CHAMBERLAIN REST AREA FACILITY
The new Chamberlain Rest Area facility features a Tourist Information Center and a
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Exhibit Area. The Information Center provides tourist information
& assistance to travelers. The Interpretive Exhibit Area will feature exhibits relating to
Lewis & Clark's historic journey across South Dakota in 1804. Additional exhibits depicting
South Dakota heritage may also be displayed. Generous restroom facilities include nine
stations for both men & women as well as a family restroom accommodation. The new facility is
comprised of a main level area of 6,570 square feet and a mezzanine overlook area of 540 square
feet. The facility is staffed by the Dept. of Tourism. The Tourist Information Center and the
Lewis & Clark Interpretive Exhibit Area will be open to the public during the Tourist Season,
starting on May 21, 2001. The restrooms and parking lot are open all year long.
A highlight of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Exhibit Area is a replica of the Expedition long
boat. The long boat (keelboat) is placed on a mezzanine level (with the deck 10 feet above the
main level) with the stern actually projecting thru the main 30 feet high window wall. The
boat deck is accessed by a main and auxiliary stairway as well as a passenger elevator. The
new center lies 200 feet south of the original lodge pole monument. The former rest area
building has been converted to a squad office for the Highway Patrol.
The facility is heated & cooled with a ground source geothermal heat pump system which is
serviced by a well field of 55 (200 feet deep) wells.
In conjunction with the Rest Area project, the parking area has been expanded to the south
with accommodations for 16 trucks, 18 RV's and 92 automobiles. The entire area is illuminated
with two light tower structures constructed south of the new parking area.
The design work for the facility was determined by a design competition conducted by the Dept.
of Transportation and the Dept. of Tourism. The Sioux Falls firm of Architecture Automated,
Inc. was selected for the design, with Gene Murphy as project architect and Ward Whitman,
design consultant. The prime contractor was Sioux Falls Construction Company from Sioux Falls.
By summer 2001, exhibits relating to Lewis & Clark's journey from 1804-1806 are expected to be
on display in the Interpretive Exhibit Area.
Following are a set of photographs of the rest area building taken by professional architectural
photographer, Kenneth Petersen, from Council Bluffs, Iowa. All the photographs are © Kenneth
Petersen, 2000 and may not be copied or reproduced without permission from him.
Click on the images to obtain a larger view.
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1. Entrance to the building. Note the Native American artwork on the far right.
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2. West side of the building.
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3. North side of the building. Note the keelboat extending outside the building.
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4. Night view of the lodge poles or teepee. The lodge poles are also featured at several other South Dakota rest areas.
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5. Metal artwork at the entrance to the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.
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6. Casework containing tourist information is located outside the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center.
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7. Lewis & Clark Keelboat. Note the stairway and oars. An elevator is also available.
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8. View to the north from the deck of the keelboat. Note the Native American beadwork.
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9. View to the west from the deck of the keelboat. Note the Native American beadwork.
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