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 Sunday June 1, 2003 --
Off to the boats at Onawa, IA. We ran into a large reenactment of Lewis
and Clark at this state park-Brown's Lake. it was formerly part of the
river and here they have built replicas of the 3 boats of the expedition.
That's our 15 star flag flying up there. |
 And here's a bunch
of our folks checking out the keelboat. This park provides rides in the
boats, but we do not have enough time to participate. |
 We
happened to hit their Lewis and Clark Festival so we got some extra
interpretation, such as this introduction to M. Lewis's dog Seaman. His
master is Dale Clark, who does lots of re-enactments in Iowa. |
 Then
it was on to Sioux City Iowa and the gravesite of the only corps member to
die on the expedition, Sgt. Charles Floyd. I have often heard people
wonder why such an impressive monument has been erected to one simple
soldier. Certainly the grave is that of one man but the monument is, and I
paraphrase:
In commemoration of the Louisiana Purchase and its exploration by the
heroic men of the Discovery Expedion and to the soldiers and pioneers who
made many states out of its land |
 We
then visited the new Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Sioux City.
Their exhibits were marvelous, reflecting the research of today's best
historians and interpreters. I particular liked the fact that they did not
try to tell the whole story, but only a few hundred miles and a few
significant days and events, which happened in this area. I wish more
museums would do this instead of trying to tell the whole story. I
understand this part of the journey in much greater detail, because of
this concentration. This is the Corps honoring their dead comrade, Sgt.
Charles Floyd. |
 This
is a recycled Army Corps of Engineers river survey and inspection boat
turned into a visitor center. We fly the 15-star, 15-stripe flag that
Lewis and Clark flew when they came here 200 years ago. |
