Information
Landmark: Sergeant Floyd MonumentCity: Sioux City
Country: USA Iowa
Continent: North America
Sergeant Floyd Monument, Sioux City, USA Iowa, North America
Overview
Perched high on a bluff above the Missouri River in Sioux City, Iowa, the Sergeant Floyd Monument rises in honor of Sergeant Charles Floyd, the sole member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804–1806) to die during the Corps of Discovery’s long journey.It’s a National Historic Landmark and stands as one of the trail’s key monuments, a place where you can almost hear the crunch of boots following Lewis and Clark’s path.Sergeant Charles Floyd, a Kentucky native and one of the 33 men on the expedition, fell seriously ill and died on August 20, 1804, only a few miles south of where Sioux City stands today.A ruptured appendix probably killed him, leaving him the sole casualty of the whole expedition.They laid him to rest on a bluff overlooking the wide, brown sweep of the Missouri River-a place that grew into hallowed ground for both the community and the nation.By the late 1800s, erosion had begun eating away at his original grave, scattering bits of soil down the hillside.They reburied Floyd’s remains higher on the bluff, and in 1901 a tall stone monument rose there to mark where he would rest for good.In 1960, it became the very first National Historic Landmark in the United States, marked with a small bronze plaque that still catches the afternoon light.The monument, a 100-foot white stone obelisk modeled after the Washington Monument, rises sharply against the sky.Built from Kettelson stone quarried in Minnesota, it was made to endure decades of wind, rain, and sun.Surrounding Park: The monument stands in a landscaped park where winding paths lead past interpretive signs and open to sweeping views of the Missouri River valley.Interpretive markers-small bronze plaques and weathered display boards-share the story of Sergeant Floyd, trace the path of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and explain why this spot matters.The Sergeant Floyd Monument stands as a symbol of local pride and national heritage, honoring Floyd-the only member of the Corps of Discovery to die on the journey-whose story still echoes beside the river he once traveled.Sioux City stands out as a key stop on the Lewis and Clark Trail, tying the region to one of America’s greatest journeys-where riverbanks once echoed with the slap of oars in the water.National Symbol: Named the country’s very first official National Historic Landmark, the monument stands as a milestone in U. S. preservation-much like a cornerstone set deep into the nation’s past.The monument and its leafy park invite quiet reflection and offer a place to learn, while also drawing visitors eager to explore history, adventure, and the river’s storied past.School and group visits offer hands-on programs that bring the Lewis and Clark Expedition to life, like tracing their route on a worn, old map.Commemorative Events: Marks anniversaries with ceremonies honoring the Corps of Discovery and Veterans Day, sometimes with a brass band playing under crisp autumn skies.Today, the Sergeant Floyd Monument still stands as one of Sioux City’s most recognized landmarks, a tall stone sentinel overlooking the river and honoring the city’s strong connection to America’s era of exploration.The obelisk towers over the wide, muddy sweep of the Missouri River, honoring Floyd’s sacrifice and telling visitors the story of the Lewis and Clark Expedition-its grit, its dangers, and the mark it left behind.It’s a lasting tribute to exploration, sacrifice, and national heritage, tying Sioux City to one of early America’s defining tales-a story carried west by the creak of wagon wheels.
