Lewis and Clark Boathouse and Museum

On March 21st, an intrepid group of eight headed to the Lewis and Clark Boat House in St. Charles for our March caper. Quite a few members in the group were part of the group who visited the Confluence Tower and Lewis and Clark Museum in Hartford IL last fall. We all thought this latest visit was a fitting conclusion to our Lewis and Clark adventures.

 

Most of us picked up a “Nature Display Scavenger Hunt” and “Can You Find Me?” set of pictures on the way into the museum. We enjoyed “the hunt” and resource sharing.

The museum exhibits provided a good sampling of an exciting part of United States history, the expedition of Lewis and Clark and the Corps of Discovery. The museum is the home of the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles.

Your tour begins with a map of the paths taken by the expedition, the 8,000-mile journey from St. Charles to the Pacific and back again, taking over 28 months. There are various dioramas and murals throughout the museum.

Lewis and Clark recorded their observations, flora, fauna, and various minerals and fossils, including the Missouri geode.

Native Americans played an important role in the success of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The ways in which the Native Americans helped the expedition are on display.

Examples of nightly campsites are on display as are medicine and tools used by the expedition.

Scale-model boats are on display, including a historic dugout canoe and a full-size replica below the museum.

In searching for the blue heron as part of the scavenger hunt, we were treated to a blue heron standing on the riverbank outside the museum.

Afterwards, we headed across the street to the Schlafly Brewhouse for lunch, then on to Main Street for Grandma’s Cookies and a trip to Main Street Books.