Membership

Preserving the Trails Project

Support our ongoing efforts to preserve the historical integrity of the land, view from the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the Missouri River Corridor.

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Preserve Lower Portage Campsite artifact exhibits

Over ten years ago, archaeologist Ken Karsmizki, then from the Museum of the Rockies in Bozeman, MT, conducted extensive surveys of the lower portage area in the hope of uncovering the location of the lower Portage Campsite. Karsmizki uncovered several objects that he believed to be remnants of the explorers' travels. The objects were radiocarbon dated and confirmed their existence at the time of the expedition. Some of those include a wooden stake, push pin, pieces of a buffalo scapula that had been shaped, flint scrapings, and more. Reproductions of these items have been donated to the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center, but have not been placed on display. Donations would help prepare these materials for display at the Interpretive Center in Great Falls.

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Children's Programs

The Lewis & Clark Foundation helps sponsor rural schools that have difficulty with the expense of visiting the Interpretive Center. We often pay the entry and program fees, and sometimes the travel costs for schools from outlying areas. Your contribution to our children's programs allows these children the opportunity to visit the Center, and helps underwrite other programs geared toward our younger visitors.

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Jane Weber Fund

With shrinking Federal budgets, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center has seen significant funding cuts since 2006. Many times, programs or other worthy projects are eliminated each year due to lack of funding.

The Weber Fund is a program launched by the Lewis & Clark Foundation to help meet some of these unfunded needs. Named in honor of Jane Weber, the Center's founding director, the Fund is intended to give the Center Director a discretionary allowance to help meet pressing needs that go unfunded each year. Earnings from the fund may be used to help the Interpretive Center Director reach some of her personal goals, some of which could include:

• Substantially funding the costs of bringing several rural schools to Center each year

• Underwriting a traveling exhibition

• Paying the costs for bringing in 2 or 3 special speakers or presenters

• Inviting and paying the admission fees of several special groups that may not be able to afford a trip to the Center

• Underwriting the costs of two or three children's programs

The Jane Weber fund honors a lady who in many ways has devoted her life to the success of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center; a woman who has poured her heart and soul into the institution. The Fund allows Jane the opportunity to bring that joy of discovery to everyone who enters through the doors of the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center.

Launched in 2008, the initial goal for the Fund is $100,000. The Jane Weber Fund will help meet some of the Center's most pressing needs.

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Become a Member!

As a member of the Lewis & Clark Foundation, you will enjoy benefits including free admission, invitations to special events, discounts in the Portage Cache store, and a subscription to our newsletter, Exploring. Most important, your membership helps ensure that the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center will continue to educate and inspire visitors for generations to come. It is easy to become a member or purchase a gift membership. Just call 406-452-5661 and we can process your order over the phone.