South Dakota... Oh Yea Iowa Too

 The starting point for this leg of the journey was a wet one. I started disconnecting in a light drizzle drifting down in a light breeze. After Mother Nature put me in a false sense of security... she open the flood gates, with a relentless downpour; the saving grace was my rain poncho. As you can see we did get hooked up. I classified this departure as an exercise in emergency hurricane evacuation.

It rained so hard, it was only a matter of minutes before puddling started taking a life of its own.

Once we got on the road, the rain died down some, then stopped... somewhere close to Iowa. The rain died off, but the wind did not, and we fought a head wind most of the way to North Sioux City, South Dakota. For those not familiar with Sioux City, its wings spread over three states. Sioux City proper is in Iowa, Sioux City North is in South Dakota, and Sioux City South sits in Nebraska.

We arrived at our KOA stay and got setup without a hitch.

The site was a nice distance from the road. Still a little noisy because of the amount of traffic. This KOA had a lot to offer, some of it closed down because of season though. They had water balloon wars, horseshoes, swimming pool, gem hunt, miniature golf, bouncy pillow... and a dog park.

We made the best of our free day, even though it was pretty windy. We drove all the way back to Iowa (about 10 miles) to visit some more museums. One thing we learned is that the folks around here memorialize just about anything. Visitors can take a side trip drive to the grave site of the "first bride". The "first bride" was the first none Native American Indian to marry in the Siouxland region.

Our first stop was at the Betty Strong Encounter Center / Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. More info at: (https://www.siouxcitylcic.com) 

The Betty Strong side was more about local artists and history of the area. Their belief is that we are different cultures living under the same flag of the United States of America. Betty Strong's passion was to improve lives through education.

The Community house was a big part of the early 20th century community of Sioux City. The Community House was located in the community known as East Bottoms. The House was a center for refuge, moral support, clean-up efforts, Red Cross assistance, and Woodbury County Health Department services. One service special to the community was helping the immigrants become U.S. citizens. 

After Mr. Zell lost his job, he was afraid he would never be able to bring his family to America because he had no job.  A friend of his told him of the Community House. They prepared him for the exam, and submitted all the required forms... he became a citizen, and was able to bring his family to America.

During the depression the Community House was being strained beyond its capacity. Every day brought over 250 people for classes, clubs, activities, recreation and social services.

This is a photo of the first Community House. It wasn't an easy road for the Community House, the first building was condemned in 1931, forcing them to move forward in constructing a new building. During the depression money was tight, and the Community House only had $700.00, Not much to build a new building. Aside from the land that was deeded to them after a school was condemned and demolished, they had nothing. 

The driving force of the Community House, Mary Treglia, said the new building was build thanks to $700.00 and 7 million prayers. They had a 'buy a brick' campaign, and ransacked mansions being torn down. Things like lumber, bricks, plumbing materials, electrical items, stair bannisters, even doors were re-appropriated; they also received $10,000 dollars in material donations. While construction was still going on they continued to have classes. With the completion of the gymnasium floor, the new Community House looked like a dream come true.

The East Bottoms was a low lying area near the Floyd River, and flooded periodically, displacing families and businesses. Thanks to Mary Treglia, who was a prominent figure, worked passionately on getting flood control on the river. 

Back history: 1892 -  destructive flood; 1929 - destructive flood; 1936 - destructive flood; 1953 - destructive flood. There was a lot of talk but no action. Mary chaired at least 256 meetings. In 1935 the Works Projects Administration began straightening the Floyd River. As you can see, it wasn't there quite yet, with the flood of 1936 displacing 200 families from their homes. The 1953 flooding devastated the Community House, presenting with the question as to whether the Community House should stay, or move to another site. They stayed because they knew they were needed by the community.

Because of her dedication to the community, the Community House was re-named in 1956, to the "Mary Treglia Community House". Unfortunately Mary died in 1959, but before her passing she learned that the Floyd River channel would be built through East Bottoms. Unfortunately this project would tear down dozens of homes, commercial and industrial buildings, and her beloved Community House.

In 1964 the Floyd River re-channelization was dedicated. What followed was the "Mary Treglia Urban Renewal Project", which cleared away more homes, and turned the area into a business district.

Another wing talks about the Missouri River, and the changes it has gone through. The other side of the hallway is history of the floods I mentioned earlier.

The next portion of the building was the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. They set the scene by talking about our national flag was created.

According to the Flag Act of 1818, a star would be added to the flag when a state was admitted to the Union, done on July 4th. The colors are symbolic: white for purity and innocence, red for hardiness and valor, and blue for perseverance and justice. These colors are also used in Great Seal of the United States.

Milestones for the U.S. flag: 1777 - 13 stars, 13 stripes; 1795 - 15 stars, 15 stripes. Lewis and Clark presented this flag to the Native American Indians as a gift; 1818 - stripes reduced to 13 stripes, 20 stars; 1912 - William Taft established flag proportions. 48 stars in 6 horizontal rows of 8 stars; 1959 - Alaska admitted; Eisenhower ordered 49 stars, 7 stars in 7 rows; 1960 - Hawaii admitted in August of 1959; star added on 4 July 1960; Eisenhower ordered the 50th star. Current flag is the longest flying flag.

Now we can visit the Interpretive Center. The coolness of this spot is the lifelike figures that talk. The first person to speak to us was President Jefferson. President Jefferson met with Congress, and asked for funding to investigate the lands west of the Mississippi. Congress allocated the funds. President Jefferson then spoke to Meriwether Lewis secretively about what he wanted the expedition to do. 

The expedition team was created, and off they went in the summer of 1804. The purpose of the mission was to gather knowledge about geography, land, animals, plants, and inhabitants. Their goal was to find a path to the Pacific Ocean from the Mississippi River. 

The expedition preparing to leave civilian as they knew it:

I mentioned earlier that Iowa has immortalized a lot of "firsts". It's a big story in Iowa regarding the first death of the expedition... and that happen to be one Sargent Floyd, who died near what is currently Sioux City. All kinds of stories flew around about how he died, the most common was that he was killed during a battle. The truth of the matter is that he died of appendicitis, and buried in what later becomes Iowa.  

Sargent (Sgt.) Charles Floyd told his story. He was a young man from Kentucky, with a dream to see the Pacific Ocean. Tragically he died a month into the expedition.

They buried him on a hill. Unfortunately in 1806 when the expedition came back they had to move his body. Sgt. Floyd was exhumed a final time in the late 1800s, and a memorial was erected in his honor.

There was a tale never told until the bi-centennial celebration of the Lewis and Clark expedition. This tale never told was about a slave named York. York was willed to Lewis, and traveled on the expedition working alongside the soldiers and other civilians, he also was allowed to carry a gun and vote, both of which slaves were not allowed to do. Lewis understood that his team had many good ideas, and concerns, so he relied on all men for inputs. Later in life, somewhere between 1815 and 1832 Lewis made York a free man.

Probably one of the most valuable members of the expedition was Seaman... Seaman was a Large Newfoundland.

Meriwether Lewis purchased him for $20.00. He caught beavers, squirrels, and an antelope for the soldiers to eat. On multiple occasions he warned the men of impending danger from grizzly bears, and one time from a bull buffalo charging their camp.

Apparently President Jefferson was interested in the wildlife, so the expedition sent him a "barking squirrel".

They finally coaxed and caught the prairie dog, sending it downstream to meet up with President Jefferson. Once the president was done with his observations, it was sent to the Museum of Natural History in Philadelphia.

Leaving the interpretive center we posed for pictures with Lewis, Clark, and Seaman.

Few people know the extent of the Lewis and Clark expedition. The expedition took two years, four months, and nine days, and the only known voyage ever made against the Missouri river current using oars, sails, poles, and tow line. This was a feat considering it encompassed 8,000 miles. Much valuable information was gathered regarding the Indian tribes. They also collected information on 122 animals, fish, birds, amphibians and reptiles; 178 plants were cataloged. A fairly accurate understanding of the North American interior was acquired, setting the foundation for a lucrative fur trade. Most importantly it made the country's strongest claims to the Oregon Trail. The Native American Indians were provided insight into the new relationship with the U.S. government.

Our journey was not complete yet, there was the "Sgt. Floyd" motor vessel... now a museum.

The motor vessel was constructed in Indiana, and launched in 1932. During its active dutytime the Army Corp of Engineers used the boat as a survey and inspection vessel, following the water trail of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

More information at: http://www.siouxcitymuseum.org/sgt-floyd-river-museum-a-welcome-center.

The boat was propelled by two engines.

Each engine had a set of gauges.

The throttle stand controlled the twin engines, which could be controlled independently. They received their instructions from the Bridge.

Here is where all the questionable decisions could be made... the Bridge.

The Communications room.

Engineers stateroom.

The Captain of the boat was there in spirit... and I was able to get a picture before the spirit left.

Besides a welcome center, exhibiting artifacts from local students, it tells the story of river boat life on the Missouri river. The first river boat... 

This particular canoe was discovered by the Corp of Engineers while dredging the Missouri near Sioux City, in 1941.

These were barges that pre-date steamboats on the Missouri.

Once the railroad was established in Sioux City, it became a hub for shipping on the upper Missouri. With the coming of the railroad, Sioux City went from frontier to metropolis, surpassing St. Luis as the major steamboat port.

This would have been what the river port looked like in its prime.

Diorama of the Northwest Transportation Company drydock and boatway. Constructed in 1869, for the repair and wintering of steamboats. The boatway was capable of storing four 200 foot long boats. The "way" (middle right) comprised greased timbers laid parallel to each other on the gently sloping riverbank into the water.

You ask yourself, how did the boat pull itself up the riverbank... it didn't. The boat would be pushed up to the greased timbers, then winches and pulleys pulled it up the "way". Obviously it would have been hard to work on, or store the boat at an angle... the solution was to put cribbing under the boat to level it out. Cribbing is lumber stacked similar to "Jenga" blocks. It was a much simpler process to get the boat back into the water... they simply removed the cribbing, and the boat slid down into the water.

There were many hazards to navigating the Missouri river. As if the wind, rain, snow, shifting sandbars weren't enough, the river itself contained many hidden hazards... like sunken trees. One steamboat that unfortunately located a sunken tree was the Bertrand. 

This steamboat did not have an illustrious career. 1 April 1865 it was on its maiden voyage with 20 passengers and $300,000 dollars in supplies headed for Montana; it struck a hidden tree in the river 25 miles above Omaha Nebraska, sinking in 14 feet of water. The passengers all survived, the cargo not so lucky, everything was lost.

Now for "the rest of the story"... in 1968 the wreckage was discovered, and recovered by National Park archeologists. The hull and artifacts were photographed, measured, and examined. Much of the cargo was cleaned and restored. It is on display at the DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge Center in Missouri Valley, Iowa.

The fastest steamboat to navigate the Missouri, for a while anyway, was The Far West. In 1872 it achieved that status racing against the Nellie Peck, from Sioux City Iowa to Fort Benton Montana and back. The trek was nearly 2,000 miles, with the Far West beating Nellie Peck back into Sioux City by only four hours. 

Two renderings of the Far West:

Constructed in 1870, it was 190 feet long, and 33 feet wide. It could float 187 tons (374,000 lbs.) of cargo and passengers, maintaining a draft of only 3 feet. Draft is how deep the ship is in the water.

In 1876 The Far West served as a hospital boat for George Custer's 7th Calvary during the ill-fated campaign against the Sioux Nation. The boat set a speed record carrying 52 wounded soldiers 920 miles to Fort Union, North Dakota, in 54 hours.

Unfortunately the Far West suffered the same demise as so many other steamboats... it hit a sunken tree in 1883, and sunk.

You may remember I stated that Sioux City sits in three states. The Betty Strong Encounter Center / Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center is only a stones throw from Nebraska.

All three of the museums are within 50 yards of the Missouri river, which separates the states. We stayed in Iowa heading to our next site, which was a monument to Sgt. Floyd.

There is one guy buried here. I guess when you're the first, you get the big stuff.

The monument sits on a hill overlooking Sioux City. They have medal plaques pointing out different things that can be seen, you really need to look long and hard. The plaques are hard to see in the blog... I am try to keep your experience the same as ours.

We had to look real hard too. From here we drove to another hill with two monuments on it, one for Chief War Eagle, the other for Theophile Bruguier.

Theophile Bruguier was Canadian born, came to the United States in 1835, and became trading furs along the Missouri river. He made an alliance with the Yankton Sioux Indians; he married two of Chief War Eagle's daughters. He was influential in establishing Sioux City. A piece of his land is now recognized as downtown Sioux City.

The above photo overlooks what would have been a boarder of Theophile's property. His is buried near his monument on this hill.

Chief War Eagle was a major player along with Bruguier in ensuring peace between the Indians and Whiteman. His philosophy was that he live as a peacemaker for the various Indian tribes that lived in the Yankton band. His life was an example that people of different backgrounds could live together, respecting each other. His daughters married Whiteman, establishing the first community of Sioux City. To this day War Eagle's spirit and philosophy are present in Siouxland.

After our day outing we scampered back to South Dakota, for tomorrow would be a new day on the road.

I encourage everyone to go and research these founding members of America, they were just as important as the Presidents and other leaders in our history.