 s the 200th
anniversary of Lewis and Clark Corps of Discovery
expedition approaches, events are already being planned that will
allow visitors to take a glimpse into the past and experience the
adventures of Captains Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
The IMAX film "Lewis and Clark: Great Journey West"
can be seen at Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo until December 24th of
this year. The film runs daily at 10am and 2pm. Ticket prices are
$4.75 for children 3-11 years old and $6.75 for adults. A $1
discount is offered to Omaha Zoo Members.
On Sunday, November 17th in Nebraska City, the living-history
re-enactor Darrel Draper will portray Lewis and Clarks interpreter
George Drouillard from the deck of a full-sized replica of the
Corps of Discovery keelboat.
| George Drouillard, the 28-year-old son of a French Canadian father and Shawnee Indian mother, was recruited by Captain Meriwether Lewis upon reaching Fort Massac in November 1803. Captain Daniel Bissell, who had been ordered by the War Department to recruit volunteers for the Corps of Discovery, recommended Drouillard as an excellent hunter with a good knowledge of the Indians’ character and sign language. |
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Darrel Draper portrays George Drouillard, sign-talker, interpreter for Lewis & Clark. |
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Two
free one-hour shows will be presented at the Factory Stores of
America Mall in Nebraska City at 2pm and 4pm. The 7,000-pound
keelboat has a temporary home at the outlet mall but will
eventually be moved to the Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark
Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center which will be located in the
bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. The center will be open to
visitors sometime in 2004.
Draper will be performing his re-enactment in Omaha on February
5, 2003 at Columbia Elementary School at 10am and again at 2pm on
the same day at 9834 Harney Parkway North.
Two years ago, near Onawa, Iowa, A.C. "Butch" Bouvier began
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Replica of one of Lewis and Clark's keelboats seen here
launched in 1987. |
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the restoration of a keelboat replica he originally built in 1985.
The original replica was built and placed on display at Lewis and
Clark State Park along with replica's of two Lewis and Clark
support vessels.
The 55-foot keelboat is believed to have been the
first authentic keelboat replica built in the world. The keelboat
made its maiden voyage during the annual Lewis and Clark Festival
held at the park in 1988.
| In May of 1804 the Lewis & Clark expedition set out in a 55' keel boat along with two pirogues on their now famous expedition of discovery. Keel boats of this era were pushed, pulled, rowed, and sailed up the Missouri river. The red pirogue and the white pirogue were a form of longboat which closely resembled other small river craft plying the Missouri and Mississippi rivers in the early 1800's. |
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The nearly flat bottom of the keelboat allows it to run in very shallow water. |
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Bouvier maintained the keelboat for several years, repairing damage done to the vessel by wind, rain, sun and snow. Then in 1996, Bouvier decided to pursue other interests.
Since no one was properly maintaining the boat, it eventually became neglected. Bouvier was asked and agreed to restore it. The
Iowa Department of Natural Resources agreed to pay him $20,000 for the restoration work. The keelboat is now on display at the park.
A White Pirouge called the "Raycliff" was built by Bouvier in 1989 and was launched in the summer of 1990 at the Lewis & Clark festival. The White Pirouge was used on the
Platte River for filming a documentary for Nebraska ETV.
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This Boat was designed and constructed by butch during 1989. It was launched in the summer of 1990. |
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It also made history when members of the 'Friends of Discovery' sponsored a crew to take it from the Fort Randall Dam to Pierre, South Dakota, making it the first replica to ever travel along the Missouri River. The trip took from September 13, 2002 to Spetember 28, 2002 to complete.
The "Raycliff" will spend the winter and spring in Pierre, S.D. on display at the South Dakota Discovery Center and Aquarium.
Beginning in 2003, OmahaRiverFront.com will be publishing a
series of articles as we retrace the Corps of Discovery's journey
up the Missouri River to celebrate the Lewis & Clark
Bicentennial. We will also be keeping you informed of special
events that may coincide with this celebration. 
| If you're
interested in building your own replica of the famous
Lewis & Clark Expedition Keelboat - follow this
link: http://keelboat.com/d1.htm .
This site offers information on how you can purchase a
kit to build a detailed 13" model. The kit was
designed by Mr. Butch Bouvier, the designer and builder
of the keelboat replica in Onawa. All proceeds from the
sale of these kits will be used to maintain the
"Discovery" (name given to the Onawa replica). |
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