Sergeant Floyd Monument: A Tribute to Exploration

Rising high above the Missouri River in Sioux City, Iowa, the Sergeant Floyd Monument is a striking tribute to Charles Floyd, the only member of the Lewis and Clark Expedition to perish during the Corps of Discovery's epic journey. Floyd, likely felled by a ruptured appendix in 1804, was initially buried on a bluff overlooking the river, a site personally selected by William Clark.Erosion and the passage of time led to multiple reinterments before the construction of the imposing 100-foot sandstone obelisk in 1901. The monument, built in the style of an Egyptian obelisk, serves as a lasting memorial to Floyd's contribution to the expedition and the broader narrative of American westward expansion. Thousands attended the dedication on Memorial Day in 1901.The monument is located within a 23-acre park, offering visitors panoramic views of the Missouri River valley. Interpretive signs detail Floyd's story, the Lewis and Clark Expedition, and the historical significance of the site. The monument was the first National Historic Landmark. Visitors can also reflect on the monument's design, the surrounding landscape, and the legacy of exploration and discovery.