LEWIS AND CLARK REENACTMENT
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 11 TO SUNDAY, OCTOBER 13
A wonderful opportunity popped up rather quickly, and we are excited to bring it to all families in the area!
A full-sized replica of Lewis and Clark’s keelboat with a crew of living-history re-enactors, will be recreating the historic expedition in 1803-06 with a voyage of 121-miles down the Missouri River from Omaha, Nebraska to the Greater Kansas City Area from October 3 to October 14.
One of the key and lengthy stops for the reenactment will be in Atchison at Veterans Memorial, Commercial and River Road, from October 11-13.
On Friday, October 11, over 300 3rd through 8th grade students from St. Benedict’s School and Effingham will gather at the Riverfront from 9:00am to 2:30pm to visit seven stations to learn more about the impact this famous expedition had on our country and the fun local history of Lewis and Clark. So that your students will enjoy smaller groups at the stations, we would like other family groups to come from 2:30pm to 5:00pm on Friday, or anytime on Saturday between 9am and 4pm. On Sunday, the keelboat leaves around 10 or 11 a.m. and the re-enactors will break camp at 3pm.
The visit by the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles is a rare opportunity for all to experience the Lewis and Clark Expedition firsthand. The last time the reenactment came through Atchison was for the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration in 2004.
The first 4th of July west of the Mississippi River was celebrated by the Lewis and Clark expedition in 1804 in what are now Atchison and Doniphan Counties. The Expedition was an army expedition ordered by President Thomas Jefferson to explore and map the Louisiana Purchase. The flag at that time was 15 stars and stripes.
The 7 stations:
The Keel Boat
Seaman the dog (aka Captain)
Captain Clark’s Station
Medicine of the Expedition
Clothing of the Expedition
Weapons of the Expedition
Fire starting
Information about your visit:
· There will be ample parking in the parking lot adjacent to the park or on streets in the area.
· There will be 3 porta potties and one accessible porta potty plus 2 wash stations located in the parking lot off Commercial Street
· There is no charge for this wonderful re-enactment.
· If your families attend all 7 stations, it will take 1.75 to 2 hours (15 minutes per station). If your families cannot stay that long it is okay, although we encourage them to do so. If you have young children, you can plan accordingly.
· The Discovery Expedition of St. Charles will have a small gift shop for those who are interested.
If you have more questions, please contact Karen Seaberg at twoseabergs@msn.com or by calling my cell at 913-367-5823. We look forward to seeing you on the Riverfront!
A few good resources:
Video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91IbDuiJNdM Free video (subscribe first – no cost). (good synopsis, great for grades 3-5, but good info for grades 6-7-8. About 10 min.
Ken Burns/PTS – interactive https://kcpt.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/f5705ebc-dc5f-4407-9ec5-0ecb837c5ff2/interactive-lewis-and-clark-trail/ (most suitable for grades 6-7-8)
Who were the key players of the Lewis and Clark’s Corp of Discovery?
https://lewis-clark.org/primary/members/ (all grades)
A fun rap that hits the key points of Lewis and Clark and the Corp of Discovery!
Ten Interesting Facts! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NVkHfn6-Zl4 Older and younger students will enjoy this! (11 minutes).
THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION
JULY 4, 1804
WHAT HAPPENED IN ATCHISON AND DONIPHAN COUNTIES
· They named White Clay Creek 1804, Fourth of July Creek.
· They ate corn on Atchison’s riverfront
· Captain Lewis walked up the bluff at the riverfront. He believed the paths to be Indian trails. (Researchers believe this is the hill next to the Riverhouse that leads up to the Berger home.)
· They named Independence Creek and camped there on July 4, celebrating the first Fourth of July west of the Mississippi River. There is now a Kanza Earth Lodge replica at this location and a bridge across the creek. This is the original Independence Creek north of Atchison, not the Corps of Engineers channelized part of the creek on River Road.
· Each member received an extra Gil of Whiskey to celebrate the day.
· Captain Clark, who was usually quiet about the flora and fauna in his journals, expounded on the beauteous plain where flowers and grasses abounded.
· They encamped that night close to a Kanza Indian village. The village was either abandoned or the tribe was out west hunting buffalo.