Activities designed for all ages and levels of interest will be held at a site near Fort Atkinson State Historical Park in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. Located on US 75, one mile east of Fort Calhoun and nine miles north of Omaha, this 26-acre site will include living history encampments of the Corps of Discovery and Native Americans who will bring the early 1800s to life with historically accurate shelter, clothing and daily activities. Live music and dance performances featuring period appropriate performers will be held on two stages.
The main stage will feature a wide variety of nationally known Native American musicians, dancers, storytellers and educators including Dallas Chief Eagle, Brulé, Kevin Locke Trio and Jerome Kills Small. Descendants of the American Indians who participated in the first tribal council, the Otoe-Missouria tribe will have a major role in the Corps of Discovery Festival. Tribal members will offer presentations on the history, culture and traditions of the tribe throughout the four-day event in the Otoe-Missouria Circle
A second stage will feature Lewis and Clark era music including the 2nd Annual Pierre Cruzatte Fiddle Contest. The fiddle was one of the few instruments that the Corps of Discovery brought with them along the trail and continues to be popular today. Also performing will be the all-youth Lewis and Clark Fife and Drum Corps, the Plain Label String Band and the Round House Band.
A large, air-conditioned tent will house an educational stage featuring a variety of nationally recognized Lewis and Clark experts including Dr. James Ronda, Dayton Duncan, Dr. Gary Moulton, Mary Gunderson and Matthew Sitting Bear Jones. After their presentations, the authors will be signing copies of their books, which will be for sale at the Washington County Historical Association Tent (follow the link for a detailed schedule of book signings).
Throughout the festival, rare historical documents with the signatures of Lewis, Clark and Jefferson will be on display at Ft. Atkinson State Park Visitor Center, adjacent to the festival grounds. Dowload the Ft. Atkinson State Park Harold W. Anderson Visitor Center Schedule (240 Kb Adobe Reader file) to learn more about exhibits and events there.
Further contributing to the 1800s atmosphere, the festival will include a small 1830-1840s Lakota village depicting tribal life on the Great Plaines and a Rendezvous Camp that will recreate the life of 1830s traders. The encampment will include demonstrations of hide-tanning, muzzle loading, blacksmithing and other skills. Traders and crafters will also be on-site selling reproduction period wares such as metal works, pottery, leatherwork, beads and moccasins.
Children will be able to participate in hands-on activities to help them understand the hardships faced by the explorers and the wonder of their discoveries. By combining the expertise of the Fontenelle Nature Association, the Omaha Children's Museum and the Omaha Theater Company for Young People, the children's activity tent will be a busy and exciting place. Visitors will also be able to step on board and take tours of a Butch Bouvier keelboat replica. And on Monday August 3rd at 10:15 a.m., onborad the keelboat replica, Commissioner Ron Hull will participate in the U.S. Mint launching of the new nickel.
Free shuttles will be available to transport guests of the Corps Of Discovery Festival to and from the neighboring Lewis & Clark events. Shuttles will leave and return every 20 to 30 minutes from the main parking lot for the following events:
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