Nearby Attractions

Nearby attractions are a great way to learn more about the area's unique history. For more information in local communities, contact the appropriate tourism offices.

Federal Sites

• Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery and Aquarium near Yankton serves a dual purpose. The hatchery raises a variety of fish from the endangered pallid sturgeon to the common bluegill. The public aquarium displays over 60 native and introduced species of fish, reptiles, and amphibians in a diverse assortment of tanks. Visit their website for hours and additional information.
• Lake Andes National Wildlife Refuge is a place of wetlands, grasslands, and riverside forests. The 5,600-acre national wildlife refuge includes Lake Andes, a 4,700-acre glacial lake.

• Lewis and Clark Visitor Center
  Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, this center is perched above Gavins Point Dam near Yankton, with amazing views of Lewis and Clark Lake and the upper 59-mile reach of the Missouri National Recreational River. For information call 402-667-2546.

Nebraska State Park Partners

• Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park in northeast Nebraska is a fossil site of international significance. A Pompeii-like event some 12 million years ago entombed barrel-bodied rhinos, three-toed horses, llama-like camels, and saber-toothed deer in a volcanic ash deposit. A valid state park entry permit applies.
• Lewis and Clark Lake State Recreation Area, is located on the south side of Lewis and Clark Lake. This Nebraska Game and Parks Commission state recreation area includes five areas--Weigand Burhach (headquarters), Miller Creek, Bloomfield, South Shore, and Deep Water. A valid state park permit applies.
• Niobrara State Park, another partner, sits at the confluence of the Niobrara and Missouri rivers on Nebraska's northeastern border. The 1,200-acre state park offers a wide variety of outdoor activities, including picnicking, hiking, horseback riding, and primitive camping. The view from the J. Alan Cramer interpretive kiosk offers an outstanding view of the wild and scenic river. A valid state park entry permit applies.
• Ponca State Park, a partner of MNRR encompasses some 2,100 acres of heavily forested bluffs, bottomland wetlands, and prairies. Situated along the picturesque Missouri River in northeast Nebraska, the state park offers a wide variety of outdoor recreation. It serves as the eastern gateway to the "rec river." A valid state park entry permit applies.

South Dakota State Park Partner

• Lewis and Clark State Recreation Area is located on the north side of Lewis and Clark Lake. This state park encompasses nearly 1,100 acres and comprises three areas--Lewis and Clark Recreation Area, Chief White Crane Recreation Area and Pierson Ranch Recreation Area. A valid state park entry permit applies.

Nature Preserves

• Adams Homestead and Nature Preserve near North Sioux City, South Dakota, includes 1,500 acres along the Missouri River and over seven miles of hiking/biking/cross-country skiing trails. A visitor center, interpretive exhibits and signs, wildlife viewing blinds, restored historic structures, and a group picnic shelter round out the visitor amenities. A valid state park entry permit applies.
• Spirit Mound Historic Prairie, five miles north of Vermillion, SD, along state route 19, offers a 320-acre restored prairie being surrounding the mound. There is a small parking lot, interpretive signs and a 3/4-mile hiking trail to the summit. The state park is a prime location along the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. No admission fee.

Regional History

• Mead Cultural Education Center: Visit the newly renovated 1909 Mead Building that houses both the Yankton County Historical Society and Dakota Territorial Museum.
• W. H. Over Museum: Located in Vermillion, SD, the museum houses the state's largest collection of natural and cultural history items featuring exhibits on American Indians, settlement of the Dakotas in the mid-1800s, and on the plants, animals and environment of the region.