On the 4th of July of 1804, the Lewis and Clark expedition stopped at an oxbow lake created by the Missouri River in present day Rushville, Missouri. The explorers dubbed it Gosling Lake due to the number of young waterfowl in the area. Locals came to know it as Sugar Lake, and at the establishment of the State Park, the name changed to Lewis and Clark Lake.

The area became a state park after the land Missouri acquired it in 1934 as part of the New Deal Emergency Conservation Work Programs (ECW). Two teams of the Civilian Conservation Corp, a federal workgroup known as the CCC, developed the Lewis and Clark State Park. An open stone picnic shelter is the only remnant of the original CCC construction. The park still offers the variety of waterfowl that Clark recorded in his journals, including an assortment of ducks, snowy egrets, and great blue herons. It is subsequently a popular location for bird watching. Today, the park offers a wide variety of family activities including camping, scenic overlooks, and hiking. Individuals can enjoy the swimming area or spend the afternoon boating and canoeing on the lake. Lewis and Clark State Park is one of the smallest state parks in Missouri, consisting of only 12 acres, but still offers a quiet nature retreat while celebrating the accomplishments of Lewis and Clark.

Researched, written, and narrated by University of West Florida Public History Student Lindsay Gillaspie.