Sioux City Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

Saturday Class: Pssst…Pass it On!
2026-04-25 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, 900 Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, IA, 51103, United States
Have you ever kept a journal? On Saturday, April 25, 2026, at 11:00am, join Ms. Amy at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center to learn about recording entries in a journal. No registration is required for this free class. The class is held at 11:00am. Admission is free, but free will donations encouraged.
President Jefferson tasked Lewis and Clark to keep journals of the expedition. They kept two copies in case one got lost. The sergeants also kept a journal. Why? Because it was important to record the many plants, animals, landscapes, and more that they encountered. You will get a journal so you can make a record like the captains!
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center/Betty Strong Encounter Center was built and is sustained by the Missouri River Historic Development Organization as a gift of history to the community. For more information call 712-224-5242. Find the Center at www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc

Grant Wood: Prairie Rebel
2026-04-26 14:00 - 15:00
On Sunday, April 26, 2026, at 2:00pm in the Betty Strong Encounter Center auditorium, actor Tom Milligan performs as Grant Wood: Prairie Rebel. Admission is free, but freewill donations are encouraged.
In this 45-minute, one-man show, Grant Wood chats with the audience as if talking to an old friend across the backyard fence, or maybe at his home at Five Turner Alley in Cedar Rapids. He tells us about his life and how he changed the art world forever with his work. It is the man behind American Gothic that we hear and see, and the story of how he took the moments, the memories and the people of our state to show the whole world the specialness of this Iowa. After the presentation, the audience is encouraged to ask questions about Grant Wood and his life.
Tom Milligan has been a working theatrical professional for the past 45 years, working as an actor, director, scene designer, producer, and writer. Originally from Des Moines, companies credited to his resume include Charlie’s Showplace Dinner Theatre, The Drake Opera, The Drama Workshop, and The Old Creamery Theatre.

Saturday Class: A Tisket, a Tasket, Let’s Make a Basket!
2026-05-02 11:00
Have you made a basket? On Saturday, May 2, 2026, at 11:00am, join Ms. Amy at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center to learn about the unique skill of Basket Weaving. No registration is required for this free class. Admission is free, but free will donations encouraged.
Native women needed to know many skills. One very important skill was basket weaving. Traditionally, baskets were essential for survival, used for gathering, storing, transporting, and cooking food. Today you can learn the unique skill of basket weaving!
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center/Betty Strong Encounter Center was built and is sustained by the Missouri River Historic Development Organization as a gift of history to the community. For more information call 712-224-5242. Find the Center at www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc

A Celebration of Mother’s Day with the Langleys
2026-05-03 14:00 - 15:00
On Sunday, May 3 at 2:00 PM at the Betty Strong Encounter Center, Jack and Mike Langley will brighten our day with a “Celebration of Mother’s Day.” playing original and evergreen favorites. Admission is free, but freewill donations encouraged.
Mother’s Day always evokes a heart-warming presentation from this father and son duo. Mother’s Day is a celebration honoring the mother of the family or individual, as well as motherhood, maternal bonds, and the influence of mothers in society. It is celebrated on different days in many parts of the world and most commonly in the months of March or May.
Mike Langley is a singer-songwriter and 2012 Iowa Rock ’n’ Roll Music Association (IRRMA) Hall of Fame inductee. He has been known to teach basic guitar through Western Iowa Tech’s Lifelong Learning program. The Langleys have performed together onstage for more than 40 years, from Sioux City to Nashville, Tennessee, to Vienna, Austria and back.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center/Betty Strong Encounter Center was built and is sustained by the Missouri River Historic Development Organization as a gift of history to the community. For more information call 712-224-5242. Find the Center at www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc

Saturday Class: Beads, Beads, Beads!
2026-05-09 11:00
Have you ever used beads to make jewelry or to decorate a shirt? On Saturday, May 9, 2026, at 11:00am, join Ms. Amy at the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center to learn about the unique skill of Beading. No registration is required for this free class. Admission is free, but free will donations encouraged.
Native Americans have used beads for thousands of years. The Natives had long used beads made from stones, shells, and bone as currency for trading and ceremonies. Lewis and Clark gave gifts of glass beads to the Natives in trade for food, canoes, and horses. Beads were used to decorate clothing and to make jewelry, moccasins, bags, and ceremonial regalia. Today you can learn about the unique skill of beading!
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center/Betty Strong Encounter Center was built and is sustained by the Missouri River Historic Development Organization as a gift of history to the community. For more information call 712-224-5242. Find the Center at www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc

50th Annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar
2026-05-10 14:00 - 15:00
On May 10, 2026, at 2:00pm in the Betty Strong Encounter Center auditorium, leaders of the 50th Annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar will discuss and show images from the fifty years of preserving and enjoying the beautiful unique ecology of our Loess Hills. Admission is free, but freewill donations encouraged.
Conservation educators, naturalists, hikers, campers and nature enthusiasts will be packing their gear for the 50th annual Loess Hills Prairie Seminar set for May 29-31, 2026. The free outdoor education weekend is held in the Loess Hills northeast of Onawa, Iowa. The weekend has seasoned conservationists leading nature hikes, wildflower walks, ecology programs, wildlife discussions and outdoor skills demonstrations along with campfire cooking, outdoor education, geology / history lessons, and kids experiences.
Tyler Ruge, event coordinator Monona County conservation. naturalist and park ranger and Dianne Blankenship, former event coordinator and seminar board member, and a member of the seminar planning committee will cover the story of how the seminar got started, how it evolved over the decades, and where the seminar is at now and how things have changed. They will share images of the beautiful nature preserve, high in the scenic Loess Hills from past presenters and attendees. Tyler will share about the current state of the seminar and the future of the seminar. They will answer questions and give any other information people are interested in.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center/Betty Strong Encounter Center was built and is sustained by the Missouri River Historic Development Organization as a gift of history to the community. For more information call 712-224-5242. Find the Center at www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc

Enjoy the musical talents of Porch Swing
2026-05-17 14:00 - 15:00
On Sunday May 17, 2026, at 2:00pm in the Betty Strong Encounter Center, come enjoy a musical performance by the band Porch Swing featuring James Schrag on violin, Joe Von Hilton on guitar, and Dylan James on guitar. Admission is free, but freewill donations encouraged.
Porch Swing began on back porches across South Dakota and Minnesota, with a rotating cast of talented musicians paying tribute to the music of Django Reinhardt and the long heritage of “jazzers” that play his unique style of up-tempo acoustic swing often referred to as Gypsy Jazz or Hot Swing.
Composed of full-time musicians from other successful groups, Porch Swing is a passion project that plays a limited number of performances each year. Porch Swing also features original songs and non-traditional songs played in the Hot Swing style. Now based in the Black Hills, the present collective includes Dylan Lewis, Joe Von Holtum, Reuben Rodriguez, Louis Umbarger, Alex Diaz, Jeremy Quick, and James Schragg.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center/Betty Strong Encounter Center was built and is sustained by the Missouri River Historic Development Organization as a gift of history to the community. For more information call 712-224-5242. Find the Center at www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc

Iowa’s Ethnic Heritage, or “Who Do You Think We Are?”
2026-05-24 14:00 - 15:00
On Sunday, May 24, 2026, at 2:00pm in the Betty Strong Encounter Center auditorium, John Liepa Iowa’s Ethnic Heritage, or “Who Do You Think We Are?” Admission is free, but freewill donations encouraged.
Enjoy the unfolding and changing adventure of Iowa’s immigration history. Beginning with the Ioway, one of 17 distinctive indigenous tribal groups, he will trace chronologically who we are as Iowans.
From Spanish explorers and French trappers, traders and priests; to the dominant English, Germans and Irish; to Scandinavians, Dutch and Czechs, we will explore why these groups chose to leave their homelands and how they eventually ended up in Iowa. African Americans, Eastern Europeans and Hispanics have different stories to share along with other “newer” Iowans. This interactive talk will let us work together to discover who we are, and who we are becoming as Iowans.
Liepa is Professor Emeritus of History and Political Science at Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC.) He taught courses in Political Science, U.S., and Iowa History from 1972-2010. He has a B.S in History and an M.A. in Political Science from Iowa State University. He received an “Excellence in Education” award in 2001 and was honored as DMACC’s “Educator of the Year” in 2004. He served five terms on the State Historical Society of Iowa’s Board of Trustees from 1998 – 2113, having served both as Chair and Vice-Chair; and, on the Iowa Historical Foundation, the fundraising arm of the State Historical Society of Iowa. Since retiring, he has taught courses for the Senior College of Greater Des Moines, OLLI (Osher Lifelong Learning Institute) at Drake University and as an independent presenter on “Iowa’s Role in the Civil War,” Iowa’s Ethnic Heritage, or “Who Do You Think You Are?,” and the “Early History of Baseball in Iowa.” John has been a 24-year member and Program Chair of the Des Moines Civil War Roundtable.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center has received a grant award from Humanities Iowa, a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, in support of the Humanities Series programs.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center/Betty Strong Encounter Center was built and is sustained by the Missouri River Historic Development Organization as a gift of history to the community. For more information call 712-224-5242. Find the Center at www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc

Kevin and Joanne Keanes
2026-05-31 14:00 - 15:00
On Sunday, May 31, 2026, at 2:00 p.m., Kevin and Joanne Keane perform at the Betty Strong Encounter Center. Admission is free; freewill donations are encouraged.
Kevin is a lifelong Sioux City resident and the youngest of 12 children. He recently retired as a financial advisor and has been singing at weddings and funerals for over 40 years. He has also been honored to sing the National Anthem for many years as Sioux City has hosted the NAIA Women’s National Championships.
Joanne was born in Saigon, Vietnam, and her family moved to Sioux City in 1990. Joanne has been singing and playing guitar since age 14. Joanne teaches yoga, and Kevin and Joanne both sing in the Holy Cross church choir at Blessed Sacrament as well as their smaller ensemble group at St. Michael’s Church. Together they have four children and two grandsons.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center/Betty Strong Encounter Center was built and is sustained by the Missouri River Historic Development Organization as a gift of history to the community. For more information call 712-224-5242. Find the Center at www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc

“At Heart…A Westerner: Theodore Roosevelt’s Formation in the West”
2026-06-07 14:00
On Sunday, June 7, 2026, at 2:00pm in the Betty Strong Auditorium, Helen Lewis will share a fascinating exploration into “At Heart…A Westerner: Theodore Roosevelt’s Formation in the West.” Admission is free, but freewill donations encouraged.
Highly celebrated as leader of the Rough Riders and as twenty-sixth President of the United States, Theodore Roosevelt attributed his physical stamina and strength of character, in large part, to his experiences in the Dakotas as ranch owner and hunter. However, the young Theodore Roosevelt fulfilled many other roles in the West, which not only prepared him for his later rigorous public service, but which also influenced his own ideals of manhood. With courage and persistence, “Four Eyes” Roosevelt, the Dude from the East, transformed himself into a cowboy respected in the West. Lewis uses photos and stories, many by Roosevelt himself, to explore the conversion of New York urbanite Theodore Roosevelt into a Dakota ranchman.
Helen Lewis, retired instructor at Western Iowa Tech Community College, taught courses in English and Humanities. Her special interests include westerns, women artists, medieval mysteries, and square dancing. Originally with the Great Plains Chautauqua Society, Lewis continues to offer many programs for Humanities Iowa and Nebraska Humanities.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center received a grant award from Humanities Iowa, a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, in support of the Humanities Series programs.

Guitarist Byron Kuehl
2026-06-14 14:00
On Sunday June 14, 2026, at 2:00pm Byron Kuehl, one of Sioux City’s most sought after solo acoustic acts, will perform at the Betty Strong Encounter Center. Admission is free, but freewill donations encouraged.
Kuehl’s soulful vocals combine with driving acoustic guitar to engage listeners of all ages. The audience can expect to hear a mix of americana, blues, and popular music.
Kuehl is a Siouxland local who most recently played at Vangarde Arts. He has often played at various country clubs, restaurants, bars, and special events.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center/Betty Strong Encounter Center was built and is sustained by the Missouri River Historic Development Organization as a gift of history to the community. For more information call 712-224-5242. Find the Center at www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc

New Horizons Band of Sioux City
2026-06-21 14:00
On June 21, 2026, at 2:00pm in the Betty Strong Encounter Center Auditorium, the New Horizons Band of Sioux City under the direction of Benjamin Mauritz will present an amazing concert. Admission is free, but freewill donations encouraged.
The band will play a variety of music that is sure to delight an audience of all ages. New Horizons Band of Sioux City includes musicians with limited experience as well as those who participated in high school or college bands. values a diversity of participants, viewpoints, and music.
The band is part of the New Horizons International Music Association, which is an international non-profit organization committed to New Horizons’ philosophy of music-making and undertakes initiatives designed to support the development and growth of New Horizons music organizations. The Association’s primary purpose is to provide musical opportunities for adults.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center/Betty Strong Encounter Center was built and is sustained by the Missouri River Historic Development Organization as a gift of history to the community. For more information call 712-224-5242. Find the Center at www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc

Working with the Enemy: German, Italian and Japanese Prisoners of War in Iowa during the Second World War
2026-06-28 14:00
On Sunday, June 28, 2026, at 2:00pm, in the Betty Strong Auditorium, historian/educator/lecturer Chad Timm will share the captivating history of “Working with the Enemy: German, Italian and Japanese Prisoners of War in Iowa during the Second World War.” Admission is free, but free will donations are encouraged.
As part of a relatively quiet and under-publicized government program, thousands of enemy soldiers invaded Iowa in 1943. With the hugely successful 1942 Allied campaign against Adolf Hitler’s Afrika Corps in North Africa, the number of enemy prisoners of war (POW) needing interment grew dramatically. Great Britain, no longer able to accommodate the increasing number of POWs, looked to the United States for help. Helping with the detainment of enemy POWs made sense, as American cargo vessels were returning home with empty hulls after delivering war materials.
What began as an experiment in isolated locations in the south and southwest eventually led to more than 500 camps and 400,000 enemy soldiers interned in the United States, including two camps in the state of Iowa. Due to a severe shortage of agricultural laborers coupled with increased War Food Administration quotas for farm goods, Iowa’s farmers needed help doing their part to assist the United States in winning the war.
This talk will focus on the creation of two POW camps in Iowa during the Second World War: one in the Northern Iowa town of Algona and one in the Southwestern Iowa town of Clarinda. Some of the topics discussed will be life in a prisoner of war camp, community relations, the POW labor program, branch camps in more than 30 Iowa communities and the arrival of Japanese prisoners at Camp Clarinda in early 1945. Camp Clarinda was one of only two camps in the country to house Japanese soldiers. The story of POW interment in Iowa is a fascinating story of Iowans being confronted by the enemy: an enemy they not only needed to help them meet their wartime goals but also challenged them to find their humanity.
Chad has a BA in History from Simpson College, a master’s degree in history and a PhD in Education from Iowa State University. He taught middle and high school social studies in Central Iowa from 1995-2010 before moving to higher education where he is a social studies expert and teaches future social studies teachers at Simpson College. He recently published a book titled “Teaching History with Popular Media: Strategies for Inquiry Based Learning” with McFarland Press.
The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center received a grant award from Humanities Iowa, a state-based affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities, in support of the Humanities Series programs.
