Gavins Point Dam

The Omaha District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers welcomes you to Gavins Point Dam and Lewis and Clark Lake. Nestled in the golden, chalkstone-lined valley of the Missouri River, the Lewis and Clark Lake area has grown into one of the most popular recreation spots in the Great Plains.

Gavins Point Dam was authorized by the Flood Control Act of 1944, commonly called the Pick-Sloan Plan. Under this plan, Gavins Point was designed primarily to provide a steady outflow of water to assist navigation on the lower Missouri River. In addition to navigation, the project provides flood control, generation of hydroelectric power, irrigation, improved water supply, fish and wildlife management, and recreation.

Ground was broken at the damsite on May 18th of 1952 in a ceremony attended by Lieutenant General Lewis Pick, then Chief of Engineers, and the Governors of South Dakota and Nebraska. Construction began immediately and in September of 1956 the Powerplant began producing electricity for customers. The total cost of the dam totaled just under $50 million. Yearly benefits from the dam are estimated at $35 million dollars.

Location:
8 miles north of Crofton, Nebraska  on Highway 121.

Website

The Lewis and Clark Center is located atop Calumet Bluff just downstream from the Gavins Point Powerplant. The Center provides a spectacular view of Lewis and Clark Lake, Gavins Point Dam, and the Missouri River and information concerning the development of the entire Missouri River Basin.

Exhibits in the center feature displays on the geology, exploration, early navigation, settlement and natural history of the Missouri River region. The Calumet Bluff Theater programs highlight construction of Gavins Point Dam, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and wildflowers.

  A bookstore offers books on topics including Lewis and Clark, Native Americans, pioneers, river travel, and natural history. The Dorian Prairie Garden, outside the visitor center, depicts common prairie plants and explains their uses by Native Americans. Stop by the Lewis and Clark wayside exhibits adjacent to the parking area to learn about the travels of the Lewis and Clark Expedition through this area.

Visitor Center Hours are:

Summer Hours (Memorial Day - Labor Day):

• Sunday - Thursday - 8 AM to 6 PM
• Friday & Saturday -  8 AM to 7 PM

Off-season Hours:                           Website

• Mon- Fri - 8 AM to 4:30 PM

Gavins Point Aquarium

Gavins Point National Fish Hatchery (NFH) and Aquarium is located near Yankton, South Dakota. The hatchery is strategically located  on the Missouri River near Lewis and Clark Lake and LakeYankton. Gavins Point NFH is one of 65 Federal Hatcheries and Fish Technology Centers operated nationwide by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Our primary responsibilities include: 1.) raising endangered and threatened fish species; 2.) fish culture activities of other native and nonnative species; 3.) operation of the aquarium for public use and other public outreach activities; and, 4.) the management of Lake Yankton fish populations.

The aquarium displays up to 50 native and introduced species in 13 large tanks and several smaller tanks. The aquarium also has several educational displays to help visitors learn more about fish. The aquarium is open daily from May to September and weekdays only during April and October. The aquarium is closed from November through March. Admission to the aquarium is free.

Gavins Point NFH raises the endangered pallid sturgeon and the paddlefish, which is a "species of concern" in many states. The fish are spawned here at Gavins Point in our Sturgeon and Endangered Species buildings and later released to increase or maintain fish populations in the wild. Endangered fish populations have decreased or have been eliminated in many areas due to habitat degradation, over fishing, or other environmental concerns.

The Corps of  Discovery Welcome Center

       The vision of the center is to welcome travelers on the Pan American Highway to Nebraska. Inspired by several community members,  the Corps of Discovery Welcome Center was dedicated on Memorial Day in 2001.                                       We welcome visitors to complimentary coffee, free area information and the opportunity to purchase locally made products. Learn of the local history and arts, as well as experience nature at its best on our nature trail.    

       Have a CD player and miles to travel? Let us set you up with informational CD’s about Nebraska’s Lewis & Clark Scenic Byway and or Outlaw Trail Scenic Byway. Need some tunes to help get you down the road? Check out our selection of local artist ranging from Western Historian Music to St. Boniface Parish Youth Choir or Little Froggy songs to help entertain the kids. (Cassettes available also)

Lewis and Clark State Recreational Area

     Camping facilities are excellent at Lewis & Clark SRA, and this has been an extremely popular area with campers and boaters for a long time. RVers will find some choice new facilities, complete with 30/50-amp electrical hookups. Camping fees are charged at all areas, ranging from minimum costs for the primitive areas to full fees for the modern campgrounds. Showers are located at the Weigand-Burbach area.

     Lewis & Clark State Recreation area offers beautiful new modern housekeeping cabins situated on the shore of Lewis and Clark Lake, offering a beautiful scenic view of the lake and the bluffs. The cabins can be rented one year in advance. Cabins are two-bedroom air conditioned/heated units, with two queen beds and three single beds, with a maximum occupancy of eight. Cabins are equipped with linens, towels, stove, refrigerator, cofeepot, toaster, microwave oven and kitchen service for eight. Complete with a covered patio, picnic table, outdoor grill and campfire ring. All cabins are smoke free. Reservations may be made up to one year in advance.

Attractions
Overnight Accommodations
Facility Details
Make Reservations
Campground/Cabin Maps
Printable Brochure
Driving Directions

Contact Information:
Lewis and Clark SRA
54731 897 Rd
Crofton,  NE  68730-3290
Phone: (402) 388-4169
 

Ashfall Fossil Beds State Historical Park

About 12 million years ago, a volcano in southwest Idaho spread a blanket of ash over a very large area. One or two feet of this powdered glass covered the flat savannah-like grasslands of northeastern Nebraska.

Most of the animals which lived here survived the actual ashfall, but as they continued to graze on the ash covered grasses, their lungs began to fill up with the abrasive powder. Soon their lungs became severely damaged and they began to die.

The smaller animals died first (smaller lung capacities) and finally, after perhaps three to five weeks, the last of the rhinos perished.Their bodies were quickly covered by the blowing and drifting ash.

Undisturbed except by an occasional scavenging meat-eater, the skeletons of these animals are preserved in their death positions, complete with evidence of their last meals in their mouths and stomachs and their last steps preserved in the sandstone below

86930 517th Avenue                                 Website                                
Royal, NE 68773
Phone: (402) 893-2000