Washington County Historical Association- Museum

Rocky near Washington County Historical Association Museum in Fort Calhoun, NE

Today I made it to my very first destination on the Lewis and Clark Trail: the Washington County Museum in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska. Located in the old Fort Calhoun State Bank, this museum works to teach visitors of all ages about both Lewis and Clark and the history of Washington County, Nebraska. They have wonderful, unique exhibits, including one on Lewis and Clark’s first council meeting with the Otoe-Missouria tribe at nearby Fort Atkinson.

Rocky visiting the First Council exhibit

Fort Atkinson, just blocks from this spot, was the site of the first council meeting with Lewis and Clark and the leaders of the Otoe and Missouria tribes.

Rocky by digital display of Otoe language.

Through a digital activity, visitors can learn how to say some words in Otoe. I, myself, am fluent in both English and Newfie….time to become trilingual!

Rocky digging in fossil area

The Corps of Discovery returned from their journey with a variety of fossils. Kids of all ages can excavate for their own fossils right here in the museum. You can find all sorts of cool stuff.

Rocky pretending to be a bank teller (or bank robber)

The Washington County Museum has plenty of interactive, hands-on activities, one of which honors its past as a bank. Here, kids can come and be a teller (or a robber…) in a mock-historic bank.

Rocky plays a tune

There are also cool artifacts from Washington County, as well as exhibits about the history of the towns in the county. Among the amazing pieces on display is this beautiful piano.

Thank you so much for hosting me, Washington County Museum. Next stop, the Hitchcock Nature Center!

The Washington County Historical Association-Museum is located in Fort Calhoun, Nebraska.



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Lewis and Clark NHT Visitor Centers and Museums

This map shows a range of features associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail, which commemorates the 1803-1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition. The trail spans a large portion of the North American continent, from the Ohio River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to the mouth of the Columbia River in Oregon. The trail is comprised of the historic route of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, an auto tour route, high potential historic sites (shown in black), visitor centers (shown in orange), and pivotal places (shown in green). These features can be selected on the map to reveal additional information. Also shown is a base map displaying state boundaries, cities, rivers, and highways. The map conveys how a significant area of the North American continent was traversed by the Lewis and Clark Expedition and indicates the many places where visitors can learn about their journey and experience the landscape through which they traveled.