Discovery Expedition members provide food & beverages to hundreds of kayak racers
and spectators at the finish line near Lewis & Clark Boathouse.
|
|
Join Us at MR 340 Wednesday-Saturday
|
|
MR 340 could be our biggest fundraising event
this year and we need YOU! It’s a lot of fun and you can cool off in the Museum. Please sign up with Norm & Brigette Bowers at
brigitteandnorm@gmail.com
or 314-304-7877 or
click here
.
Help is still needed for the following times:
Wed. August 5
10 am-12 pm - Clean Boathouse
Wed. August 5 – 5 pm: Set up
Thursday, August 6
6 am - 10 am – (2 people) Security
10 am–1:00 pm - Setup;
sell & serve food
1:00–4:30 pm - sell & serve food
4:30 pm–7:30 pm - sell & serve food; clean up
|
|
Friday, August 7
6 am-10 am – (2 people) Security
10 am-1:00 pm - Setup;
sell & serve food
1:00–4:30 pm - sell & serve food
4:30 pm–8:00 pm-
sell & serve food; clean up
Don’t wait to sign up!
Contact
brigitteandnorm@gmail.com
or 314-304-7877 or
click here.
Nancy Jackson is the main contact for concession sales. Call or text 314-239-4650. Thank you in advance for all your support.
|
|
|
Aug 28-30 Boat Work Weekend
August 28, 29 and 30 will be a boat work weekend at the Boathouse. Hopefully, it will be a little cooler by then. We have much to do to get the red boat and keelboat mechanically ready and physically spruced up for some important filming taking place in October at the Falls of the Ohio for our "short" Lewis and Clark film series.
Bring along work clothes and be prepared to put in a couple of good productive days doing some much needed boat work. Can't join us?
Click here to support
our efforts.
Please mark your calendars now and let Brigitte Bowers know if you plan on attending so we can prepare some meals for the work crew. Contact Brigitte at
314-304-7877
or
brigitteandnorm@gmail.com
as soon as possible. This is an important work weekend and we need as many workers as possible. You can call me at the number below if you need additional details. Thanks in advance!
Best regards,
Tom Ronk--Executive Director of Re-enactments
573-690-0930
|
|
From the Journals
August 20, Monday 1804
Sergeant Floyd much weaker and no better... Serjeant Floyd as bad as he can be no pulse & nothing will Stay a moment on his Stomach or bowels... Serj. Floyd Died with a great deal of Composure, before his death he Said to me, “I am going away-- I want you to write me a letter.” We buried him on the top of a bluff 1/2 Mile below a Small river to which we Gave his name,... This Man at all times gave us proofs of his firmness and Determined resolution to doe Service to his Countrey and honor to himself...
--William Clark
|
1795 British half cent and 1802 US coins Lewis might have had as he was shopping for the journey.
|
Norm's Numismatics--Coins of History
Although our country was founded in 1776, the first US coins were not minted until 1793. did not have our own money until then. The earliest coin in our collection is a 1795 half cent. While I had collected coins since boyhood, in retirement I decided to become a professional coin dealer.
In 1999 I became interested in the
Lewis and Clark story and
being a part of the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles. Having retired from a 32 year military career in the Army in 1989 I was anxious to resume my military activity to some extent.
Starting in 1999 as a national coin dealer I combined my interests and announced far and wide to dealers that I had a major interest in all numismatic items from the Lewis and Clark time frame of 1800 to present. The items I was able to purchase from my dealer friends far exceeded my expectations. My display has gold and silver coins, medals, pins and items of all types to praise Lewis and Clark for what they accomplished during their trip. Pictured are coins the Captains might have had in their pouches.
--Norm Bowers, owns Eagle Coins & portrays Sgt. Pryor
|
|
Lewis & Clark Through the Eyes of a Child
|
|
Bud Clark and Mary Ellen McKenzie during Sgt. Floyd Day festivities she organized at Locust Grove.
|
|
If you ever wondered why you should support Lewis & Clark Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Mary Ellen McKenzie has a multitude of answers for you. Mary Ellen, now 16, was a newborn when she was diagnosed with serious health complications, but that hasn’t stopped her from pursuing her passion for Lewis & Clark history. In fact, the indomitable Mary Ellen is responsible for getting the Commonwealth of Kentucky to recognize Sgt. Floyd Day every August 20 (the date of his death in 1804) by resolution from the Governor of Kentucky.
It all started when Mary Ellen was 9 years old and travelling to St. Louis to see a pediatric specialist. She asked her mom, Alicia, to read her a book on Lewis & Clark and got hooked. Since her mom was homeschooling Mary Ellen, she encouraged her interest and a family adventure that involved Mom, Dad (Mark), Bobby and Mary Ellen began. For her 10th birthday, she went to the
Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center
near the site of Floyd's grave
. She continued to study each member in depth and read their journals. When asked who was her favorite member of the expedition, Mary Ellen answered, “Easy! Sgt. Floyd.” When asked what was her favorite memory of all the many DESC events she has attended, she replied, “Meeting Larry Boschen because he portrays Sgt. Floyd.”
When Mary Ellen learned that Sgt. Floyd was a native of her home state of Kentucky and only member of the Expedition that died, she wanted to know what had been done to honor his memory. The answer was nothing. Mary Ellen was determined to change that and Mary Ellen can be very persistent. At 10 years old, she petitioned Gov. Steve Beshear for a resolution declaring Aug. 20 Sgt. Floyd Day. She sat through the committee hearings at the capital in Frankfort, Kentucky and eventually the resolution passed. Sgt. Floyd would now be remembered and honored every August 20. But Mary Ellen wasn’t finished. With a lot of help from her dedicated parents, she planned commemorative events each year since. Events have been held at Locust Grove (home of George Rogers Clark) and Frazier Museum in Louisville with DESC members and history aficionados from several states attending to learn more about Sgt. Floyd and honor his legacy. Mary Ellen and her parents are grateful to Bud Clark, Jan Donelson, Hassan Davis and all DESC members that have supported her passion.
In 2019, Mary Ellen invited Hassan Davis, who portrays York, to her public high school in Paintsville, KY. to commemorate Sgt. Floyd Day. Hassan gave his portrayal to the entire high school and once again, the engaging Mary Ellen involved everyone around her in her passion for Lewis & Clark history. For Mary Ellen, like so many DESC members and supporters, it’s important for people to understand the lessons we can learn from the Lewis & Clark Expedition--lessons of leadership, unity and compassion that last a lifetime. “In high school, my history classes only cover from the Civil War to today,” Mary Ellen laments.
Understandably, she is excited about the new DESC Lewis & Clark film series and the opportunities it offers to bring the Lewis & Clark Expedition to life for kids who are home schooled, distance learners or anyone that wants to understand the details of Lewis & Clark’s epic journey to the Pacific. Her favorite film so far is the first one,
The Journey Begins
. “It’s my favorite because it has Captain (the Newfoundland dog) in it,” she said.
Mary Ellen astutely explained why studying Lewis & Clark is so important to her. “It’s like with my horse riding; it creates focus. With my autism, I need to focus on the trail as I ride. I use the Expedition as a way to focus as well. By the way, horse riding is an 1804 sport.”
|
|
WIN With Raffle On The River
|
|
Can you Help Us Promote the Lewis & Clark Raffle?
Many businesses will allow you to hang our poster in their store. Just copy the above poster, print and distribute. While there, ask if they would like to buy some raffle tickets.
Prizes include:
- 1 of 3 L&C Artworks numbered and signed by renowned artist Charles Fritz (shown)
- Hand-Crafted Walnut Mantle Clock made by talented DESC Member Tom Young
- $200 Bass Pro Gift Card
- Captain's Cabin Bed & Breakfast Stay in Louisville, KY
- Book: Complete Collection of Charles Fritz Paintings, autographed by the author
Raffle tickets are only $10 each, 5 for $40
All proceeds benefit
Lewis & Clark Discovery Expedition, Boathouse & Museum. Drawing to be held Oct. 17 at our Facebook Live event at Fort Massac Grand Encampment. Need not be present to win. Tickets are available at the Museum and
online
. Share the link! It's secure and we never sell contact information.
Do your part! Buy or more chances to WIN
.
|
|
Bishop's Landing
1050 S. Riverside Drive
St. Charles, MO 63301
Phone: 636-947-3199
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
