Sunday, September 14, 2014

Desoto National Wildlife Refuge, Iowa

Drove across the Missouri River into Iowa to visit the Desoto National Wildlife Refuge.   Nice place!!!  There is a very spacious visitors center with lots of wonderful, inside, viewing areas that over look the water.  One can see all the migratory birds in comfort in the cold weather.  A very nice set up!

In addition, a huge draw to the visitors center is the display of artifacts recovered from the sunken steamship, Bertrand.  The 165 ft steamboat sank in 1865 with a full cargo of tools and housewares, worth about $100,00 then, and quite a bit of it is on display.  We had a great time wandering through this exhibit!  So many interesting things to see.
Jared, Allie and Mike at the Desoto visitor center




amazing exhibit!  all the artifacts you see came off the Bertrand






These Goodyear rubber raincoats are the only known surviving examples in the world

great views of the preserve from the visitors center

Allie checking out some Canadian Geese






site of the Bertrand excavation. the bulk of the boat was reburied for preservation


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