| Contact:
Jeff Morgan, Jeff.Morgan@iowa.gov,
(515) 281-3858
(DES
MOINES) – The Western Historic Trails
Center will host its annual Lewis & Clark White
Catfish Camp Living History Weekend Saturday and Sunday
to commemorate the Corps of Discovery explorers who
made camp near Council Bluffs in 1804 during their
historic journey up the Missouri River.
The event is scheduled 9 a.m.-5 p.m. July 21-22 at
the Western Historic Trails Center, 3434 Richard Downing
Avenue in Council Bluffs. Admission is free and open
to the public.
In addition, the Mouth of the Platte Chapter of the
Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation will host
a picnic after the White Catfish event Saturday. The
public is invited. Please RSVP to 402-731-9042 or
email: mholoun@cox.net.
“It’s going to be a fun-filled weekend
for the entire family,” WHTC Site Manager K.C.
Hummel said. “I’d like to thank the Mouth
of the Platte Chapter for providing speakers; Butch
Bouvier, Boatwright for providing the boat display;
the Discovery Corps Re-enactors; and the State Historical
Society of Iowa for funding this project.”
White Catfish Camp has its roots in July 1804 when
Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery made camp
near present-day Council Bluffs, Iowa. The five-day
stop was an opportunity to repair equipment and make
astronomical observations. On July 24, 1804, one of
the explorers, Silas Goodrich, caught an albino catfish,
giving the camp its name.
Following is the event schedule:
Saturday, July 21
9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Gift Shop, Model Keelboat, Discovery Corps camp open
9:30 a.m.
Father Tom Coenen – Forts Along the Lewis &
Clark Trail
10:30 a.m.
Tony Hunolt – The Life of Sgt. Patrick Gass
Noon
Native American food for sale – Wynema Morris
Family
1 p.m.
Carl Camp – “Lewis and Clark: Improvisers
Extraordinaire.”
2 p.m.
Chet Worm – The Missouri River Then and Now
3 p.m.
Bob Pawloski – Archiving the Lewis & Clark
Bicentennial Digitally
4 p.m.
Kira Gale – Lewis’ Encounter with the
Blackfeet
Sunday, July 22
9 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Gift Shop, Model Keelboat, Discovery Corps
9:30 a.m.
Peggy Christ – Only One Man Died! The Health
Aspects of the L & C Expedition
10:30 a.m.
Evelyn Orr – The Spanish Attempt to Stop the
Expedition
Noon
Native American food for sale – Wynema Morris
Family
12:30 p.m.
Jack Christ – Reading Between the Lines
1:30 p.m.
Wynema Morris– Privates Cruzatte and LaBiche,
Omaha-Frenchmen of the Corps
2:30 p.m.
Tony Hunolt – William Clark after the Expedition
3:30 p.m.
Betty Smallen – Song of the Morning Star –
Indians and Lewis & Clark
Lunch may be purchased at the Native American food
stand outside the Lied Historical Building. For more
information, call the Western Historic Trails Center
at 712-366-4900.
The Western Historic Trails Center is operated by
the State Historical Society of Iowa, a trustee of
Iowa’s historical legacy and an advocate for
understanding Iowa’s past. It identifies, records,
collects, preserves, manages and provides access to
Iowa’s historical resources. Its dual mission
of preservation and education serves Iowans of all
ages, conducts and stimulates research, disseminates
information, and encourages and supports historical
preservation and education efforts of others throughout
the state. Please visit www.iowahistory.org or call
515-281-5111 for more information.
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