Rest Stops Enroute to Chicago

We ignored Wall Drug on this trip, choosing instead to stop at the pretty rest area in Chamberlain, South Dakota, overlooking the Missouri River. A Lewis & Clark Exhibition is on permanent display there, since it is built on the site of Camp Pleasant -also called Plum Camp for the large, sweet wild plums growing in the area.

The lower floor has numerous displays that explain Lewis & Clark's Encampment & the Indians they met here over 200 years ago. The upper floor is built like the top of their keel boat.
A portion of the boat deck sticks out like a balcony from which to view the picnic areas & the Missouri River.

Lewis & Clark transferred to a smaller boat after this camp & sent several men back with the keel boat. It was loaded with specimens of new plant & animal life for President Jefferson. Live prairie dogs & magpies were sent along with the mounted animals seen in this display. We lingered over the exhibit since the building was air-conditioned against the over 100 degree temperature outside. Both rest stops for our nights on the road are shown in the last picture. Our Yukon XL was surprisingly comfortable as Louis & I took turns driving & sleeping through parts of Montana & Wyoming the first night. Albert Lea, Minnesota was our rest stop for the second night...close to the junction of I-90 with I-35 running to Minneapolis in the north & to Des Moines, Iowa in the south.