Embark on an unforgettable journey along the Missouri River, tracing the path of Lewis and Clark! Begin in White Cloud, Kansas, where the stunning Four-State Lookout offers breathtaking views of lands rich in indigenous history. Follow the river north to Brownville, Nebraska, a charming town filled with frontier history and steamboat-era charm.
In Nebraska City, step into history at the Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Center and explore a replica of Camp Dubois. Stroll tree-lined streets in the birthplace of Arbor Day. In Omaha, walk the scenic riverfront at Lewis and Clark Landing, get your Trail Passport stamp, and cross the Missouri River on the Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge. Discover art and pioneer history at the Durham and Joslyn Museums. Further north, visit Fort Atkinson’s historic reenactments before ending in Sioux City at the Sgt. Floyd Memorial, honoring the expedition’s only fallen member.
Read more in our Digital Travel Magazine and on our Educational Website – Discovering Lewis and Clark Check the Lewis and Clark Trail Experience Events page as you plan your visit to find additional festivals, programs, and events along your route.
Nestled in the far northeastern corner of Kansas, White Cloud is a small but historically rich town along the Missouri River. Named after Chief White Cloud of the Iowa Tribe, this community has played a significant role in the region’s cultural and economic history.
Founded in 1857, White Cloud was once a bustling river port and trading hub, attracting steamboats and settlers heading west. During its peak in the 19th century, it was envisioned as a major city, rivaling nearby St. Joseph and Kansas City. Though those dreams never fully materialized, White Cloud remains a fascinating town with deep historical roots.
A key attraction in White Cloud is the Four-State Lookout, a scenic overlook offering panoramic views of Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, and Iowa. This unique vantage point makes the town a favorite stop for travelers exploring the region. Additionally, White Cloud hosts the famous Flea Market, one of the largest in the Midwest, attracting visitors searching for antiques and collectibles.
The Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska (ITKN) is a sovereign nation and federally recognized tribe organized under a constitution and bylaws approved on February 26, 1937. The Tribe is also known as the Ioway or Báxoje. Headquarters are located on the Iowa Tribe of Kansas and Nebraska Reservation. The reservation straddles the eastern borders of the lands now known as Kansas and Nebraska, along the confluence of the Nímaha (Big Nemaha River) and Nyisoji (Missouri River). The Iowa River and the State of Iowa were named after these people.
By the time white settlers first entered Iowa in the mid-1800s, the Tribe had moved their villages to northern Missouri due to pressure and incessant warfare in Iowa between the Sioux in the northern and western parts of the state and the Sauk and Meskwaki in the southern and eastern parts of the state. The Missouri land was sold to the United States government in 1836, known as "the Platte Purchase" and moved the boundary between Missouri and Kansas along the Missouri river instead a straight line north from Kansas City. This provides the state of Missouri with its current outline.
White Cloud, Kansas, USA
Four State Lookout, 3rd Street, White Cloud, KS, USA
Ioway Bee Farm, Thrasher Road, White Cloud, KS, USA
Iowa Tribe Powwow Grounds, White Cloud, KS, USA
1737 Elgin Rd, Highland, KS 66035, USA
Iowa Tribe Powwow Grounds, White Cloud, KS, USA
View ListingBrownville, Nebraska, is a historic town located along the Missouri River in the southeastern part of the state. Founded in 1854, it was one of Nebraska’s earliest settlements and played a significant role in the region’s early development. Once a thriving river port and political center, Brownville saw its prominence decline with the rise of railroads that bypassed the town. Today, it is known for its well-preserved historic buildings, cultural attractions, and scenic river views. Visitors can explore sites like the Brownville Historical Society, the Governor Furnas House, and the Captain Meriwether Lewis Dredge Museum.
Brownville, NE, USA
Main St & 5th St, Brownville, NE 68321, USA
1 E Water St, Brownville, NE 68321, USA
Main St & 5th St, Brownville, NE 68321, USA
View ListingNebraska City, located along the Missouri River in southeastern Nebraska, is a historic town known for its deep ties to westward expansion and agriculture. Founded in the mid-19th century, it played a key role as a river port and supply center for pioneers traveling westward. Today, Nebraska City is best known as the "Home of Arbor Day," as it was here that J. Sterling Morton established the tree-planting holiday in 1872. The city is home to Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, the former estate of the Morton family, as well as the Arbor Day Farm, which continues to promote conservation and tree planting. Nebraska City also offers a variety of museums, including the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, which highlights the famous expedition’s journey through the region.
Nebraska City, NE, USA
407 N 14th St, Nebraska City, NE 68410, USA
Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE, USA
100 Valmont Drive, Nebraska City, NE 68410, USA
Arbor Lodge State Historical Park, Arbor Avenue, Nebraska City, NE, USA
View Listing100 Valmont Drive, Nebraska City, NE 68410, USA
View ListingVisiting Omaha offers a fascinating journey through history, particularly for those interested in the Lewis and Clark Expedition. The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, operated by the National Park Service, provides an in-depth look at the explorers’ journey, their interactions with Indigenous nations, and the lasting impact of their expedition. Just outside, the Lewis and Clark Riverfront Sculpture Garden features striking bronze statues depicting key moments from the expedition, set against the scenic backdrop of the Missouri River. Omaha is also home to the Joslyn Art Museum, a cultural gem featuring an impressive collection of European, American, and Indigenous art, housed in a stunning Art Deco building. Nearby, the Durham Museum, located in the beautifully restored Union Station, showcases Omaha’s rich railroad and immigration history with immersive exhibits and artifacts.
Omaha, NE, USA
The Durham Museum, South 10th Street, Omaha, NE, USA
Chief Big Elk Statue, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
2200 Dodge St, Omaha, NE 68102, USA
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Bob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge., Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Metropolitan Community College - Fort Omaha Campus - Library Bldg#23, North 30th Street, Omaha, NE, USA
825V+26 Omaha, Nebraska, USA
19962 Monument Rd, Council Bluffs, IA 51503, USA
Fontenelle Forest, Bellevue Boulevard North, Bellevue, NE, USA
Fontenelle Forest, 1111 Bellevue Blvd N, Bellevue, NE 68005, USA
Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
View ListingBob Kerrey Pedestrian Bridge., Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
View ListingMetropolitan Community College - Fort Omaha Campus - Library Bldg#23, North 30th Street, Omaha, NE, USA
View ListingFort Calhoun, Nebraska, is a small yet historically significant city located in Washington County, just north of Omaha. Rich in history, it is home to Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, the site of the first U.S. Army post west of the Missouri River. Established in 1819, Fort Atkinson played a crucial role in early frontier defense, trade, and diplomacy with Native American tribes. Today, visitors can explore reconstructed buildings, living history demonstrations, and interpretive exhibits that bring the 19th-century fort to life.
The area also holds deep cultural significance as the location of the First Council, where Lewis and Clark met with Otoe and Missouria tribal leaders in 1804 during their expedition. This historic meeting marked one of the earliest recorded diplomatic engagements between the U.S. government and Indigenous nations in the region. A commemorative marker and interpretive signage highlight the site's importance.
For those interested in learning more about the region’s past, the Washington County Museum in Fort Calhoun offers exhibits on local history, including pioneer life, Native American heritage, and artifacts from Fort Atkinson. The museum provides valuable insights into the people and events that shaped the area's development.
Fort Calhoun, NE, USA
102 N 14th St, Fort Calhoun, NE 68023, USA
Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, South 7th Street, Fort Calhoun, NE, USA
Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, South 7th Street, Fort Calhoun, NE, USA
View ListingBoyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge was authorized in 1992 and established in 1997 to restore and protect fish and wildlife habitat in and along the Missouri River. At Boyer Chute, the namesake side channel was restored after being blocked in 1937 to aid riverboat navigation. Following restoration, many of the wildlife species that historically utilized the land began to return and flourish in the area. On Boyer Chute visitors enjoy hiking and birding along the nearly 8 miles of hiking trails, hunting of white-tailed deer and turkey in the bottomland forests, and fishing along the restored chute.
One of the more memorable events along this bend was that of the Steamboat Bertrand, which in 1865 was traveling upriver to a mining town in Fort Benton, Montana when it hit a snag and wrecked on what is now refuge grounds. All passengers escaped unharmed but the boat quickly became submerged and eventually buried by the muddy Missouri. The wreck was forgotten until 1968 when two Omaha businessmen, Sam Corbino and Jesse Pursell, located the wreck and led an excavation of its cargo. Today, the refuge’s visitor center is home to the archaeological collection containing over 250,000 artifacts excavated from the buried wreck of the Steamboat Bertrand.
Boyer Chute National Wildlife Refuge, Rivers Way, Fort Calhoun, NE, USA
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, 316th Lane, Missouri Valley, IA, USA
DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge, 316th Lane, Missouri Valley, IA, USA
View ListingOn August 13, 1804, members of The Lewis and Clark expedition visited the Omaha Big Village, also referred to as Ton won tonga. This village, located near present-day Homer, Nebraska, was founded around 1775. At the time, the village was known for its control over all fur trade on the Upper Missouri River, and it operated under the power of Chief Blackbird. The village reached a population of about 1,100 residents, however, in 1800 it was struck by a smallpox epidemic that ended up killing both the Chief and ⅓ of the tribe's entire population. Expedition members visited shortly after this tragedy, so they did not get to see it at the peak of its existence.
Today, what remains of the village is located on private property. There is a sign detailing the historical significance of the site, remembering the great role that it played in society in its area. Visitors are not able to walk directly up to the site, however it is able to be viewed publicly from a pull off along US-75.
Tonwantonga Historical Marker, Homer, NE, USA
tonwantonga historical marker nebraska
Sergeant Charles Floyd, the only member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to lose his life during the historic journey. The towering obelisk stands on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River, a fitting tribute to the young soldier whose legacy endures through his connection to the great American story of exploration and discovery.
Sergeant Floyd Monument, South Lewis Boulevard, Sioux City, IA, USA
Sergeant Floyd Monument, South Lewis Boulevard, Sioux City, IA, USA
225 Nebraska St, Sioux City, IA 51101, USA
Sioux City Public Museum, 4th Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, IA, USA
Sergeant Floyd River Museum, Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, IA, USA
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, Sioux River Road, Sioux City, IA, USA
Heritage Park, South Harrison Street, Elk Point, SD, USA
Sergeant Floyd Monument, South Lewis Boulevard, Sioux City, IA, USA
View ListingLewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, IA, USA
View ListingSergeant Floyd River Museum, Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, IA, USA
View ListingDorothy Pecaut Nature Center, Sioux River Road, Sioux City, IA, USA
View ListingHeritage Park, South Harrison Street, Elk Point, SD, USA
View ListingOur bi-weekly newsletter provides news, history, and information for those interested in traveling along along the Lewis & Clark Trail.