itting along the Missouri River bluffs in northeastern Nebraska, Ponca State Park is considered to be the eastern gateway of the Missouri National Recreational River. A nearly 60-mile stretch of an untamed Missouri River borders the park.

The park, which was first established in 1934 on 200 acres of land donated by local citizens, now encompasses 892 acres of heavily forested rolling hills. From the ridges above the river, you have a

	Ponca State Park's lookout: Almost sixty miles of untamed Missouri River borders the park.

view of three states (Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota).

Near here on August 22, 1804, just two days after Sgt. Floyd died, Lewis and Clark traveled through the area. Lewis nearly poisoned himself here testing soils for mineral content by heating and tasting them.

This year, after five years of planning and an investment of nearly $18 million, a new Missouri National Recreational River Center was opened. The center features a wing of high-tech, interactive displays designed by the National Park Service to tell the story of an untamed stretch of the Missouri River.

The exhibits feature displays of the river's role in the lives of prehistoric Indians, European traders and settlers. There are also displays that show locations of steamboat wrecks from the 19th century. Kids can even sit in a canoe and spin the helm of a riverboat.

The center also includes a theater, computers and video screens that explain the history of this area even further.

It is also home to the newly established University of South Dakota Research Wing and Missouri River Institute (MRI). The research wing provides a research station on the river that will support

	Ponca State Park is located two miles from the town of Ponca, just off of Nebraska Highway 12 on S-26E.

environmental field studies with on-site data analysis and interpretation, furthering enhancing MRI's role as a regional institute.

The park, that currently has about 400,000 visitors annually, expects an increase to as many as 700,000. Currently, there are 14 modern two-bedroom cabins and excellent camping facilities complete with electrical hook-ups. There is also a dock and a hard-surfaced boat ramp allowing access to the Missouri River. Future plans include new cabins, two small lodges and a new swimming pool.