Call Us At: 636-947-3199

We welcomed 25,670 museum visitors last year, from all 50 states and more than 40 countries, from tiny Andorra to distant Mongolia. We’re at the center of community celebrations, such as the Festival of the Little Hills and our 20th Anniversary Celebration, the destination for hundreds of paddlers in the MR-340, a regular partner with the St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau and destination for school groups, senior centers, and tour groups. Watch your mailbox for our Annual Report to the Community, showcasing all the goodness of 2023 and previewing the plans for 2024.

Look for college-age docents, new exhibits and continued work on our film series thanks to a grant from the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation from the Lewis & Clark Trail Stewardship Endowment: A National Council of the Lewis & Clark Expedition Bicentennial Legacy Project. Part of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation, the grant program is a huge boost to our educational and outreach projects.

We will be hosting the Hawken Classic event this year and I am excited that I was able to nail down this event as we were on a short list of 5 to 6 other locations. The Hawken Rifles were built here in St. Louis and the main rifle for heading out West during the Mountain man period. Jacob Hawken is buried in Bellefontaine Cemetery not 200 yards away from Captain Clark's grave.

We need to start setting up on Wednesday and Thursday May 15 & 16. We will be adding backdrop color to the event and I am NOT trying to upstage them at all. We will be dressed down for this event. Leave your Class “A” uniforms at home. Yes, your blue coats, Lewis coats and class “A” hats, leave them at HOME! The only member I see in a blue coat would be the visiting Amos Stoddard, the military governor of the Louisiana Territory.

I plan for us to be wearing our buckskins like the return trip back in 2006. We can still be wearing the blue fatigue hat or any other period hat when outside. If you do not have buckskins that we used in 2006, then a hunting shirt and hunting frocks will be fine. Call me if you have any questions.

We will be setting up tents to CAMP and hopefully sleep in like we did from 2003-2006. I am NOT setting the tents up as a display tent’s during the day for us to sit at tables all day!!! So as long as we can cover one of the boats outside on the driveway (probably the Red Boat), we should be free to walk around and talk about Lewis and Clark on the river as we viewed it. Plus, this will free our members up to visit other camps and go to the many Seminars that are scheduled over the 3 days.

I already talked to and have (3) DESC members setting up a Lewis & Clark Period weapons display in our new meeting room in the Museum. Note that all the REAL Hawken rifle collection’s will be on display in our main classroom in the Museum.

I do have the first Mountain man, Davy Cain (aka John Colter) setting up his small camp with his furs and traps. On August 13, 1806 Colter was honorably discharged from the detachment and headed back up the Missouri River with his 2 new partners. This part of the story needs to be told to our visitors.

I also talked to two DESC members to make sure I have George Drouillard covered for this event. As Drouillard was hired by Manuel Lisa and headed back up the river with John Potts and Peter Weiser.

So, I have a start on some of the key players here but camp needs to be set. The flag still needs to be raised and lowered at our camp daily and sitting around doing camp chores and maybe period cooking.

There will be other period campers, Trader’s setup and food vendors during this event. The Hawken Shop has moved years ago to Oak Harbor, Washington State and they will be onsite with a Marquee setup selling their items as well. So, if you want a Hawken rifle or a rifle kit, bring your wallet.

Also note that I needed one of the boats pulled outside to open an area for a place to hold the seminars during the event. That is the reason we will need to man a few members off and, on all weekend, to discuss the more than 25 boats that moved L & C up and down the rivers. I am not sure I covered everything but I am sure there will be lots of questions so, direct them to me. You can also see a lot of the details for this event on Facebook as I have been sharing the posts as they come out and they are also linked to our Museum Facebook page.

Please start scheduling with Larry Boschen for the event. I will need to know your

availability for the setup days and the days of the event. May 15- May 19, 2024

Phase Leader

Bud Clark, a Great, Great, Great, Grandson of William Clark, Dick Prestholdt, and Scott Ballentine will be discussing the period weapons of Lewis and Clark during the Lewis and Clark Expedition at The Hawken Classic 2024. All three spent the major part of 2003 - 2006 on the 200th Bicentennial Event of the Lewis and Clark Reenactment. This is a NEW addition to the Hawken Classic. These gentlemen will all be located inside the Boat House Museum. #hawkenclassic2024

Tickets are free, but you can register now at Eventbrite.

Marty is currently employed at a medical non-profit, the American Optometric Association. She joined the Lewis & Clark Boathouse & Museum in 2022 and has participated in several of its events during this time. She is an active member of the Saint Charles Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution, currently serving as Chair of the Americanism committee. She has a love of history and historic preservation and is a member of the St. Charles County Historical Society. While only being active in the group for a few years, she sees the importance of keeping, and expanding DESC as the premier reenactment organization.

Mack and Charleen have good insurance but with all the unknown expenses such a food, lodging for Charleen and who knows what else this will help them cope with some of those unknowns. Its hard to imagine what they are going through right now so please consider a donation. From the doctor who advised Mack to get to Mayo, the private pilot friend and so many other things, God's hand has been very evident in this journey. So with your continued prayers and donation, we can get Mack and Charleen home by Christmas. To learn more, visit https://gofund.me/a5353724.

Dues are paid by the calendar year: You can renew online, call 636-947-3199 or send a check to DESC, 1050 S. Riverside Drive, Saint Charles, MO 63301. Thank you for your support and for being a member!

Calling history enthusiasts, riverfolk and adventurers – if you are interested in getting hands-on in telling history aboard and around our magnificent boats, we’d love to talk to you. We’re seeking volunteers to (literally) learn the ropes and dress the part as we get the boats onto the river and expand our educational mission. To get involved, call 636-947-3199 or email director@lewisandclarkboathouse.org.

The first release of our film series capturing key moments in the journals of Lewis & Clark is now available for purchase and viewing. As members of the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, you can subscribe to the initial introductory release of the Series at a greatly reduced price for a limited time offer of $29.99, a discount of 50 percent for the first six episodes. TO ACCESS AND DOWNLOAD THE VIDEOS, CLICK HERE.

Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation (Lewis and Clark Trail Stewardship Endowment: A National Council of the Lewis and Clark Expedition Bicentennial Legacy Program)

Mr. & Mrs. Jan Donelson

University of Missouri-St. Louis Graduate Program in Museums, Heritage and Public History

The list is updated continually on our website! Visit and learn more about how you can get involved. And a special shout out to our Board and Staff for giving selflessly all year long.

Form 990, Annual Tax Filing As a 501(c)3 non-profit, the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles is required to file an annual statement for public viewing. The report is published here for your reference.

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We're glad to accept gifts of cash via our online portal and we are a 501(c), with donations eligible for tax deductions. We hold Silver Certification from Guidestar, so you can feel comfortable donating.

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