Have you ever seen a steamboat made into a Welcome Center and Museum? Me neither. So I had to go…read moreinside to check it out. I was met with two of the nicest ladies (working on a Saturday) answering questions and giving directions. Inside the steamboat is a small place to buy souvenirs and snacks as well as a museum on multiple levels. The majority of the museum is accessed up two small staircases. Kids and adults will find this Welcome Center a perfect place to stop in. Restrooms were in a separate building and a playground was available for the kids to get out some energy. There was also a beautiful walking path by the water to walk your dog. Go in and tell the nice ladies Marie sent you!

The last time I was here was 7 years ago. I was here two weeks ago & I had fun with my friend who…read morealso was here with me! A lot of interesting things to see regarding Sioux City & Lewis & Clark voyage!

My boyfriend, my brother & I all had fun here last weekend! I love the different selections of…read moreSioux City history they have here!

A beautifully maintained facility. The greeter at the desk warmly welcomed each visitor this…read moreThursday. The building is large enough to host a huge antique road builder but small enough to see everything in a morning. I'd guess you'll spend two hours looking at fossils and nostalgic Sioux City memories. There's a medium-sized native American; fair exhibit that didn't quite pop. But I'm nitpicking; this 5 star museum is beautifully put together. Then again, not everything can be a life-size tyranasaurous rex skull. That thing kind of steals the show in over in that part of the building. In fact, when I was looking at dino stuff, I wished I'd seen that skull last. I'll put a selfie of it; I look ugly but I need you to see this head. The rex's, not mine. Once you see that, most of the other fossils are forgettable. Except to the 13 year old children who are so knowledgeable about paleontology! Apparently, The Hard Rock Hotel donated some of the coolest pieces, including the t. rex, an unforgettable gift to the Sioux City community. Finally, speaking of community is what I think of as a Community Room. It's a behind the scenes facility, also beautifully maintained, where significant events can be shared. In fact, that was how I wound up at the Sioux City Museum. It was the location for the Juneteenth celebration in Sioux City. As a freedom loving American and a military veteran who believes in "justice for all," I've had an interest in this holiday for years. In most communities I've been to, Juneteenth either doesn't get seriously recognized, it gets a mention in the schools or, at best, it was celebrated in church with prayer, a program and, downstairs at Second Baptist Church of Ottumwa, a feast. In Sioux City, after a multi-year absence, the historic holiday of Juneteenth was celebrated in the museums community room. As a wild guess, at least a hundred people were there to listen and to eat soul food. The program explained how slavery ended in the US after the Civil War. But the landowners of Texas refused to let their slaves hear the news; those victims actually weren't slaves, they were free. The white "slave" holders of Texas kept the secret, working these free people for TWO YEARS, until a Federal military unit showed up to break the news: You're all free.

Driving north, I stopped at the Sioux City Art Center to see the Corn Room Murals from 1927 by…read moreGrant Wood. These delicate oil on canvas mounted on board panels of Iowa cornfields were rediscovered in 1979, saved, and removed from the local Martin Hotel in the 1980s. The vibrancy of the panels is no more. Seeing them in the small gallery here is like looking at ancient murals. The viewer is faced with the creamy yellows, tans, and browns but little detail remains. However, sit and gaze at these for a while, let your imagination help you, and you'll get a sense of how lovely these panels must have been. For the local community, this Grant Wood work, even in its diminished state, is an important historic and cultural touchstone. The Art Center itself is a nice space for exhibitions. The few here were more interesting than I expected. I was especially taken with Teo Nguyen's giant acrylic on vellum 'Lotus Pond,' from 2018-22.

Another small city art museum that pleasantly surprised me. It has a small permanent collection yet…read morehas some great pieces; including a Thomas Hart Benton that I wanted to see since hailing from Kansas City. They also had a whimsical temporary exhibit - "The Art of the Brick" with full scale sculptures made with Lego's, and an exhibit of area high school students that was truly awe inspiring with paintings, drawing and sculpture.The price was free, parking was easy and next to the interstate downtown. An easy and rewarding stop for anyone driving I-29. Nice job Sioux City!

I had been to so many other Lewis and Clark sites, and so I did not budget much time for this one…read more I thought it would be the same old, same old, right? Well, about half of the building is dedicated to Lewis and Clark's journey, and the other half is the Betty Strong Encounter Center which has more artwork and local subjects. I spent a surprising amount of time here. I really like how some of the exhibits discusses Sergeant Floyd's death, which was previously glossed over. I only knew that he was the only death on the trial, but I never knew the circumstances. There's a nearby obelisk that also memorializes his death if you want to further explore the history.

While visiting Sioux City Iowa, I decided to spend half of the day just getting to know the area…read moreand exploring so I ended up over at the Lewis and Clark interpretive center. This was amazing and it is a must see for anyone who is wanting to know a little bit about our history in America and a lot about Sioux City. The exhibits are fantastic, the building is gorgeous as is the setting out on the riverfront. There are also lots of other places surrounding it that are locals and tourists alike. There is a dry docked boat museum next-door and there is also a cultural center attached to Lewis and Clark building that is a must as well!! All the way in addition, multimillion dollar improvement done to their waterfront area here that's in that same section. Park your car in their ample parking lot and start walking.