The Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center commemorates the Corps of Discovery’s time in the present-day Sioux City, Iowa, area in August 1804.  At the center of the story is the August 20^th death of Sargent Charles Floyd, the only member of the Corps to die during the expedition.

In late July 1804, Captain Meriwether Lewis reported that Floyd “has been sick for several days.” Floyd improved during the next few weeks, but grew sicker as the Corps approached the present-day Sioux City area.  Captain William Clark and his slave, York, stayed up most of the night of August 19^th caring for Floyd. Despite their efforts, Floyd died the next afternoon. Scholars believe a ruptured appendix caused his death.

Animatronic Lewis & Clark figures preside over the August 20^th burial of Sargent Floyd on a bluff overlooking the Missouri River. A “seeder” post marks this first of four graves to hold the remains of the young soldier from Kentucky. His final resting place is marked by the Floyd Monument, a 100-foot obelisk dedicated on May 30, 1901.

Other notable events occurred from August 14 – 31 in the present-day Sioux City area upriver to present-day Yankton, South Dakota: a fish camp; the court martial of deserter Private Moses Reed; talks with the Otoe and Missouria Indians; and the election Sargent Patrick Gass to replace Floyd at present-day Elk Point, South Dakota.

Lewis and Clark entered Sioux country on August 27, 1804. On August 30 and 31, they held council with the Yankton Sioux who warned them not to expect a friendly reception upriver from the Teton Sioux.

Call (712) 224-5242 or visit http://www.siouxcitylcic.com or www.facebook.com/sclandc for operating hours, directions and programs.

Credits and Sources:

Content for this Next Exit History site sponsored by the Lewis & Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. For more information visit http://lewisandclark.org/.

The Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center and the Betty Strong Encounter Center. “Home Page.” http://www.siouxcitylcic.com.

Marcia Poole. Director. Sioux City Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center, Iowa. September 12, 2014.