Day 13-Peru, NE to Council Bluffs, IA (70/615 miles)

It didn't take long following the Louisiana Purchase and the Lewis and Clark expedition for Americans to begin moving west and settling in the newly acquired territories.  For some reason, however, the historic importance of the Lewis and Clark expedition seems to have been lost upon 19th century historians. The expedition was largely forgotten until the early part of the 20th century.

By the time the bicentennial rolled around, Louis and Clark had become full fledged American heroes and every American child learned from an early age of their heroic adventures in history classes in school.  Federal, state and local governments erected all kinds of monuments, statues, historical markers, and interpretive centers all along the route of the exhibition. Roadsigns are posted marking the Lewis and Clark Trail.  I have taken time to stop and explore everyone of them I have come across. 

 

Lewis and Clark interpretive center in Nebraska City, NE

 

Above, Lewis and Clark camped and left autographs here - Rulo, NE

Below, a replica of the keelboat (constructed for an IMAX movie made about the expedition) juxtaposed against my fully loaded bicycle.  The keelboat could carry approximately 15 tons of cargo, which is considerably more than my bike!