Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet

   Both Marquette and Joliet were born and explored for France. In 1673 Jaues Marquette was ordered by General de Frontenac to explore the lakes and rivers that lead to the Mississippi River. Soon Louis Joliet heard of this news and joined Marquette on an adventure of a lifetime. They started out at the upper area of Lake Michigan with two birchbark canoes. They crossed the crossed the enormus lake and soon came to the Fox River. When they they crossed the Fox River they came to the Wisconsin River. When they reached the delta of the Wisconsin River they saw the Mississippi River for the first time in their lives. Marquette and Joliet  followed the river but soon realized that it was not the northwest passage.It couldnt be because it flowed south. When they came to the Arkansas River they met some Native Americans who told them there were Europeans lived farther south. The French settlers were afraid the Europeans might be Spaniards so they retreated. Marquette and Joliet in all traveled about 2500 miles (4023 kilometers). There expidition allowed French settelment and trade. Eventually, the French also built trading posts that later grew into what is now St.Louis, Des Moins, and Louisville.