When people think about Independence Day, most think about the Revolutionary War between what would become the United States and the United Kingdom. But what they don't always know is that the same period was the beginning of the American West and advancing the frontier.

Not everyone was engaged in the revolution. While the original thirteen colonies were engaged in the war, other men were traveling across what would become the United States. In fact, the third President of the United States saw expansion as one of the most important aspects for the future of the country.

It's also why this founding father quickly accepted the Louisiana purchase, doubling the size of the United States by acquiring land France had acquired from Spain just three years earlier. The price of the purchase was remarkable by today's standards. The United States paid $15 million (4 cents per acre). Not everyone agreed with the purchase, but Jefferson saw it as necessary for the perfect republican society, governed lightly and promoting self-reliance and virtue.

The Predecessors Of Lewis And Clark.

In 1804, it was Jefferson who commissioned two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. What many people don't know is that they discovered many Native Americans who were already accustomed to dealing with European traders.

It was these earlier frontiersmen, prior and leading up to July 4, 1776, that had already laid much of the ground work. Some of these men included: Francisco Vásquez de Coronado, who traveled from Arizona to eastern Kansas; the sons of Robert de LaSalle reached the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming; and Juan José Pérez Hernández explored the Pacific coast in 1774.

What Was It Like To Explore The Frontier?

One of the most interesting historical places on the East Coast that touches on early history is The Frontier Culture Museum, which tells the story of the thousands of people who migrated to colonial America, and of the life they created here for themselves and their descendents. The Frontier Culture Museum is located in Virginia.

On the West Coast, TourGuy.com provides a hands-on experience with several horseback riding adventures from Las Vegas. While most of the tours tend to conjure up images of the American Frontier in the late 1800s and early 1900s, all of them are also connected by a history that dates back to the Revolutionary War (and further).

Depending on personal preferences, these tours include riding Red Rock Canyon trails, visiting a live working ranch in the Great Basin, or visiting the remarkable Grand Canyon Ranch. TourGuy.com has even compiled an electronic handbook about these Las Vegas horseback tours.

"One of the best things about the Fourth of July is that, even if it is only for a brief period, we all start thinking of our heritage as a country and what our ancestors did to make it possible," says James Hoke, president of TourGuy.com LLC. "The best way to experience it is on horseback, imagining early frontiersmen traveling the same paths carved out of nothing."

Most excursions offered through TourGuy.com include complimentary pick-up and drop-off from Strip hotels. For reservations and other Las Vegas attractions, visit the site or call toll free 1-888-801-1575. Tours range from one and a half hours to two days. Group tour arrangements are also available. Have a happy and safe Fourth of July weekend!