Brian Fox Ellis

Meriwether Lewis and the Corps of Discovery Brian Fox Ellis

Imagine an evening in Philadelphia with some of the greatest scientific minds in Early American history where Meriwether Lewis reveals for the first time many of the scientific discoveries of the Corps of Discovery. You are invited to join the Corps of Discovery in this exciting blend of stories and song, journal excerpts and American Indian folklore. Equal parts stand-up comedy and musical theater, this program focuses on the scientific discoveries of the Corps of Discovery. Encountering grizzly bears and collecting soil samples, capturing prairie dogs and hunting for antelope, Lewis catalogued more than 120 new animal species and 150 new plants. In this original performance Brian "Fox" Ellis sings the praises of the geology, the diverse flora and fauna, and the web of life that binds us to the land. The expedition was first and foremost a scientific expedition and this program brings the scientific process to life. We will explore the birds and mammals, ethnobotany and the tribes along the river, the geology and technology of the time. Brian "Fox" Ellis - More than two years before the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition, Fox was hired to spend a few weeks performing and leading teacher workshops to help communities along the route prepare. He was a featured performer at several of the communities during the bicentennial commemorations and he continues to performer as Lewis. Fox is an internationally renowned storyteller, author and naturalist. Fox is a frequent speaker on the modern Chautauqua circuit. Fox is a museum consultant who has worked with The Field Museum and The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library. Fox is the author of more than twenty books including the critically acclaimed Learning From the Land: Teaching Ecology Through Stories and Activities, (Libraries Unlimited, 1997/2011), and The Web at Dragonfly Pond, (Dawn Publications, 2006). He has hosted, produced written and researched several documentaries for PBS and has recently launched a podcast Fox Tales International. And he is the host of two television series: Chautauqua style autobiographies, History In Person; and a collection of folktales blended with natural history, Fox Tales Folklore. He and his wife run a Bed and Breakfast in Bishop Hill, Illinois, The Twinflower Inn, where he also leads bird watching adventures!