The Wilkes Expedition: The First United States Exploring Expedition (1838-1842)

The United States Exploring Expedition was an exploring and surveying expedition of the Pacific Ocean and surrounding lands conducted by the United States from 1838 to 1842. It established many scientific findings in geology, botany, mammology, topography, natural science, as well as mapping and making studies of Tahiti, the Samoan Islands, the Sandwich Islands (later named Hawaii), Oregon, California, and other destinations.