Lewis and Clark Interpretive Pavilion

The Lewis and Clark Interpretive Pavilion at White Cloud, Kansas, describes the expedition’s passage through the area in 1804 and then again in 1806, the northern reaches of Kaw or Kansa tribal territory. There is a stone marker nearby for the bicentennial as well. The Iowa tribe was assigned this land as a reservation in 1836 after it had been ceded by the Kansa. This hollow became the favored hunting ground for its head chief, White Cloud II. After the Iowa ceded this location in 1854, the town was established in 1857 and named in honor of the Iowa chief White Cloud. The town was a bustling one, as the site of a steamboat landing, the oldest opera house west of the Missouri R., and it was where the inventor of the Gatling gun lived. The national Piggy Bank movement was started here, and it is considered the birthplace of the piggy bank. The movie “Paper Moon” was filmed in part here as well. The historic general store and other buildings are being renovated in this beautiful little town with its famous Four State Lookout. The famous White Cloud Flea Market is held on two weekends: Memorial Day and Labor Day.