Hitchcock Nature Center - Lewis and Clark Trail Experience

Information

6:00 am to 10:00 pm

(712) 545-3283 ext. 5833

$5.00 per vehicle, payable with exact change or check at the gate

lat: 41.4144721 long: -95.856667

While Lewis and Clark never passed directly through Loess Hills, where the Hitchcock Nature Center is located, it is nevertheless a sight not to be missed. Loess Hills itself held a significant meaning to the expedition of Lewis and Clark as it was not too far from Council Bluffs, Iowa. If the name sounds familiar, it is because it was the meeting point of the Lewis and Clark expedition party and the Otoe tribe.

Today, the Hitchcock Nature Center is perfect for the outdoor recreation enthusiast as it offers a plethora of opportunities for its visitors. The park boasts an archery range, hawk watching, geocaching, earthcaching, hunting, seasonal activities, a playground for children, snowshoe rentals, trails for hiking, and adventure packs. The facility also offers a multitude of various campsites for the visitors who wish to extend their stay.

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Neale Woods

Neale Woods

14323 Edith Marie Ave, Omaha, NE 68112, USA
Distance: 5.34 Away

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Lewis and Clark Monument Park

Lewis and Clark Monument Park

19962 Monument Rd, Council Bluffs, IA 51503, USA
Distance: 8.18 Away

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Fort Atkinson State Historical Park

Fort Atkinson State Historical Park

Fort Atkinson State Historical Park, South 7th Street, Fort Calhoun, NE, USA
Distance: 8.60 Away

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General Crook House and Museum

General Crook House and Museum

826Q+3R Omaha, Nebraska
Distance: 8.99 Away

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Fort Omaha

Fort Omaha

825V+26 Omaha, Nebraska, USA
Distance: 9.03 Away

Forts Guided Tours

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Missouri Valley, Iowa

Missouri Valley, Iowa

Missouri Valley, Iowa, USA
Distance: 9.93 Away

Cultural Districts

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Malcolm X Birthsite

Malcolm X Birthsite

3448 Evans St, Omaha, NE 68111, USA
Distance: 10.19 Away

General History

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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – History Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – History Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 10.91 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – River Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – River Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 10.91 Away

Guided Tours Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – Flora Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – Flora Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 10.91 Away

Guided Tours Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – Notable Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Visitor Center – Notable Markers

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 10.91 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters Visitor Center

The Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters Visitor Center

Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Headquarters and Visitor Center, Riverfront Drive, Omaha, NE, USA
Distance: 10.91 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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If you are thinking about what you could get someo

If you are thinking about what you could get someone who loves the history of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, think about...

Connecting with the Nez Perce (Nimiipuu) way of life through Nez Perce Traditions! (Traditions). This amazing business offers handcrafted items from tribal and local artists, including beaded jewelry, deer-hide baby moccasins, warrior art, medicine bags, dresses decorated with cowrie shells, a beaded cradleboard, horse forehead ornaments, apparel, beauty and self-care products and more.

The shop’s goal is to invest, support and promote local Indigenous and diverse artisans. Drop into their storefront in beautiful downtown Lewiston’s Newberry Square, Idaho, for a custom authentic tribal shopping experience. Or call or shop online, and check their Facebook site, authentic tribal shopping experience (https://www.facebook.com/nezpercetraditions/), to see new arrivals, sales and specials. The Facebook page also announces when Traditions will appear at local art shows and events.

While visiting, if you have the time, be sure to book a Nez Perce tour as well!

https://www.lewisandclark.travel/listing/nez-perce-traditions-nimiipuu-gift-shop/

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #idaho #nezperce #shoplocal

Site of the Week: Locust Grove Locust Grove was e

Site of the Week: Locust Grove

Locust Grove was established in 1792 by William and Lucy Clark Croghan and has seen many famous people over the years. Among them are Presidents James Monroe and Andrew Jackson and the famous naturalist John James Audubon. Lewis and Clark also visited the house and regaled them with stories of the west over dinner.

Locust Grove is situated in Louisville, Kentucky, about 4,000 feet south of the Ohio River. Surrounding the house is a well-maintained grass lawn with a parking lot for visitors. Besides the house itself, there is a visitor’s center with a gift shop. Guides offer highly informative tours of the house, giving visitors a view into what life was like for these members of the Clark family. Besides being a significant site for Lewis and Clark historians, one room on the first floor of Locust Hill also housed former American Revolution General George Rogers Clark (brother to both Lucy Croghan and William Clark) during the final years of his life.

Photos of Locust Grove Courtesy of Cait Clark.

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #locustgrove #louisvillekentucky #Kentucky

Check out our YouTube Channel! We have some great

Check out our YouTube Channel!

We have some great content being posted there every Saturday - you’ll see videos related to personal stories and adventures on the trail, special reports on various trail locations, and much more!

Be sure to subscribe and share with friends as well!

https://www.youtube.com/@lewisandclarktrailalliance

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Here’s a summary of another video you can find there, ‘ Where Louisville Begins - Visit Historic Locust Grove’:

“This c.1792 Georgian mansion tells the story of its owners, William and Lucy Clark Croghan, and the story of American beginnings. William and Lucy Clark Croghan and Lucy’s brother, General George Rogers Clark, welcomed a generation of American luminaries to their home to rest, dialogue, campaign, and duel. Presidents James Monroe and Andrew Jackson, John James Audubon, Cassius Marcellus C, and Lewis and Clark—among others—all passed through Locust Grove. Now a National Historic Landmark, Locust Grove is a unique example of early Kentucky architecture, craftsmanship, and history.

Director of Interpretation Kaitlyn Tisdale takes us on a virtual tour of this historic location.

Learn more about Louisville history at https://lewis-clark.org/?s=locust+grove”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1kfBtR17m8)

Park of the Week: Harpers Ferry National Historica

Park of the Week: Harpers Ferry National Historical Park

Positioned at the meeting place of three states (Virginia, West Virginia, and Maryland) and the confluence of two major rivers (the Potomac and the Shenandiah), it is not surprising that Harpers Ferry National Historical Park has seen quite a bit of history. The town was the site of John Brown’s Raid and changed hands between the North and the South eight times throughout the course of the Civil War. It was also visited by George Washington in 1785 as he gauged the need for canals and sluices on the Potomac River.

Many visitors are shocked to find that Harpers Ferry also claims a major role in the success of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. In 1803, Meriwether Lewis stopped at Harpers Ferry as he prepared for his famous journey to the Pacific Ocean. At the time of his visit, Harpers Ferry was the home of the United States Armory and Arsenal. Resultantly, Lewis ordered the production of 15 powder horns, 30 bullet molds, 30 ball screws, extra rifle and musket locks, gunsmith's repair tools, several dozen tomahawks, 24 large knives, and a collapsible iron boat frame. These weapons and tools were used by the members of the expedition as they braved the great wilderness of western North America.

Today, the buildings of Harpers Ferry Historical Park are home to a series of small museums, artisan boutiques, and restaurants. Though the United States Armory and Arsenal itself was burnt down during the Civil War, visitors can still read about Meriwether Lewis’s time in Harpers Ferry on informational signs and inside one of the small onsite museums dedicated to the armaments of the expedition. Tours dedicated to the history of Harpers Ferry also detail Lewis’s time and lodgings as he stayed in town.

Photos credited to Mitchell Pence and Cait Clark, 2024

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #westvirginia #maryland #virginia #potomacriver #harpersferry #shenandiahriver

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you

Our new APP is now available! Check it out if you haven’t yet to bring the adventure and magic of the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail on your mobile device. Scan the QR code here or find it on your app store.