t know. She was a guide and translator for a long expedition. Once, she dived into a river just to save important papers and journals. One of her favorite things she’d ever done was give birth to her son. But it was also one of the scariest.

When Sacagawea’s son was ready to be born, she and her captors were at Fort