Lewis & Clark Keelboat Returns To Nebraska in April

LINCOLN, NEB. (April 8, 2005)—During a return trip down the Missouri River, the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Expedition will dock at eight Nebraska cities to offer additional free reenactment and educational opportunities for history buffs, school groups and the general public.

In spring 1805 after wintering at Fort Mandan, Lewis and Clark steered their keelboat, bearing plant and animal specimens collected on the Great Plains, back down the Missouri River to St. Louis, Mo. 

A representation of the keelboat's return, staged by the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, will be in Nebraska, April 16-26.
The keelboat will be docked :

April 16–19     South Sioux City April 19–20     Dakota City April 20–21     Decatur April 21–22     Blair

April 22–23    Omaha April 23–24    Plattsmouth April 24–25    Nebraska City April 25–26    Brownville

Lewis and Clark experts will make presentations at a Keelboat Symposium scheduled in each community. They include Dr. Gary Moulton, editor of the 13-volume Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition; Matt Jones, cultural anthropologist and member of the Otoe-Missouria nation, the first American Indian tribe to meet with and participate in an official council with expedition members; Darrel W. Draper, a re-enactor who will portray a scout and hunter with the expedition; Annette Arkeketa, a writer and filmmaker, and member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma; Beverly Hinds, a Lewis and Clark scholar and member of the Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail Foundation Board of Directors; Park Superintendent John Slader with Fort Atkinson State Historical Park; and Pat Day, a re-enactor who will portray Meriwether Lewis's mother and pay tribute to the role that women and children played during the historic journey.

The free Symposia are scheduled as follows (along with the appearance of various Lewis and Clark experts based on their availability). In case of inclement weather, an alternate site also is listed:

(Click on the city for more details)

• April 18, South Sioux City, Scenic Park, 1021, E. 6^th St., 10 a.m.—Gary Moulton, Matt Jones, Beverly Hinds and Pat Day. Alternate location: Marina Inn & Convention center, 4^th and B Sts.

• April 20, Dakota City, Cottonwood Cove Park, River Road and Hickory St., 10 a.m.—Beverly Hinds. Alternate location: Dakota City Hall, 1511 Broadway.

• April 21, Decatur, Beck Memorial Park, 10^th St., near the river, 10 a.m.—Beverly Hinds and Darrel Draper. Alternate location: Decatur Elementary School, Gymnasium, Main St.

• April 22, Blair, Dana College Campus, Gardner-Hawks Center, 2848 College Dr., 10 a.m.—Gary Moulton, Matt Jones and John Slader. Keelboat location: Optimist Park, N. Hwy 30, Fairview Drive.

• April 23, Omaha, River City Star (Tent), 151 Freedom Park Road, just off Gallup Drive, 10 a.m. Alternate location: Same —AND— Plattsmouth, Plattsmouth Marina, E. Main St., 6 p.m. Alternate location: Plattsmouth Community Center, 625 Avenue A—Gary Moulton, Matt Jones, Darrel Draper and Annette Arkeketa.

• April 25, Nebraska City, Riverview Marina State Park, 100 River Marina, 10 a.m.—Matt Jones and Darrel Draper. Alternative location: Missouri River Basin, Lewis & Clark Center, 100 Valmont Dr.

• April 26, Brownville, the Spirit of Brownville Riverboat, one block south of U.S. 136 near Brownville at river mile 535, 10 a.m.—Matt Jones. Alternative location: Same.

The Nebraska Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission is a sponsor of the keelboat's return, and the Nebraska Humanities Council is assisting with the Keelboat Symposium series.