Lewis and Clark Visitor Center

The Many Meanings of Spirit Mound

Published on September 2, 2025 by JNPALeave a comment

Many of our national parks contain places that have special significance to Native American tribes. One such sacred site lies within Missouri National Recreational River: Spirit Mound.

This gently sloping natural hill rises from a broad plain near present-day Vermillion, South Dakota. Geologists say the mound is a remnant of bedrock that was not eroded away by Ice Age glaciers. Whatever its origins, the mound has taken on a variety of cultural meanings reflecting the wide-ranging beliefs of our diverse American population.

Long before white traders and explorers arrived in the northern plains, this little hill was held in awe by the Indigenous peoples who inhabited the area. The Sioux, the Omaha, and the Otoes believed the mound was occupied by spirits that would kill any human who came near.

According to Lakota oral traditions, the Spirit Mound was home to a group of small people called Can O’ti na, or Little Tree Dwellers. The Can O’ti na sometimes behaved mischievously and played tricks on humans. They could also serve as spiritual helpers.

William Clark’s map identified Spirit Mound as: “This place called by the Indians Hill of the little Devils.” (Courtesy NPS)

So mysterious were these stories that the explorers Lewis and Clark made a rare nine-mile detour from their Missouri River explorations in 1804 so they could see the mound for themselves. On August 24^th, Clark wrote:

Meriwether Lewis, William Clark, and a small group of their expedition approaching the Hill of Little Devils (now known as Spirit Mound) in late August of 1804. (Courtesy NPS)

When the Corps of Discovery ascended to the top of the mound, it was one of the first times they were able to comprehend the wide expanse of the Great Plains landscape. Clark described the panoramic view from the top:

While the little mound was clearly just a unique geological formation to white explorers, it continued to carry a special meaning for Native tribes, many of whom still have spiritual ties to the place. Lakota ceremonies today, for instance, still include the Little Tree Dweller’s Medicine Bundle. This important medicine traces its origins to Spirit Mound.

The mound was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. If you visit Missouri National Recreational River, you can see Spirit Mound for yourself thanks to the development of a walking trail to the top. The state of South Dakota (with help of the National Park Service and the Spirit Mound Trust) purchased a 160-acre tract of surrounding land in 2002 with the intention of restoring the site to the prairie landscape that Lewis and Clark saw over 200 years ago. Today, Spirit Mound Historic Prairie is a prairie restoration project in progress.

Go Fish! 🎣

Published on August 19, 2025August 19, 2025 by JNPALeave a comment

If your idea of a perfect way to spend a day outdoors is dropping a line in a stream or lake and seeing what bites, then you’ll want to check out the great fishing opportunities at our national parks. More than 200 sites in the National Park Service offer recreational fishing for the general public, including fly fishing, casting, bait fishing, trolling, and even ice fishing (brrrr!).

Of course, since fishing can affect local animal populations, each national park site regulates the fishing activities within its borders, usually by conforming with the regulations of the state where the park is located. Before setting out, it’s wise to check a park’s regulations, including learning what permits might be needed and where to find the best fishing spots. By following the park’s rules, such as practicing catch and release fishing of native fish, anglers can help ensure that native fish in our national parks will be enjoyed for generations to come.

A number of JNPA’s partner parks offer visitors a chance to fish their waters:

Voyageurs National Park has many options for both aspiring and experienced anglers. Fish abound in the park’s 30 named lakes, which consist of four large lakes and 26 smaller interior lakes. So far 54 fish species have been identified in the park’s aquatic habitats. Some of the better-known are walleye, sauger, Northern pike, smallmouth bass, yellow perch, and black crappie.

And if winter fishing is your thing, Voyageurs is a must-visit. Rugged piney shorelines, ultra-quiet conditions, and PLENTY of lake ice make the park an ice angler’s dream. Always check the park’s ice conditions before setting out and review the rules about placement of icehouses.

You can also put your angling skills to the test at Missouri National Recreational River. Walleye, sauger, paddlefish, and many more game species are waiting within the two reaches of the Missouri River, 20 miles of the lower Niobrara River, and eight miles of the lower Verdigre Creek. Since most of the park lies on the state boundary between Nebraska and South Dakota, you should be aware of license information and regulations for both states.

The great fishing opportunities near the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center attract thousands of anglers year-round. The park’s website lists the prime fishing spots and seasons where anglers can find their favorite fish species. Accessible fishing piers are located on the south shore of Lake Yankton and in the Nebraska Tailwaters area. There are separate regulations for residents and non-residents of South Dakota and Nebraska, so be sure to check before you go.

Learn about endangered and threatened species, historical information, or water safety and reservoir navigation with the Lewis and Clark Lake Gavins Point Dam Boating and Recreation Guide. You can pick up a copy at the site, or order it from JPNA’s online store.

There are plenty of locations for both boat-fishing and shoreline fishing within Mississippi National River and Recreation Area. The Mississippi River in the northern suburbs and further north is a nationally recognized smallmouth bass fishery. Walleyes are plentiful below Lock and Dam #1. And floodplain lakes contain trout, panfish, northern pike, and largemouth bass. The park’s website offers more suggested fishing locations.

To get kids involved, park rangers hold fishing clinics at certain times of the year. Younger anglers who complete the clinic can earn a Junior Ranger Angler Badge as well as their own fishing kit.

Speaking of kids, the NPS Junior Ranger Angler program is a perfect way to get youngsters interested in the sport. Many national park sites that permit fishing offer the program’s special activity booklet as well as Junior Ranger Angler badges. You can find participating parks on the National Park Service Fish & Fishing website.

Accessible to All

Published on July 22, 2025July 15, 2025 by JNPALeave a comment

As the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) turns 35 years old this month, the Centers for Disease Control reports that more than one in four Americans – roughly 70 million people – are living with a disability. This can include a wide range of conditions from mobility issues and hearing loss to vision impairment and cognitive limitations.

Yet there’s no reason people with physical challenges can’t enjoy our national parks. In fact, the National Park Service “strives to make its parks, monuments, and historic sites available to all.” And it offers a wide range of accessible experiences across its 400+ park sites.

Each park has its own accessibility section on its website, where visitors can find details about its accessibility services and programs. These can go way beyond more traditional services like sign language interpretation of tours, accessible camping sites, paved trails, and ramps. Newer accommodations include all-terrain wheelchairs, audio cave tours , tactile maps and accessible shuttle buses, and Wheels to Water floating kayak launches.

As challenging as some of these physical accommodations are, making museum exhibits accessible is even more complicated. Designers of the new museum at Gateway Arch National Park, for instance, fully embraced the concept of Universal Design when planning new exhibits. The museum includes multiple accessibility features, like tactile exhibits and interactive computer simulations that are visitor-directed through a touchscreen. Visitors can make use of Braille signage, large-print, high-contrast text versions of exhibit copy, assisted listening and captioning devices, as well as a new device that allows non-speaking guests to type questions for museum staff. Similar accommodations are available in the park’s theater.

And since the tram ride to the top of the Arch is not wheelchair accessible, designers created the next best thing. Inside a full-size replica of the final piece of the Gateway Arch, video screens show live views from each side of the top observation deck, replicating the experience as much as possible for visitors who cannot make the trip to the top.

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site also offers a range of accessibility services, including free wheelchair use, assisted listening devices for guided tours, audio descriptions of park films, and Braille and large-format brochures.

At Voyageurs National Park boating, fishing, and camping are the primary activities. All NPS boats are accessible. And visitors can make use of accessible lifts at boat launches as well as accessible campsites.

Similar accommodations are available at Missouri National Recreational River and the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center, both of which are popular with anglers. In addition to taking advantage of accessible trails, shelters, and cabins, visitors can fish from several piers that are reachable by those in wheelchairs.

All in all, NPS efforts to improve accessibility have principally focused on well-developed areas within easier reach, such as park visitor centers and established campgrounds. But accessibility advocates want to see more trails, shelters, and other park areas comply with ADA standards, particularly in more remote natural areas. Park Service officials acknowledge there’s a nationwide backlog of existing trails and structures that don’t meet accessibility standards, especially in the backcountry. But they say they’re making progress where they can.

Americans with permanent disabilities are eligible to receive the National Park Service All Access Pass, which provides lifetime benefits at federal lands managed by six agencies, including free entrance to parks managed by the National Park Service that charge an entrance fee. The free passes are available at certain federal recreation sites or can be ordered online (for a small shipping fee).

All Access Pass

order online

Let’s Get Crafty!

Published on December 26, 2023February 20, 2024 by JNPALeave a comment

When the days get shorter and the weather gets colder, families can start to get cabin fever. If you and your loved ones are looking for fun activities, we’ve got you covered! Lucky for national park enthusiasts, there are several activities inspired by our favorite parks that can help pass the time during the long winter months.

Crochet a Walleye

Voyageurs National Park has 54 species of fish that can be found in the park’s aquatic habitats! Walleyes are some of the most popular, and you can make a cute, cuddly one for yourself. This activity is great for both older kids and adults. If you are new to crocheting, this is a great pattern to try, since it is on the simpler side. Click here to view the instructions.

Make a Telescope

On May 14, Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery embarked from St. Louis, MO on an expedition to find a route to the Pacific Ocean. This expedition has been commemorated by many public lands sites along the route they journeyed, including Gateway Arch National Park and the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center at Gavin’s Point Dam. While the kids in your life are cooped up indoors, you can make these working telescopes and go on your own pretend expedition. Since the telescopes are actually functional, you can also use them to view the winter landscape and wildlife out your window! Click here to view the instructions.

Bake an Old-Fashioned Apple Pie

One of visitors’ favorite rooms at President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site is the quaint 1940s-era kitchen, which is fitted out to look as it did when President Clinton lived in the home as a child. It is easy to imagine the family enjoying many warm meals in the modest home, including a nice pie like the one on display. If you want to recreate that same cozy feeling, try baking a delicious old-fashioned apple pie. You can serve it warm on a chilly day or make it à la mode with some vanilla ice cream! Click here to view the instructions.

Weave a Diversity Heart

On September 23, 1957, nine African American teenagers entered Little Rock Central High School, defying an angry mob of adults protesting the desegregation of the school. Today, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site commemorates the story of those brave students as well as the broader civil rights movement in the United States. It is vital that we learn about and remember the struggles in our nation’s history.

If you’d like to help a young person learn to respect people with all shades of skin color, we have a fun craft for you – create a diversity heart. This charming activity was created for classroom students but it’s easy to do at home and doesn’t require many materials. Once it’s complete, it can display the many different skin tones we see in the world, including yours! Just follow the step-by-step instructions here.

Create a Stuffed Horse

Fans of Ulysses S. Grant probably know the former U.S. president was a superb horseman who kept a number of horses while he lived at White Haven. How about creating a little horse of your own? Younger kids will probably need help making this unique little craft, but the teamwork will be half the fun!

You’ll find complete instructions on making your stuffed horse here.

Make a Whirligig

Kids have always played with toys, but a few hundred years ago there were no stores or websites that sold toys. So what did a child play with when growing up in French Colonial America, like in Ste. Ge n eviève, Missouri? They created their own toys!

A whirligig was a favorite among 18^th century children. This little spinning toy was easy to make from just a few common materials, such as buttons, worn out coins, or hammered musket balls. It was almost as much fun to make as it was to play with.

Want to make your own paper whirligig? Check out these simple instructions. The more you decorate it, the better it looks!

Don’t “Pass” This Up!

Published on May 30, 2023July 18, 2023 by JNPALeave a comment

Now that summer is in full swing, you’re probably making vacation plans. If a national park is on your travel agenda, we have a suggestion you won’t want to pass up: buy an America the Beautiful Pass.

This $80 annual pass entitles you and three guests to free access to more than 2,000 public sites managed by five federal agencies for an unlimited number of visits during the year. And since some national parks charge up to $20 per person or $35 per vehicle, these savings can add up. What’s more, the proceeds from the purchase of each pass are dedicated to improving and enhancing visitor experiences at these federal recreation sites.

Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site. Credit: NPS/David Newmann

Beyond the regular annual park pass, there are other options for certain groups:

Members of the military and their dependents qualify for a free annual Military Pass;
Gold Star families and Veterans can receive a free lifetime Military Pass;
Those who are ages 62 and up can purchase a $20 annual Senior Pass or an $80 lifetime Senior Pass;
Those who have a permanent disability can qualify for a free lifetime Access Pass, regardless of their age.
Children in 4^th grade and their educators can take advantage of a free Every Kid Outdoors Annual 4^th Grade Pass.
Those who volunteer for a federal recreation site for more than 250 hours are entitled to a one-year Volunteer Pass.

Where can you get one of these park passes? If your vacation is more than two weeks away, you’ll have time to order your passes online and have them mailed to you (there’s a $10 processing fee for online orders). But if you’re travelling sooner, you’ll want to buy your passes at one of more than 1,000 recreation sites managed by the National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, U.S. Forest Service, and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. To find one near you, go here.

Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site

A number of JNPA partner parks sell passes at their visitor centers: Gateway Arch National Park, Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site, Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site, Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site, and Lewis & Clark Visitor Center.

Enjoy your summer travels!

Why We’re Thankful

Published on November 22, 2022December 20, 2022 by JNPALeave a comment

Here at JNPA, we’re proud to serve as a non-profit partner of some of our nation’s most treasured public lands. So in honor of the upcoming Thanksgiving holiday, we wanted to take a moment to list some of the many things we’re thankful for.

Living history programs that bring the past alive for visitors of all ages.

(Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site)

Breathtaking scenery that inspires and enriches all of us.

(Voyageurs National Park)

Parks that honor the courageous men and women who fought for equality for all Americans.

(Little Rock Central High School National Historic Site)

Preserving America’s important historic buildings for future generations to enjoy.

(Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park)

Dedicated interpretive rangers from the Army Corps of Engineers who share the wonders of their sites with visitors.

(Lewis and Clark Visitor Center)

Energetic and committed National Park Service rangers who inspire children to become Junior Rangers.

(Voyageurs National Park)

Opportunities for recreation and enjoyment of the outdoors.

(Lewis and Clark Visitor Center)

Educators at all of our partner parks who share their love of public lands with tomorrow’s generation.

(Gateway Arch National Park)

Preserving the homes of America’s presidents as a way of helping us understand and connect with these important figures.

(President William Jefferson Clinton Birthplace Home National Historic Site)

Honoring African Americans’ struggle to achieve freedom and respect in American society.

(Gateway Arch National Park)

Commemorating the diverse nationalities, traditions, and cultures that helped shape our nation.

(Ste. Genevieve National Historical Park)

Preserving critical wilderness areas that safeguard our nation’s biodiversity and ecological health.

(Mississippi National River and Recreation Area)

Protecting America’s rivers and streams that are so vital for drinking water, recreation, and commerce.

(Missouri National Recreational River)

Architectural marvels that enhance our nation’s cultural heritage and stimulate our imaginations.

(Gateway Arch National Park)

Many thanks to JNPA’s partner parks and all they do to protect America’s heritage, landscapes, and stories. Happy Thanksgiving!

An Epic Journey

Published on May 10, 2022June 21, 2022 by JNPALeave a comment

Nearly 218 years ago this week, 45 men and one dog set out from Camp Dubois near St. Louis on what was to become one of the most famous explorations in American history. On May 14, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark led their Corps of Discovery on an expedition to explore the newly acquired western portion of the continent. Their epic two-year journey took them to the Pacific Coast and back, yielding a treasure-trove of detailed maps, climate and soil data, and plant and animal specimens, as well as the beginning of relationships with dozens of tribal nations.

Two of JNPA’s partner sites – Gateway Arch National Park and the Lewis and Clark Visitor Center – feature interpretive exhibits about this famous expedition in their museums. So we thought it fitting to honor the intrepid explorers during this anniversary week.

President Thomas Jefferson commissioned the expedition shortly after acquiring the Louisiana Purchase territory in 1803. Although scientific discoveries and mapping were of high importance, Jefferson’s primary interests were political and commercial. He envisioned an eventual expansion of the nation to the Pacific Ocean and wanted to establish an American presence in the west before European nations made claims to the region. He also charged Lewis and Clark with preparing the way for the extension of the valuable fur trade, with documenting other natural resources that could support future settlements, and with assessing the friendliness of the indigenous tribes they encountered.

Jefferson provided the Corps of Discovery with the best clothing, firearms, boats, equipment, and rations then available. He also supplied them with an assortment of medals, ribbons, needles, mirrors, and other articles which were intended as gifts to Native American chiefs.

The expedition travelled up the Missouri River and through its tributaries in a specially built 55-foot keelboat and two smaller boats called pirogues, averaging 15 miles a day. Their journey proved difficult and exhausting: the men were plagued by heat, injuries, insects, and the river’s strong current and many snags. Both Lewis and Clark’s kept detailed records of these arduous conditions in their journals, which were primarily devoted to meticulous descriptions and drawings of the native people, plants, animals they saw.

[Columbia River near Mouth of Umatilla River, Washington and Oregon]. Entry of 19 October 1805, cont. Voorhis Journal #6 [Elkskin Bound Journal]. p. 53. [Moulton 5:302]. Voorhis Journal 6. William Clark, Elkskin Bound Journal, 11 September – 31 December 1805., p. 53. Clark Family Collection. William Clark Papers. Missouri Historical Society Archives. Photograph by Cary Horton, 2003. NS 26957. Photograph and scan (c) 2003, Missouri Historical Society.

To find out more about this famous expedition, you can visit the museum at the Gateway Arch. The Jefferson’s Vision gallery features numerous exhibits on Lewis and Clark’s journey, including replicas and artifacts, interactives about the plants and animals the explorers encountered, and information about the native peoples who inhabited the West at the time of the expedition.

The Arch Store also offers books and other products related to the Corps of Discovery, including the classic best-seller Undaunted Courage by Stephen Ambrose. You can purchase these and other items online or at The Arch Store.