Dakota Zoo - Lewis and Clark Trail Experience

Information

Summer Hours - late April to September 10:00am - 6:00pm daily (weather permitting) Winter Hours - October to late April 1:00 - 5:00pm Friday thru Sunday (weather permitting)

(701) 223-7543

No Pets are permitted on the zoo grounds. Bona fide sevice animals for persons with disabilities are permitted. Exotic species, therapy or emotional-support animals are not permitted at Dakota Zoo. Guests that have service animals are asked to alert the staff at the admissions window that they are here with a service animal.

lat: 46.7994838 long: -100.8067539

The Dakota Zoo offers 125 species of birds, reptiles, insects, and mammals and is just steps from downtown Bismarck. Opened in 1961, the Dakota Zoo today welcomes more than 100,000 visitors a year to its expansive grounds which house Bengal tigers, whitetail deer, bald eagles, and Texas longhorns, to name a few.

For those interested in the history of the Lewis and Clark, many of the animals on the display are the same species as those that were encountered on their expedition. Make sure to visit our website to find a list of animals to keep an eye out for as you venture through the grounds.

Nearby Attractions

Super Slide Amusement Park

Super Slide Amusement Park

Super Slide Amusement Park, Riverside Park Road, Bismarck, ND, USA
Distance: 0.15 mi (straight line)

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The Paddle Trap

The Paddle Trap

2500 Pirates Loop Southeast, Mandan, ND 58554, USA
Distance: 0.73 mi (straight line)

Food and Drinks

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Camp Hancock State Historic Site

Camp Hancock State Historic Site

101 E Main Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA
Distance: 0.87 mi (straight line)

General History

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Turtle Effigy

Turtle Effigy

Bismarck, ND, USA
Distance: 0.95 mi (straight line)

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City of Bismarck, North Dakota

City of Bismarck, North Dakota

Bismarck, ND, USA
Distance: 0.99 mi (straight line)

Galleries and Venues Food and Drinks Outdoor Experiences

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Raging Rivers Waterpark

Raging Rivers Waterpark

Raging Rivers Waterpark, 46th Avenue Southeast, Mandan, ND, USA
Distance: 1.05 mi (straight line)

Outdoor Experiences Fun and Sports

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Brick Oven Bakery

Brick Oven Bakery

112 N 4th St, Bismarck, North Dakota 58501, USA
Distance: 1.06 mi (straight line)

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The Firepit

The Firepit

307 N 3rd St, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA
Distance: 1.08 mi (straight line)

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The Capital Gallery

The Capital Gallery

109 N 4th St, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA
Distance: 1.08 mi (straight line)

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Dakota Stage

Dakota Stage

412 E Main Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA
Distance: 1.10 mi (straight line)

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Pirogue Grille

Pirogue Grille

121 N 4th St, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA
Distance: 1.10 mi (straight line)

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Peacock Alley American Grill and Bar

Peacock Alley American Grill and Bar

422 E Main Ave, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA
Distance: 1.12 mi (straight line)

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Magic Photo Art

Magic Photo Art

Magic Photo Art, North 5th Street, Bismarck, ND, USA
Distance: 1.13 mi (straight line)

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Bismarck Art Alley

Bismarck Art Alley

117 N 5th St, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA
Distance: 1.17 mi (straight line)

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Former Governors’ Mansion State Historic Site

Former Governors’ Mansion State Historic Site

320 East Avenue B, Bismarck, ND, USA
Distance: 1.24 mi (straight line)

General History

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Steamboat Warehouse State Historic Site

Steamboat Warehouse State Historic Site

444 River Rd, Bismarck, ND 58504, USA
Distance: 1.25 mi (straight line)

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Laughing Sun Brewing Co.

Laughing Sun Brewing Co.

1023 E Front Ave, Bismarck, ND 58504, USA
Distance: 1.49 mi (straight line)

Food and Drinks Bars Breweries and Distilleries

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Walrus Restaurant

Walrus Restaurant

1136 North 3rd Street, Bismarck, ND 58501, USA
Distance: 1.53 mi (straight line)

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Sign Up for the Lewis & Clark Trail Experience Newsletter

Our bi-weekly newsletter provides news, history, and information for those interested in traveling along along the Lewis & Clark Trail.

By submitting this form, you are consenting to receive the Lewis and Clark Travel Experience newsletter provided by the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance. You can revoke your consent at any time by using the SafeUnsubscribe® link, found at the bottom of every email. Emails are serviced by Constant Contact.

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Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you haven’t yet to bring the adventure and magic of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail on your mobile device. Scan the QR code here or find it on your app store.

Interested in re-tracing Lewis’ steps to prep fo

Interested in re-tracing Lewis’ steps to prep for the expedition?

Walk in the footsteps of Meriwether Lewis as he bought supplies for the expedition in 1803. At the same time, experience the birth of the United States at key places in the Independence National Historic Park.

The trip by foot is 2 miles long.

Stop 1 - The Independence Visitor Center provides a great starting point for visiting the Independence National Historic Park. You will find knowledgeable rangers, ticket sales, historic films, and interactive exhibits.
https://www.phlvisitorcenter.com/IndependenceVisitorCenter

Stop 2 - Located at 526 Market Street the Liberty Bell Center has free admission on a first-come, first-served basis. In addition to the historic Liberty Bell, the site has exhibits, but no public restrooms.
https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/libertybellcenter.htm

Stop 3 - Independence Hall is where the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution were debated and signed. Tickets are required during prime hours.
GPS: 520 Chestnut Street
https://www.nps.gov/inde/planyourvisit/independencehall.htm

Stop 4 - The American Philosophical Society archives hold many of the Lewis and Clark Expedition’s original journals, Nicholas Biddle’s notes on queries, Titian Peale’s sketches of expedition bird specimens, and other related documents such as the Donation Book . Public exhibits generally change annually, and the site hosts several events open to the public. https://www.amphilsoc.org/
Philosophical Hall
104 South Fifth Street

Stop 5 - Second Bank of the United States houses over 150 portraits—many by Charles Willson Peale—of early American political leaders including the original portraits of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.

Note: The gallery will not re-open until at least February 2025.
https://www.nps.gov/inde/learn/historyculture/places-secondbank.htm
Located on 420 Chestnut Street between 4th and 5th Street

https://www.lewisandclark.travel/inspiration/philadelphia-walking-tour/

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #pennsylvania #philadelphia

Site of the Week: The Lewis and Clark Visitor’s

Site of the Week: The Lewis and Clark Visitor’s Center at Gavins Point Dam

By August of 1804, the Lewis and Clark Expedition had entered the land of the Yankton Sioux, a powerful tribe on the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark were tasked with notifying them that the United States now had a claim over their land. So, on August 29, the expedition met with the tribe at a site called Calumet Bluff where Lewis gave his routine speech and the customary gifts were handed out.

Today, the Lewis and Clark Visitor’s Center at Gavins Point Dam sits on Calumet Bluff, overlooking the nearly two-mile-long Gavins Point Dam. The dam was originally planned to be built further upstream at Gavins Point,the place from which the dam gets its name. However, even though it was constructed at a different site (which resulted in the formation of Lewis and Clark Lake), the dam maintained its original name throughout the project.

The visitor’s center, which is operated by the Army Corp of Engineers, has exhibits pertaining to the wildlife and rich history of the area. Information regarding recreation on Lewis and Clark Lake is also available, as well as a gift shop and bookstore. There is a viewing deck on the back of the visitor’s center which allows visitors to view the Gavins Point Dam.

https://www.nps.gov/places/lewis-clark-visitor-center-at-gavins-point-dam-nebraska.htm

Photos credited to Cait Clark

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #nebraska

Site of the Week: Sergeant Floyd Monument The Lew

Site of the Week: Sergeant Floyd Monument

The Lewis and Clark Expedition is known for having lost only one man, something of a miracle when it comes to such a lengthy and treacherous adventure. Sadly, the majority of people do not know the name of this man as he died rather early on in the Expedition. Fortunately, there is a monument dedicated to his burial in Sioux City, Iowa.

On July 31, 1804, Sergeant Charles Floyd, one of the original “Nine Young Men from Kentucky,” wrote in his journal that he was “verry sick and {had} ben for Sometime.” He recovered somewhat before suddenly taking a turn for the worse. Captain Lewis administered to him as he was the Expedition’s doctor, but it was no use. On August 20th, the young man passed away at the age of 22. It is widely believed that Floyd died from peritonitis caused by a ruptured appendix. If this truly was the case, there would have been nothing that Lewis could have done to save him.

Today, the Sergeant Floyd Monument stands on a cliff overlooking I-29, a tall obelisk surrounded by iron fencing for protection. There is a parking lot and informational signs concerning the Expedition and the last days of Floyd’s life. When standing at the base of the monument, one can look out over the mighty Missouri River. Despite the rumbling of the cars racing by below, the site possesses a solemn tranquility, especially when visited in the evening as the sun is fading in the west. A sun that young Charles Floyd was unable to pursue with his fellow explorers.

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #Iowa #siouxcityiowa

Lewis and Clark spent the winter close to the Clat

Lewis and Clark spent the winter close to the Clatsop Village that was located on the site of Fort Stevens State Park - located at the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon on Point Adams.

When Europeans first arrived in the area, it was the site of a large Clatsop settlement, and William Clark noted eight large houses on the site when they sailed past in 1805. The name of the landmark itself was coined on May 18, 1792, when Captain Robert Gray, a merchant mariner, sailed into the mouth of the Columbia River. He chose the name in honor of the then president of the United States, John Adams.

Point Adams later became part of Fort Stevens, a Civil War-era military fort established in 1863. The original earthen fort was built to keep British and Confederate gunboats from entering the mouth of the Columbia River. It was named after Union Army General Isaac I. Stevens, who also served as the first territorial governor of Washington state.

After World War II, Fort Stevens was considered obsolete, and it was turned over to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for use as a headquarters in 1947. Then, in 1975, the site was officially designed as a state park after being leased to Oregon State Parks.

Today, visitors can visit the historic Fort Stevens and Point Adams visitor center and museum, take tours through the old earthen fort and artillery gun batteries, or take advantage of all the wildlife opportunities like fishing.

There are several camping options available as well. All campsites are ADA accessible and come equipped with a picnic table and grill. Yurts and cabins are also available for rent. Restrooms, showers, a playground, and a dump station are on site.

https://www.lewisandclark.travel/listing/fort-stevens-state-park/

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #Oregon #fortstevensstatepark