Since we are following the Missouri River as we head north, we are also following in the footsteps of Lewis and Clark. So it is appropriate that we made our first stop at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. The front yard of the center has a bronze collection of the animals that this Corp of Discovery took note of on their journey.
That front yard also hosted one big U.S. flag. It's hard to grasp the size of that flag until you look at the base of the flag pole to find a very tiny Denisa.
Things are just bigger here in Nebraska. Mark is now the model, to give scale to this large statue of Lewis and Clark.
Their fearless dog, Seaman, was a larger-than-life companion for their journey across the country. It looks like Seaman is over six-feet-tall today.
Honest, we're going into the museum, but we have to look at this tree carving first. The grounds are surrounded by old cottonwood trees, but this one obviously didn't make it. The stump was left in the yard, and now gets more attention for the animals carved into it.
The museum was filled with information about the Lewis and Clark expedition as this hardy band of men made their way going north (that's upstream) on the Missouri River. Of all the difficulties with the weather, Indians, wild animals, mountains, and raging rivers, only one man died in their two-year adventure. Sargent Floyd died just a few miles from here. In their journals, the cause of death was listed as "bilious colic," but it was probably a ruptured appendix. He was buried with full military honors on the bluff over the river. In this reproduction of the scene inside the museum, the automated Lewis and Clark made kind remarks at the funeral.
Sergeant Floyd is not forgotten here in Sioux City. We took the Sergeant Floyd Parkway to get to the Sergeant Floyd Memorial overlooking I-29.
This is actually Sergeant Floyd's fourth resting place since his death in 1804. He has been moved around until the perfect permanent site could be found. His remains are at the base of this 100-foot monument built in 1901. It is now called the "Washington Monument of the West."
Back in town, we took this picture of the Sergeant Floyd boat. Launched in 1932, this boat served as a survey vessel, spending most of its time on the same waters that Lewis and Clark traveled. Now that the boat has been retired, it serves as the welcome center and a museum in Sioux City.
We are enjoying our short stay in Sioux City, parked at Scenic Park Campground. We are very glad to have shade--something that we have been missing during these hot days of summer. The national news reported that the entire country is under the same heat dome that we have here in Nebraska. We are also enjoying the views of the Missouri River from the trail that runs through the park.
A goose and gander are raising their family in the campground. They don't seem to mind the many campers that walk the trail beside the river, even when they stop to snap a picture.
The only complaint we could possibly have for this great campground, is the construction happening across the river. We noted the series of cranes as we pulled into our site. But it wasn't until 5:30 a.m. the next morning that we found they like to start work early. They are currently pile-driving large metal foundation posts into the ground. We can confirm that the constant pounding will echo across the river, waking everyone from a sound sleep.
We guess it's good to get an early start, as we only have one more day to explore this area around our new home town in Sioux City.
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