Interpretive center in Nebraska City and Sergeant Floyd Memorial

We were up and on the road bright and early this morning. We were all a little tired because there was a "concert" in our campground last night. Let's just say I don't think they will be getting recording contracts any time soon!

Our first stop of the day was the Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor's Center in Nebraska City. It is a beautiful museum that focuses on the scientific aspect of their trip. There is one of every animal Lewis and Clark named on their expedition in the museum. They had a full size replica of the keel boat as well as a Native American earth lodge. The museum has men who come once a month to act as re-en actors and we were lucky enough to pick the right day! They were tanning hides (freaked Tuck out), firing weapons, a blacksmith was working and they were making a dugout canoe. Just like yesterday, they really helped make the stop memorable.

The whole group in front of the keel boat

Tuck was convinced he was next!

It's going to be a while before this is ready to float!

Our trip to the Interpretive Center was interesting as well.  The Missouri River is flooding even here already and the worst is still to come.  The highway from the interstate to the Center was down to one lane because the water is already covering the other lane.  They anticipate the road will be closed in a couple of days.  The area around has been evacuated.  Gas stations at the interstate have removed the pumps and every business has dirt mounds 8 - 10 feet high around the businesses to try to protect them from the projected height of the river as the floods move further south.  We were told they anticipate some of the area to stay flooded for months.  Part of Interstate 29 is already closed and we had to detour around this portion.  We will come back this same way the end of next week and, unfortunately, it will probably be worse.  I've never seen flooding like this before.

Here's what the highway looked like on our way back to the interstate.

Every building at the interstate had mounds of dirt with sand bags to prepare for the flood.

When we left the Center, we headed for Sergeant Floyd's Memorial in Sioux City, Iowa.  Sergeant Floyd was the only member of the Lewis and Clark expedition who died on the trip.  The memorial is a 100 foot obelisk with a beautiful view of the river.

Sergeant Floyd's Monument

We are camping tonight in Mitchell, SD.  Tomorrow morning we will visit the Corn Palace.  It has nothing to do with Lewis and Clark, but when in Mitchell you just have to stop.  Then we are headed for Fort Mandan - the furthest point on our trip this time.