The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, (the Center) in Sioux City, Iowa, has an amazing outdoor campus that is always open for visitors. The campus sits on 79 acres of scenic, wooded bluffs on the Missouri riverfront at 900 Larsen Park Road.
The campus has a variety of trees. Four towering cottonwoods greet visitors as they follow the sidewalk to the Center from the parking lot. Spread across the yard are several maple and oak trees. Secluded in the back is a stately sycamore tree with its distinctive bark.
Even before visitors enter the lot, they have sighted the 30-by-50-foot U.S. flag atop a 150-foot flagpole. As they park, they will see adjacent to the flagpole the 14-foot-tall bronze “Spirit of Discovery” sculpture, which depicts Captain Lewis, Captain Clark and Lewis’s Newfoundland dog, Seaman.
The lawn is festooned with various bronze statues of animals that the Lewis and Clark Expedition would have encountered: bear, elk, white-tailed deer, bison, yellow-belly marmot, and two coyotes. The statues are a visitor favorite for photo opportunities.
Amid the lush green grass are various plots for plants. Some like the cone flower, salvia, and bluestem grass are native to Iowa. Other plants such as Russian sage and switch grass have adapted to the Iowa climate and provide a beautiful landscape.
For visitors in need of relaxation, three black metal crafted benches encircle an area under the cottonwood trees. This spot is a favorite on a hot, summer day, for the trees provide ample shade. Young visitors can enjoy playing four “flowers” whose colorful, metal petals make wonderous sounds when drummed.
Closer to the river, visitors will find an intriguing set of trees. Instead of taking down the dead trees after the 2011 flood, wood carvers transformed them into lawn décor. One tree presents a scene where a mother owl sits atop the tree, her two babies peek out of a hole beneath her, and a curious raccoon seems to be paying them a visit. Tucked in behind the buildings an exploring visitor can find a tree carved into a channel catfish. A majestic eagle tree carving completes the grouping.
A cozy picnic area with a pergola and two picnic tables create yet another resting spot.
Next to the pergola, is Percy the Pelican, the Center’s mascot. (Lewis and Clark saw large numbers of migrating pelicans in this area.) Percy—artistically rendered out of scrap metal—sports a jaunty captain’s hat with a feather.
The Center’s friendly staff invites you to enjoy your visit and smile for the cameras!
