Annual Report to the Community

2025 marked the 40th Anniversary of the opening of the Lewis and Clark Museum on Main Street. 
We continue to see momentum as we build for the future.  Here’s a roundup of 2025 and preview of 2026!

• Record-setting paid attendance
• River Re-enactments
• Expanded docent program
• Historic Hawken Rifles
• Major building enhancements
• Stellar reviews online
  

Connecting Lewis & Clark to the Community
The Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum welcomed 22,373  museum visitors, from all 50 states and more than 40 countries; from tiny Bulgaria to distant Malaysia.  We’re at the center of community celebrations, such as the Festival of the Little Hills and the Hawken Classic, the finish line for hundreds of paddlers in the MR-340, a regular partner with the  St. Charles Convention and Visitors Bureau and school field trips, senior centers, and tours.  We’ve opened the doors to culinary masterpieces, Methodist ministers and ABC 20/20 producers!

Partnerships and collaborations
Continuing a year of partnerships with like-minded organizations, we began 2026 with a “First Day Hike” with the First Missouri State Capitol Historic Site, for intrepid history buffs.  In other meetups, we held a joint educators meeting with the First State Capitol, offered career advice to history classes from the University of Missouri’s St. Louis and Kansas City campuses and Lindenwood University, welcomed St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer during the MR-340, staffed a table at the Gateway Outdoor Expo and judged entries in Missouri’s High School History Day.

History on Display
Look for new displays soon, thanks to a $7,000 grant from Lewis and Clark Trail Stewardship Endowment: A National Council of the Lewis & Clark Expedition Bicentennial Legacy Project.  We’ll dive into three aspects of the expedition: 1) Lewis & Clark and Missouri Natives, 2) The Expedition and Global Trade and 3) The Weapons Particular to the Expedition.  We’re also planning to display pressed plants important to the expedition, thanks to donations from John Fisher.  And look for the newest – and oldest – addition to our collection: A ring once owned by George Rogers Clark!

Bringing History to Life
In milestone adventures, we had the keelboat and a full complement of re-enactors on the Missouri River bank for the Lewis & Clark Trail Alliance meeting in Kansas City.   We also brought history to life in Natchez, MS, as part of commemorations of Lafayette’s return.  Closer to home, thanks to a grant from Conservation Legacy and Americorps we had a full time docent and our second for-college-credit docent.  This month, we have our first for-credit Graduate Student docent, from the University of Missouri-St. Louis. 

Hawken Classic: 200 years of history
A premier rifle of the early 1800s, the Hawken rifle was made in Missouri and cherished by early settlers and mountain men.  In May, our multi-year celebration of the fabled rifle culminated with the bicentennial, bringing more than 1,000 visitors to the Boat House to drool over priceless antique rifles (actual drool not allowed), fire a vintage rifle  and learn from expert historians – and a horse!

Changes at the Top
We welcomed Larry Boschen as Vice Chair and soldiered through a much-needed update of the organizational bylaws,  We enter 2026 with a renewed silver certification for transparency and reporting from Candid (Guidestar), the premier non-profit reporting organization.  

Gift Shop Goodness
Record-setting gift shop sales were a testament to new seasonal items such as custom Seaman Christmas ornaments, greeting cards featuring our fleet on the river by the Museum, locally sourced items such as custom-etched Keelboat models and history books, and a remarkable assortment of educational and National Park-themed items.  We hear often that people consider the gift shop a destination on its own!

Home Sweet Home
We love our riverside location, but as early explorers knew well, the elements can be brutal.  We replaced most of our aging HVAC system and are preparing for a full roof replacement.  We continued upgrading to energy-efficient lighting, and refined the spaces to better host events such as the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation, Ozark Land Trust, Missouri State Parks Cultural Resource Officers, Business Owners International, Les Amis St. Louis French Heritage Society, Ameristar Employees, and the Missouri Methodist Church

Special requests for 2026
Calling history enthusiasts, riverfolk and adventurers – if you are interested in getting hands-on in telling history aboard and around our magnificent boats, we’d love to talk to you.  We’re seeking volunteers to (literally) learn the ropes and dress the part as we get the boats onto the river and expand our educational mission.  To get involved, call 636-947-3199 or email [email protected].

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Chairman’s Report to the Membership: By Jan Donelson

2026 is here, the America 250 milestone.  This is just the reason to be proactive!

Steamboat Treasures:  The Mayor of St. Charles has a vision to make an area across the parking lot from the Boathouse a museum of “steamboat treasures”.   The facility would have artifacts from all over, with exhibits and displays, becoming a major tourist destination. We should know by the end of summer what the verdict will be on his vision for the “Steamboat Treasures of America” educational center.  Wouldn’t it go nicely with a Lewis & Clark National Interpretive Center next door?

Partners:  Last week, I reconnected with my contacts at Bass Pro about 2026.  I can say it was a very positive discussion with some promising leads.

Film Series: With the right publication, use, and distribution I believe we could expand our influence in the Lewis & Clark community and certainly beyond.   We have 12 episodes with loads of content to promote.  This year is the prime time to use multi-media to the fullest extent. 

On the Road: For that reason I will be traveling to my hometown community of Palmyra to give presentations later this month.  It’s not only the burial site of George Shannon, with a monument in the courthouse yard, but home to members like Gary Stulhman, my sister’s women’s group and others. I really want to use this opportunity as something of a beta test for the films and market test on presenting.  Other events that are in discussions are Atchison, KS, Pittsburgh, PA and home base in St. Charles.  Stay tuned as we work on details.

Patrons:   Additionally, Lotsie Holton is a wonderful force to reckon with.  Her enthusiasm is contagious.  Discussions have focused on another addition/renovation to the Boathouse, increasing space that would involve a capital campaign with matching grant for funding.  We’ll share more details as we progress.

Co-Chair: Larry Boschen has agreed to serve in the Vice Chair position.  Larry’s dedication has certainly proven his worth and ability for this position and I look forward to his help.  Most know he is immensely talented.  Later this month, our board will have a Strategic Planning meeting and we will seek ways to build and reach new audiences.

As you can see this could be a banner year for the living history portion of the organization. Don’t forget we host the MR-340 Canoe and Kayak Race July 28-31 and expect to be called back for Festival of the Little Hills  August  21-23.  

Thank you all for what you do.  As “We Proceed On!”

Jan Paul Donelson, Chairman