LINCOLN, NEB. (April 13, 2005)--During a return trip down the Missouri River, the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Expedition will dock at eight Nebraska cities to offer additional free reenactment and educational opportunities for history buffs, school groups and the general public.

One notable passenger on the keelboat's 10-day journey is "Pee Dee" the black-tailed prairie dog, who will be accompanied by Jim Johnston, operations and program director of the Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Center in Nebraska City. During each stop, Johnston will present "He Made It Alive: The Prairie Dog Journey East to Monticello, 1805", followed by time for questions and answers. Pee Dee resides at the Missouri River Basin Lewis & Clark Center.

In spring 1805 after wintering at Fort Mandan, Lewis and Clark steered their keelboat, bearing plant and animal specimens collected on the Great Plains, back down the Missouri River to St. Louis, Mo.

A representation of the keelboat's return, staged by the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, will be in Nebraska, April 16-26. The keelboat will be docked:

April 16-19--South Sioux City
April 19-20--Dakota City
April 20-21--Decatur
April 21-22--Blair
April 22-23--Omaha
April 23-24--Plattsmouth
April 24-25--Nebraska City
April 25-26--Brownville

Lewis and Clark experts will make presentations at a Keelboat Symposium scheduled in each community. They include Dr. Gary Moulton, editor of the 13-volume Journals of the Lewis & Clark Expedition; Matt Jones, cultural anthropologist and member of the Otoe-Missouria nation, the first American Indian tribe to meet with and participate in an official council with expedition members; Darrel W. Draper, a reenactor who will portray a scout and hunter with the expedition; Annette Arkeketa, a writer, filmmaker and member of the Otoe-Missouria Tribe of Oklahoma; Beverly Hinds, a Lewis and Clark scholar and member of the Lewis and Clark Heritage Trail Foundation Board of Directors; Park Superintendent John Slader with Fort Atkinson State Historical Park; and Pat Day, a reenactor who will portray Meriwether Lewis' mother and pay tribute to the role that women and children played during the historic journey.

The free Symposiums are scheduled as follows (along with the appearance of various Lewis and Clark experts based on their availability). In case of inclement weather, an alternate site also is listed:

* April 18, South Sioux City, Scenic Park, 1021E. 6th St., 10 a.m.-- Gary Moulton, Matt Jones, Beverly Hinds and Pat Day. Alternate location: Marina Inn & Convention Center, 4th and B sts.

* April 20, Dakota City, Cottonwood Cove Park, River Road and Hickory St., 10 a.m.--Beverly Hinds. Alternate location: Dakota City Hall, 1511 Broadway St.

* April 21, Decatur, Beck Memorial Park, 10th St., near the river, 10 a.m.--Beverly Hinds and Darrel Draper. Alternate location: Decatur Elementary School, Gymnasium, Main St.

* April 22, Blair, Dana College Campus, Gardner-Hawks Center, 2848 College Dr., 10 a.m.--Gary Moulton, Matt Jones and John Slader. Keelboat location: Optimist Park, N. Hwy 30, Fairview Drive.

* April 23, Omaha, River City Star (Tent), 151 Freedom Park Road, just off Gallup Dr., 10 a.m. Alternate location: Same --AND-- Plattsmouth, Plattsmouth Marina, E. Main St., 6 p.m. Alternate location: Plattsmouth Community Center, 625 Avenue A--Gary Moulton, Matt Jones, Darrel Draper and Annette Arkeketa.

* April 25, Nebraska City, Riverview Marina State Recreation Area (SRA),** 100 River Marina, 10 a.m.--Matt Jones and Darrel Draper. Alternate location: Missouri River Basin, Lewis & Clark Center, 100 Valmont Dr.

* April 26, Brownville, the Spirit of Brownville Riverboat, Brownville SRA,** one block south of U.S. 136 near Brownville at river mile 535, 10 a.m.--Matt Jones. Alternate location: Same.

**PLEASE NOTE: Because the Riverview Marina SRA and Brownville SRA are managed by the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission, a $3 entry fee is required for each vehicle entering the park area. Vehicles with tax-exempt plates do not need entry permits.

The Nebraska Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission is a sponsor of the keelboat's return, and the Nebraska Humanities Council is assisting with the Keelboat Symposium series.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:

Kim Bastemeyer, Nebraska Lewis & Clark Bicentennial Commission, at 800-228-4307, 402-471-3368, or email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it