I led a tour of a Lewis and Clark Day Trip in the Omaha-Council Bluffs area on July 5, 2008. The challenge was to not go too far, and not to spend too much money. First of all, we did the tour on a Saturday morning, when admission to Joslyn Art Museum at 24th and Dodge Streets is free, if you arrive during the hours of 10-12. Joslyn is the home of the Karl Bodmer watercolors and other western and Indian art. It also has a nice cafeteria.

We went over to the Lewis and Clark Monument Bluff in Council Bluffs, right across the river from Eppley Airfield in Omaha. The simplest way to drive to the Monument Bluff is to take the bridge across the river from downtown Omaha, and follow Broadway, the main street of Council Bluffs, to 8th Street. 8th St is a stoplight just past the overpass over the railroad yards. Go north on 8th. As you near the bluff, you will see a tall yellow cliff set back from the road with a broad valley and one lone white house. This is the location of the old Ioway Indian Village. (See photo)

8th Street becomes Mynster Springs Road as it enters the bluff. Look for the first road to the left (west), about half a mile north. This is Monument Road. Turn on it and look for the monument driveway with stone pillars.  The Monument is a beautiful one, built in the old WPA days of fine stonework. It has been recently refurbished with bus parking lots and a restroom. From the bluff you get a great view of Omaha, Big Lake, and Eppley Airfield.

Ioway Chief Hard Heart’s trading post site is one half mile north of the Monument. The road turns to gravel north of the Monument. His post was in a large valley, now enclosed with a chain link fence. It is on the right side of the road.  From there it is about one mile further to exit the bluff.

Cross over the railroad tracks and drive along Joslin Avenue, which runs right alongside of I-29. If you look closely, you can see the Monument area up in the bluff. When you reach Big Lake Road, turn left (east), go through the very small tunnel (no RV’s here) and drive along Big Lake Road back to 8th St.  It’s a beautiful ride.

Coming back to Omaha, get off at the 14th Street exit. Go south one long block to Capitol Avenue and park along the street near 15th and Capitol. That is where half of the sculpture park is located, the Pioneer Memorial, Wagon Train, Park. The other half of the park is found by following the buffalo that are displayed on 16th Street sidewalk. Go south on 16th to more buffalo and flying geese at the Spirit of Nebraska Wilderness Park. When it is completed, the First National Bank’s sculpture parks will be one of the largest collection of bronze outdoor sculptures in the world. 

To read about the history of Ioway Chief Hard Heart, visit my blog posted on this website.