
Have a picnic underneath the
shelter with an awesome view of the Missouri River
Terrace Park sits atop a
high bluff overlooking Lewis and Clark Lake of the Missouri River.
The City of Springfield has undertaken an extensive project at the park
with the assistance of grants from the National Park Service and Randall
Resource Conservation and Development.
The park allows those following the Lewis and Clark Trail an opportunity
to explore nature and view the Mighty Mo from a picturesque spot.
The expedition journals provide us with numerous accounts of plants,
wildlife and scenery. Several times the corps members described
the plums found in southeastern and central South Dakota.
Part of the park
plan is the development of American Plum, a native shrub to the area.
Considerable use is made of American plum thickets for nesting by birds
and for providing protection to small animals. American Indians utilized
the fruits for food, either fresh, cooked or
dried.
Visitors to Terrace Park will see a Lewis and Clark informational kiosk.
Springfield chose to participate in the South Dakota L&C Community
Project which features panels with info unique to each of at least 10
communities along the river.
Signs also are planned to describe the native forbs and plants scheduled
for the park. Much of this vegetation was a part of the American Indian’s
daily life. The Corps also took much time in documenting their outdoor
discoveries. Terrace Park is designed to promote those educational and
historic aspects of the expedition and the area.
We enthusiastically encourage visitors to enjoy the outdoors at
Springfield. Local restaurants are willing to cater meals for group
tours wishing to dine in the outdoors. They also have the seating
capacity and buffet-style presentation to serve in-house.
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The morning was cold, and the wind from the northwest. We passed at sunrise,
three large sandbars, and at the distance of ten miles reached a small
creek, about twelve yards wide, coming in from the north, above a white
bluff: this creek has obtained the name of Plum creek, from the number
of that fruit which are in the neighborhood, and of a delightful
quality. …” (Journal
of the Lewis and Clark Expedition, Sept. 3, 1804)
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