uthwest corner of what was to become of Kansas was transferred to Spain. The United States had earlier expressed interest in the Trans-Mississippi area, and plans were formulated for exploration there even before the Louisiana Purchase Three army expeditions exploring some part some part of the future state were Meriwether Lewis and William Clark, by Zebulon Pike, and by Stephen Long. Lewis and Clark traveled along the northeastern border region near the Missouri River in 1804 and 1806. Pike's journey across Kansas from east to west took place in the late summer and fall of 1806. Long's major party traveled around the future state in 1820, but during the previous August a small detachment had penetrated the northeastern portion, and
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