Harrison County Welcome Center and Historical Village

In honor of the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System four special dogs, the Lewis and Clark Pups, will travel in the paws of their ancestor Seaman, dog of Meriwether Lewis. The pups will travel more than 3,700 miles to complete their mission to commemorate and protect the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail. As they make their stops they will be reporting back in on their adventures. Follow Rocky, Harper, Dakota, and Keelie on their adventures at: https://www.nps.gov/lecl/newfie-news.htm

What an experience I (Rocky) had at the Harrison County Welcome Center and Historical Village! Even though this wasn’t a stop for Meriwether Lewis & William Clark, they helped pave the way for later generations of people, who were the pioneers I learned about while on my visit at the Historical Village. This is a great place to learn about the Loess Hills and the Lincoln Highway, which was the first transcontinental highway! Welcome Center Specialist Kristin took me on a personal tour of the museum!

My first stop was an 1850s Log Cabin --the first building that Preston Niles, the man who started the museum, moved to his orchard in 1937-38 and opened as a museum with just a rope bed, cultivator and plow. Boy, the collection has grown a lot since then! It is now housed in five buildings with lots of cool artifacts. While on my tour I got to sit on the bench in the log cabin, and I learned about life in the early days of the pioneers as they headed west into the land my ancestor, Seaman, saw on his journey.

On my next stop, I got to lie down on the softer rope bed in the south building, which was right next to some of their Civil War pictures and memorabilia.

I learned that this will be the spot for the Harrison County Freedom Rock so they are working on improving their military display! I also got to ride on a western style saddle, giddy up!

My adventures didn’t stop there! I got to teach school in the one-room school house and learn about school in the pioneer days -- they had to use slates to write and the teacher had a hickory stick! I was a really ‘good’ boy while I was there, I promise!

When I came inside the welcome center I learned about how they used to plant corn, how they even had to harvest ice so they could have ice cold lemonade in the summer!

My favorite part was riding in the doctor’s buggy; I learned that back in the prairie days, the doctors made house calls. I bet that kept them really busy!

Kristin taught me all about the Lincoln Highway, and that it was the first transcontinental road that went from New York City to San Francisco, stretching 3,389 miles, and was named after Abraham Lincoln, our 16th President. The road even came through the village property and you can even visit an original Lincoln Highway marker that is near the school house!

While I was having my free sample of delicious cherry drink the welcome center makes, this nice couple came in who were from Michigan and they were driving the Lincoln Highway, in their 1930 Lincoln! They even let me take it for a spin around the block...well, if I could drive, that is!

One of the most scenic places on the property would be the Lincoln Highway scenic overlook that connects with museum’s mile of walking trail. I really liked looking over the Boyer River Valley and the museum grounds.

As I was coming down off the hill I got to run around on the mini ‘roadway’ for kids and had my picture taken in the cut-out car! I think I am ready to hit the road now in style!

There is so much to see and do here at the Harrison County Welcome Center, and I could stay so much longer! But the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail is 3,700 miles long so I’d better keep going on my trip!

Learn more about the Harrison County Welcome Center and Historical Village:
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Learn more about the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail:
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