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Rather than "Lewis and Clark Enjoy Surge in Popularity," this story would be more appropriately titled either: "Bored AP writer tries to 'sex-up' a story with outrageous claims," or "Man claims 're-enacting' is his job."
"Like aging rock stars on a comeback tour, explorers Meriwether Lewis and William Clark are enjoying a huge surge in popularity.
"They could never imagine that their journey — one of the nation's greatest adventure stories — would spawn re-enactors and produce commemorative stamps and coins, an expedition-inspired beer, historical cookbooks, theme parties, even Lewis and Clark air fresheners.
"'I think it's perhaps the most important story in our history,' said Scott Mandrell, 38, who portrays Meriwether Lewis nationwide. The Alton, Ill., resident traveled about 400 miles on horseback last year, will spend much of this summer on the river in replica boats, and has spent stretches of time as Lewis away from his own wife and children.
"'I'm in uniform almost every day of the week,' he said, adding that throughout it all he looks after a 140-pound Newfoundland named Seaman, in a nod to the dog who accompanied the explorers on the original trek."
