Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

Hi friends! It's me Rocky! Today I visited a new special place. My journey began as I walked through the doors at the Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and saw a giant, robot-replica of my ancestor, Seaman! Robot Seaman was barking at a little prairie dog (Capt. Lewis called it a “barking squirrel”) wagging its tail in a wooden cage. Seaman even gave me a ride on his back!

The Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and the adjoining Betty Strong Encounter is a great place to visit. A non-profit institution, it was built and is sustained by Missouri River Historical Development, Inc. (MRHD). The Center spotlights the expedition’s adventures in the present-day Sioux City area.

I picked up my “Official Visitors’ Journal” and collected a stamp at each of the exhibits. For my first stamp I “enlisted” in the expedition.

I thought I would make a pretty good boatman (I love the water) but the keelboat was tough to load! I decided to be a sergeant and help lead the other soldiers, just like Sgt. Floyd did until he died on Aug. 20, 1804, in present-day Sioux City. My very last stamp was Seaman’s paw print!

I almost jumped right out of my collar when President Thomas Jefferson turned his head to look at me! He is another animatronic at the Center. Robot President Jefferson instructs the captains to search for a direct water route to the Pacific Ocean and to observe and record information about the people, natural resources and obstacles they encounter along the trail.

I was sad to learn about Sgt. Charles Floyd’s death in present-day Sioux City. Historians think Sgt. Floyd probably died from a ruptured appendix which was fatal in 1804. I think I would have liked Sgt. Floyd. He seemed like a man of much merit.

At the Center, I was invited to attend “Campfire Stories,” a kids’ program where they listen to stories about the expedition. This week’s program was inspired by the captains’ medicine. Kids got to smell and taste medicine used by the captains, including cinnamon, cloves and freshly brewed peppermint tea.

I also explored exhibits “next door” at the Betty Strong Encounter Center and loved the amazing photos on display! “The Changing River” exhibit follows the twisting path of the Missouri River through history, from the Native people, who were here long before Lewis & Clark, to the coming of the railroads! I also loved the portraits of the kids, “The Children of St. Augustine Indian Mission” (Winnebago, Neb.).

I had such a great time at the Center and can’t wait to visit again!

Learn more about the Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center:

Website

Where this belongs

• Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail

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