Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center

The children’s film discusses unnecessary topics such as the spread of syphilis during the expedition and Lewis’s post-journey battles with Clarke’s slave York. Lewis’s suicide, or alleged suicide, is also discussed at length. These topics are given disproportionate treatment; the focus should be on the journey, not such trivia. The film also relies on “Native American oral traditions,” which have been criticized as being an unreliable basis for historical claims.

Aside from the film, the site is overall balanced and accurate. Thomas Jefferson is treated seriously, and his historical significance is not reduced to being a slaveholder. Sections on the enslaved man York and Native American woman Sacagawea, who contributed to the expedition, are not excessive or emphasized as part of an oppression narrative. There is likewise no obsession with “settler colonialism.”

The site is generally free of bias with the exception of the children’s film. The film’s focus on unnecessary details, reliance on “oral traditions,” as well as a description of westward expansion as “brutal” suggest some ideological bias.

The site is located just off Interstate 29 and has ample parking, making it a relatively quick stop for families. Admission is free and the atmosphere is Midwestern friendly and welcoming. Families with kids could skip the children’s movie without losing out on the experience. Parents could familiarize kids with the journey via maps before arrival and generate interest by telling their children about the famous dog they will see.

Visitors should come away with a sense of the early stages of the Westward movement, the enormity of the journey, a sense of the physical space, and the heroism of the figures who led this difficult trek. Lewis and Clark are highlighted as prime examples of the early spirit of discovery and pioneering that would play out over the course of the following century. Their journey reveals the importance of presidential leadership, the critical role of rivers and the natural environment in early American history, the complex relationship settlers had with Native Americans, and the centrality of personal toughness and grit to the westward expansion of the nation. More specifically, the site conveys the arduousness of the journey for those who do not understand how complicated travel was in the 19th century and how little communication there was.

Most importantly, the site will convey the strength and pioneering spirit of the individuals involved and how they expanded and shaped the young republic. These are people who have been sidelined in classroom curricula and from our historical stories for several decades, and this museum helps remedy that.

The site conveys a sense of pride and patriotism. The giant statue at the entrance sets the stage. Inside there is an elegant photo of an eagle on the Missouri River. There is also a display urging respect for the American flag. The Lewis and Clark book collection is impressive (although the site does not offer books for sale). Overall, the site emphasizes the arduousness of the journey, which was led by proud American pioneers who are worthy of respect.

Owned By: Missouri River Historical Development

Operated By: Missouri River Historical Development

Government Funded: Yes