Big impact at the Little Hills The Festival of the Little Hills, one of St. Charles' most popular celebrations, featured the Discovery Expedition front and center, with the Keelboat, demonstrations and displays all weekend during the August festival on the St. Charles Riverfront.

From Omaha to Kaw Point and stops between,

Keelboat voyage on Missouri River in October will teach about the Lewis & Clark Expedition

History buffs, students of all ages, families, and others who want to have a fun and free

way to learn more about the 1803-06 Lewis and Clark Expedition and local history will have a one-of-a-kind opportunity from October 3 to October 14 at locations along the Missouri River. A full-sized replica of the explorers’ keelboat, crewed by living-history re-enactors, will make its way 121 miles down the Missouri River, stopping along the way on these dates and at these locations:

• October 3: The keelboat will arrive by a semi-truck in Omaha, where it will be on display within Lewis & Clark Landing at The River Front in The River Front Plaza, just south of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail’s Visitor Center.
• October 4-5: The keelboat—along with the living-history re-enactors from the keelboat’s crew of members from the Lewis Clark Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Mo., will be available at The River Front from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. in Omaha. This will be part of the National Park Service’s first Lewis and Clark Expo!, a free family-friendly event where people can learn about the history of Lewis and Clark Expedition and its impact on the western expansion of the United States.
• October 6: The keelboat will be moved by truck early in the morning to its next destination, Bellevue, Neb.
• October 6-7: The boat will be moored in the river at Bellevue and be available for the public to visit and talk with the re-enactors.
• October 7: The boat will leave Bellevue to float down the river to Nebraska City, Neb. The crew of re-enactors will camp for two nights at the replica of the Fort Camp Dubois at the Lewis & Clark Visitor Center.
• October 8: The crew and boat will be available to the public at the Lewis & Clark Visitor Center in Nebraska City.
• October 9: The crew and boat will depart Nebraska City on October 9 and float downriver to Rulo, Neb., where the public will be able to visit the boat and the re- enactors.
• October 10: The boat and crew will depart Rulo on October 10 and head for Atchison, Kansas.
• October 10-13: The keelboat will arrive on October 10 at Atchison, Kansas. The boat will be tied up at the Veterans Memorial, Commercial and River Road, in the Veterans Memorial Park, part of the Riverfront Park complex. The keelboat and the re-enactors will be available to the public until October 13.
• October 13: The boat will move downriver from Atchison to the historic Lewis and Clark Riverfront Park at Kaw Point, a riverside park in Kansas City, Kansas. The start time for the public to visit is 5 p.m. Kaw Point is the area where the Lewis and Clark explorers camped from June 26 to June 29, 1804, at the confluence of the Missouri and Kaw rivers.
• October 14: The keelboat and re-enactors will be at the riverfront park at Kaw Point—but leaving at noon—and available to the public.

The crew of living-history re-enactors will be replicating the Lewis and Clark period in history by wearing uniforms, leathers, and other period clothing. They will teach about the expedition, carry firelocks, cook over open campfires, sleep under canvas tents, and portray the lifestyle of the explorers as closely as is possible in our modern world.

The Missouri River journey is presented by the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum in St. Charles. The re-enactors are members of the Lewis & Clark Discovery Expedition of St.

Charles, which operates the Boat House and Museum. The group has more than 100 re-enactors who teach heritage through living history. About 40 volunteers

are involved in planning and executing the river expedition.

The handcrafted keelboat is a one-of-a-kind replica constructed by St. Charles resident Glen Bishop based on drawings by William Clark, who with Meriwether Lewis led the expedition. The keelboat replica and replicas of two pirogues (long canoes) used by the

explorers took 16,000 volunteer hours to build. Clark’s drawings, by the way, are safeguarded in the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.

Several films and documentaries about the expedition have showcased the three crafts. When not appearing in events or reenactments, they are displayed at the Museum and Boat House in St. Charles, Mo. The pirogues will not be along on the keelboat’s early October journey.

“The keelboat’s journey down the Missouri River will provide genuine living history and

experiences for the public,” said Robert Foster, the Boat House and Museum executive

director. “This river expedition offers a one-of-a-kind learning experience that will help schoolchildren, families and even historians better understand the importance of the Lewis and Clark Expedition in leading the way for our country's westward expansion.”

For more information:

Contact Dewayne Knott, (816) 868-5343, louisa3@earthlink.net, or Jan Donelson, janpauldonelson@gmail.com.

For Kaw Point in the Greater Kansas City Area, contact Kaw Point Park, 913-321-5800,

visitkansascityks.com, or Dan Sturdevant, president of the Missouri-Kansas Riverbend

Chapter and Southern Prairie Region of the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance, 816-679-5925,

dan@sturdevantlawoffice.com.

Thanks to our Friends and Supporters for making the trip possible:

National Park Service

Lewis & Clark Trust

Back to the River

City of Bellevue Parks Department

Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Visitor Center

City of Atchison

River Rat Campground Friends of Kaw Point Park

Fort Osage

Southern Prairie Region of the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance

Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance

Gary & Louise Hicks

Article by Gary Kimsey, Board Member and Volunteer Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance

Missouri America MR340 river race

brings winners to the Boat House

The Boat House was a sight for sore eyes (and arms, legs, backs and butts) as the finish line for the Missouri American Water MR340 canoe and kayak race, July 24-26, 2024. Participation was impressive, with 11 paddlers from 37 states and 3 countries in 411 boats starting the race.

Of that total, 322 boats finished, 65 did not start and 86 did not finish. The Finish Line Party and Celebration was held on Friday, July 26 and included a band, “The Service”. Missouri American Water (MAWC) construction crew came in a week early to start working on the mulch, mud removal and ramp preparation.

Nancy Jackson, phase leader for the finish line preparations, said volunteer support was outstanding and critical to a great time at the finish line. Thanks to Karen Baggett, Tracy Baum, Kenny Berkemeyer, Marie, Carly and Melissa Brahm, Bill Brecht, Suzanne Carron, Bonnie Dillard, Ed Eller, Tim Foster, Bob Foster, Amy Freeman, Julie Griesenauer, Larry Kluesner, Mimi Jackson, Bob Learned, Steve Mansfield, Susan Marsh, Jim Martin, Marty Martin, Nadette Peterson, Orion Melton, Leah Webb and Ray Bulte. The best Volunteer by far was Marty Martin. Her dedication, hours, hard work and versatility were

exemplary!! Also a big thank you to Hermans Farm Orchard for fresh produce!

Boat House serves as base of operations

for extensive river cleanup

Missouri River Relief volunteers and crews fanned out to 21 locations along the Missouri's banks, retrieving tons of trash and making the beautiful Missouri a little more beautiful. Shown below, Barney Combs, a board member for Missouri River Relief, briefs volunteers on the day's work and provides a little river history. Below, crews head out to gather trash.

New perk for members:

Bid first on bargains from the Boat House/DESC vaults

Just like any household, the Boat House sometimes finds itself needing to discard items that are no longer needed, or have no immediate application. Case in point, this large, rusty cauldron. It has no use for us, but might be perfect for your garden, Halloween motif or God-forbid, kitchen. Interested? Send your bid, starting at $50, to Director@lewisandclarkboathouse.org. The winning bidder should have a plan to pick it up, but we might be able to deliver or meet up depending on the situation.

Mark Your Calendars:

Christmas Party Dec. 6-8!

A favorite tradition for friends old and new, the annual Christmas party will again be at the Boat House the weekend of December 6-8, with potluck event on the 6th, membership meeting and catered dinner on the 7th, and a devotional service on the 8th. Look for more details, including RSVP information soon!

We’d love to host your event!

Last year we hosted two dozen special events from baby showers to memorial services to everything in between. On the last day of 2022, a couple said “I do.” With a large classroom, balcony overlooking the river, museum space and park-like setting, we can make your event memorable and unique. DESC members get a discount on their rental!