In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson directed his personal secretary, Meriwether Lewis, and a young army officer, William Clark, to explore the course of the Missouri River in search of a water route to the Pacific Ocean. Leading an expedition . . . — — Map (db m287494) HM
Shaded by the keelboat sail, which was used as an awning, Lewis and Clark met with members of the Oto and Missouri tribes. This type of meeting was called a "Council" and this meeting would be the Expedition's first.
Expedition members had . . . — — Map (db m288482) HM
The First Council was the first official meeting between representatives of the United States government and an Indian tribe living west of the Mississippi River. The meeting occurred near this spot on August 3, 1804.
About 44 expedition . . . — — Map (db m288492) HM
About 3 a.m. on December 5, 1932, Fort Calhoun marshal Albert Suverkrubbe was shot while trying to apprehend two men fleeing Kruse's Red and White Grocery at 106 S. Fourteenth Street. Suverkrubbe died from his wounds nine days later, leaving his . . . — — Map (db m7767) HM
The Lewis and Clark Expedition began in 1803 and ended in 1806. During those years, Lewis and Clark passed through territories of more than 50 Indian tribes, and held an official meeting, called a "Council," with 13 of them. The American explorers . . . — — Map (db m288486) HM
Civilization came to the west bank of the Missouri with establishment of Fort Atkinson in 1820 about a half mile southeast of here. Named after its founder, General Henry Atkinson, this western-most Fort protected the frontier's developing commerce. . . . — — Map (db m7890) HM
From 1820 to 1827, the nation's largest and most westerly military post occupied this site, the earlier scene of Lewis and Clark's Council Bluff. In late 1819, troops under Colonel Henry Atkinson established Cantonment Missouri along the river near . . . — — Map (db m223480) HM
Washington Square was the location for public
education in Fort Calhoun from 1865 to 1972. The
first school building was constructed in 1865 for about
one thousand dollars. Black locust trees from the nearby
Fort Atkinson site (1819-27) were . . . — — Map (db m269776) HM
A Modern-day Food Pantry
Colonel Henry Atkinson proposed a new storehouse in February 1822, which troops constructed not long afterwards. He wrote "that it should be built where the Old Store House stands that is dug out in the side of the . . . — — Map (db m288480) HM
A Gristmill and More
The Army constructed a gristmill south of the barracks for the purpose of grinding grain into flour. The key feature of a gristmill are two large, round stones that grind grain, such as wheat, into flour for more . . . — — Map (db m288901) HM
On July 30 the explorers arrived at the bluff where Fort Atkinson would be built less than two decades later. Clark wrote, "The Situation of this place which we Call Council Bluff which is handsom ellevated a Spot well Calculated... for a . . . — — Map (db m7887) HM
Early settlers valued education and established "country schools" throughout the rural areas of Washington County. Long Creek School District #8 Fort Calhoun, was organized in 1866, built by the creek it was named for. By 1877, a new larger one was . . . — — Map (db m288926) HM
Built by Omaha's Metz Bros. Brewing in 1904, this building served as a saloon in the early part of the 20th century. Over the years, many business have occupied the space, including a drug store, meat market, cabinet builder, the American Legion, an . . . — — Map (db m288930) HM
Oto and Missouri Indians first settled here in the early 1700s, moving from the Great Lakes area of present-day Michigan. They often traded with French, Spanish, and British people who visited their villages. In 1725, members of the tribe even . . . — — Map (db m288488) HM
When Lewis and Clark explored here in 1804, they found the river twisting and turning, changing its course, creating sandbars and islands that were (missing) or seasonal gone the next. Had they visited 100 years later, they could have heard . . . — — Map (db m287508) HM
While exploring here, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark wrote about thick forests along a meandering river, and an "abundance" of fish.
Today, the river is much different Where Clark saw a river that "lately has changed its bed," we now see a . . . — — Map (db m287509) HM
Originally the home of the Washington County Bank of Fort Calhoun, this structure was built by Henry Rix in 1905. The bank was on the lower level of the building, while offices occupied the top level. Owned and occupied by the Solomon Lodge Number . . . — — Map (db m288929) HM
