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Lewis &
Clark Boathouse
Operated by the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, the new Lewis & Clark Boat House and Nature Center (a certified site of the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail) is the Discovery Expedition's permanent home replacing their old facility on 710 Riverside Drive. Located on the banks of the Missouri River at Bishop’s Landing and only a five minute walk from the downtown historic district, the site features hand-crafted replicas of boats used by the Corps of Discovery, exhibits relating to the Expedition and the Missouri River ecosystem, and a gift shop.
Clark and the Corps waited for Lewis, who was in
St. Louis attending to last minute details. Lewis arrived in St. Charles in
the evening of Saturday, May 20, 1804 in the company of some local
dignitaries from St. Louis. After attending Mass the next morning and making
sure all preparations had been completed, the Corps of discovery departed
St. Charles on the afternoon of
Monday, May 21, 1804. Clark noted this event in
his journals as he wrote "Set out at
half passed three oClock under three Cheers from the gentlemen on the bank
and proceeded on
"at 4 P M we arived in Sight of St. Charles,
the party rejoiced at the Sight of this hospital village
plyed thear ores with great dexterity and we Soon
arived opposit the Town, this day being Sunday we observed
a number of Gentlemen and ladies walking on the bank, we Saluted the
Village by three rounds from our blunderbuts and the Small arms
of the party, and landed near the lower part of the town.
we were met by great numbers of the inhabitants, we
found them excessively polite."
William Clark made this entry when the Corps
arrived at St. Charles on Sunday, September 21, 1806. The Corps spent
the night at St. Charles and two days later ended their journey when
they arrived in St. Louis on September 23, 1806.
The Discovery Expedition of St. Charles has put together a modern museum to interpret the Lewis and Clark's experience in St. Charles as well as the Corps of Discovery in general. The lower level of the Boat House is home to full size replicas of a keelboat and two pirogues with workspace and displays. The lower level has a flow through design, permitting the boats to be easily moved and preventing damage to the building from floodwaters. The boats are often on tour, making an annual journey retracing portions of the Lewis and Clark’s journey and attending special events. When the boats are not on tour, visitors will be able to get up close to these vessels as well as talk to informed volunteers about their use and construction. The upper level features the contents of the old Lewis and Clark Museum, as well as dioramas (photo left) by museum artist Evangeline Groth that illustrate the story of the Lewis and Clark expedition and the Native American tribes they encountered, examples of the flora and fauna Lewis and Clark encountered on their journey, and life in early 19th-century Saint Charles. A classroom accommodates class field trips, and tours and The Trading Post, the facility’s gift shop offers many historical books and unusual gift items. The Boat House is adjacent to Frontier Park which has picnic facilities and is the trail head for the Katy Trail, a 225 mile bike trail that starts in St. Charles and runs parallel to the Missouri River and the route that Lewis and Clark took. Visiting the Lewis & Clark
Boathouse & Nature Center
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The
Lewis and Clark Connection
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