Exhibits

The Wreck of the Montana
"A Steamboats Voyage Into History"
For early settlers on the western frontier, one of the few links to "civilization" were the great river boats that brought in supplies and manufactured goods. The "Montana" was the largest stern wheel steamboat that ever traveled the Missouri River - 283 feet long! Unfortunately the "Montana" struck a bridge in St. Charles County, Missouri in 1884 and sank in the shallows. This interesting exhibit features the history, historical photos and artifacts from this famous shipwreck. This wreck is now a protected site and should not to be molested. Valuable information is lost when sites are vandalized.

OZARK FOSSILS
"Missouri's First Inhabitants"

It's hard to imagine that Missouri was once a tropical environment similar to the Bahamas. However, the fossils and rocks found here indicate that Missouri was occasionally covered by a warm, shallow sea, starting some 500 million years ago during the Cambrian Period. These ancient waters were home to an array of colorful shellfish and unique creatures. Their fossils reveal much about Missouri's earliest inhabitants and their environment. This exclusive exhibit shows examples of Missouri's earliest life forms and gives a rare glimpse into our prehistoric past. See a snapshot of what Missouri looked like 500 million years ago!

Lewis & Clark Exhibit
"What did they take on the Voyage of Discovery?"

Outfitting such a grand expedition took an enormous amount of supplies and St. Louis played a vital role. During the winter of 1803-1804 local merchants and city officials provided tons of supplies for the upcoming journey, as well as maps and information on what lay ahead up the Missouri River. But what types of items did they take on the Voyage of Discovery? Many of these items, now long lost or rusted away, were "state of the art" at the time and were critical to the success of the expedition. By using authentic artifacts, this exhibit gives insight into details of everyday life for those on the expedition.