Sergeant Floyd River Museum & Welcome Center - Lewis and Clark Trail Experience

Information

Open 7 days a week 10:00 AM To 4:00 PM Closed major holidays

(712) 279-0198

Free Admission

Only service animals are allowed inside this site.

lat: 42.4911307 long: -96.4175903

Our site is a unique dry docked riverboat in the heart of America. The MV Sergeant Floyd, situated next to the Missouri River, is home to an Iowa Welcome Center, a river museum and a gift shop. You can learn about Native American culture, fur trapping, the Lewis & Clark expedition, hard working steamboats and much more. This is a self guided tour, but guided tours can be made by appointment. We offer presentations to schools, bus tours, class reunions and more. Our friendly, knowledgeable staff is here to answer your questions, point you to local favorites and make sure your time spent here is enjoyed! We hold annual events each year, including:

The Bill Diamond Antique & Classic Car Show (the second Sunday in July).
The Sergeant Floyd Memorial & Encampment Ceremony (always held in August).
A new Kite Flying/Scavenger Hunt (on the grounds each April).

We are open year round and only closed four major holidays. We have free parking, and RV/bus parking is available. The boat is located right next to Interstate 29, at exit 149, so it is very easy to access. Set right next to the river this is a beautiful drive along the riverfront as well. In 2020 riverfront restorations began to add in and update existing features also.

Sgt. Floyd River Museum & Welcome Center

Sgt. Floyd River Museum & Welcome Center

Sgt. Floyd Burial Re-Enactment

Sgt. Floyd Burial Re-Enactment

Sgt. Floyd Encampment

Sgt. Floyd Encampment

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat

Bill Diamond Annual Car Show

Bill Diamond Annual Car Show

Bill Diamond Car Show

Bill Diamond Car Show

Bill Diamond Car Show

Bill Diamond Car Show

Bill Diamond Car Show

Bill Diamond Car Show

Bill Diamond Car Show

Bill Diamond Car Show

Kite Flying/Scavenger Hunt

Kite Flying/Scavenger Hunt

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Displays

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Displays

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Display

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Display

Inside Sgt.Floyd Riverboat-6 Hour Canoe

Inside Sgt.Floyd Riverboat-6 Hour Canoe

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Dug Out Canoe

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Dug Out Canoe

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Display

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Display

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Controls

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Controls

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Pilot House

Inside Sgt. Floyd Riverboat-Pilot House

Kite Flying/Scavenger Hunt

Kite Flying/Scavenger Hunt

Kite Flying/Scavenger Hunt

Kite Flying/Scavenger Hunt

Kite Flying/Scavenger Hunt

Kite Flying/Scavenger Hunt

Kite Flying/Scavenger Hunt

Kite Flying/Scavenger Hunt

Nearby Attractions

Distance Unit:

Sioux City Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

Sioux City Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center

Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Larsen Park Road, Sioux City, IA, USA
Distance: 0.12 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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Palmer Candy Company

Palmer Candy Company

405 Wesley Parkway, Sioux City, IA 51103, USA
Distance: 0.50 Away

Food and Drinks

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Sioux City Art Center

Sioux City Art Center

225 Nebraska St, Sioux City, IA 51101, USA
Distance: 0.70 Away

Galleries and Venues

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Woodbury County Courthouse

Woodbury County Courthouse

620 Douglas St #210, Sioux City, IA 51101, USA
Distance: 0.72 Away

General History

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Corps of Discovery Welcome Center and Rest Area (Iowa)

Corps of Discovery Welcome Center and Rest Area (Iowa)

Sioux City, IA, USA
Distance: 0.74 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers LC Features

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Sweetwater Cafe

Sweetwater Cafe

600 4th St #320, Sioux City, IA 51101, USA
Distance: 0.77 Away

Food and Drinks Coffee Houses

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Sioux City Public Museum

Sioux City Public Museum

Sioux City Public Museum, 4th Street, Sioux City, IA, USA
Distance: 0.77 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers Guided Tours

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War Eagle Monument

War Eagle Monument

FGVW+GX Sioux City, Iowa, USA
Distance: 1.79 Away

Tribal Experiences

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Tastee Inn & Out

Tastee Inn & Out

2610 Gordon Dr, Sioux City, IA 51106, USA
Distance: 2.16 Away

Food and Drinks

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Sergeant Floyd Monument

Sergeant Floyd Monument

Sergeant Floyd Monument, South Lewis Boulevard, Sioux City, IA, USA
Distance: 2.87 Away

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Sioux City Railroad Museum

Sioux City Railroad Museum

3400 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City, IA 51109, USA
Distance: 3.92 Away

Museums and Interpretive Centers

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Cone Park

Cone Park

Cone Park, 3800 Line Dr, Sioux City, IA 51106, USA
Distance: 4.51 Away

Outdoor Experiences Walks and Hikes Fun and Sports

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Sign Up for the Lewis & Clark Trail Experience Newsletter

Our bi-weekly newsletter provides news, history, and information for those interested in traveling along along the Lewis & Clark Trail.

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Instagram Feed

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

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.

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monum

Site of the Week: Pompey’s Pillar National Monument

William Clark christened the rock formation “Pompey’s Tower” on July 25, 1806, as he and his party descended the Yellowstone River. Clark gave the huge monolith the nickname that he himself had fondly bestowed upon Sacagawea’s young son, Jean Baptiste Charbonneau. Nicholas Biddle, as he edited the journals upon Lewis and Clark’s return, changed the name to “Pompey’s Pillar.”

Pompey’s Pillar is known for being the only site with visible physical evidence of Lewis and Clark’s journey: Clark carved his name and the date onto the rock’s face. Now covered by a clear panel, the signature is protected from the elements while still being visible to visitors willing to climb up the steps to see it. Visitors can continue up the steps to the top of the rock where they can enjoy a 360-degree view of the landscape surrounding the site. There is also a highly informative and very well-designed visitor’s center at the base of Pompey’s Pillar, along with several outdoor educational structures and hiking trails.

Photos credited to Cait Clark.

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #pompeyspillar #Montana #pompeyspillarnationalmonument

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 a recent video you can find there:

“The phrase "Point of Departure" originates from Captain Meriwether Lewis himself. On May 14, 1804, he wrote in his journal: "The mouth of the River Dubois is to be considered as the point of departure." That spring day, as the Lewis and Clark Expedition set out from what is now Wood River Creek, they embarked on a journey that would reshape the future of the United States.

After more than a year of preparation, the Expedition launched from Camp River Dubois on May 14, 1804. The crew included Captain William Clark, Clark’s enslaved servant York, interpreter George Drouillard, Seaman the dog, 34 enlisted men, and several French engagés—all traveling in a barge and two large pirogues. Their destination: uncharted territory up the Missouri River, starting with a stop in St. Charles where Captain Meriwether Lewis joined them after traveling overland.

Preparation began in December 1803, with winter quarters built at Camp River Dubois, across from the Missouri River’s mouth. Lewis gathered intelligence from St. Louis traders and secured supplies and gifts for diplomacy with Native nations. Meanwhile, the soldiers trained under strict military discipline, preparing for the immense challenges ahead.

A pivotal moment came in March 1804, when Lewis and Clark witnessed the transfer of Upper Louisiana from Spain to France—and then, just one day later, to the United States. This marked the dawn of a new American frontier, and the Expedition was ready to set forth into the unknown.”

(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yvhg1Gs3cvs)

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages Nati

Site of the Week: Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Site

The Knife River area, according to archaeological studies, has been inhabited by people for over 11,000 years. For hundreds of years it was a significant place of trade for the local tribes, a characteristic that would eventually be used to the advantage of fur traders starting in 1750. It remained a place of trade and mixing cultures until a smallpox epidemic decimated the population in 1837. Following this, the local Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara moved north and established another village.

During the time of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, the Knife River villages were flourishing, providing a booming trading economy in what is modern-day North Dakota. It was from one of these villages that a young woman by the name of Sacagawea would emerge and take her place in the history of the expedition. She was Shoshone and had been taken captive by the Hidatsa during a raid against her tribe before she was won or otherwise purchased by French Canadian fur trader Toussaint Charbonneau.

Today, Knife River Indian Villages National Historic Park has a visitors center as well as a rebuilt earthlodge which holds replica artifacts in the summer months. Knowledgeable park rangers are available for tours, and there are multiple trails of varying lengths that are available to hike. There are birding checklists available in the visitors center, so make sure to pick one up so you can keep an eye out for the various bird varieties that are present at the site.

https://www.nps.gov/knri/index.htm

Photos credited to Cait Clark

#lewisandclark #history #adventure #travel #kniferiver #kniferiverindianvillagesnationhistoricsite #nationalparkservice #northdakota