Mile 180.0 - RBD "The Captain's Return"

180 RBD "The Captain's Return"

Downstream of the Ead’s Bridge, on the St. Louis side of the river, paddlers will discover "The Captain's Return" a statue depicting Lewis and Clark returning from their two-year odyssey up the Missouri, down the Columbia and back, to explore the Louisiana Territory. Even though the statue is specifically designed to withstand Mississippi's wild waters, a funny but historically accurate scene presents itself as the water levels climb higher in flood season: the explorers are seen wading through the muddy water. In higher waters their dog Seaman goes underwater and William Clark appears to be desperately calling for help! At writing time (Dec 2015) the statue has been moved. It was determined that, despite the initial vision of the artist to place it at the water's edge for dramatic purposes, it was being subjected to inundation too often. So, it is being refurbished and will be located nearby on the newly renovated Arch grounds.