Steamboat Bertrand Collection

We go to the reserve to hike and observe birds every year, and we’ve always wanted to stop by the museum out of curiosity. I honestly expected a small gift shop and maybe like one room with some taxidermy of local fauna and some info posters about the ship, but I was pleasantly surprised. The collection is beyond comprehensive. They spent years pulling out every single item from the bottom of the river, including tiny things like hair clips.
If you’re interested in boats, the Victorian era, or simply history in general, you’ll enjoy the visit. The area with the actual collection is dark and fairly cold and all the items are behind a wall of glass since they have to be preserved in certain conditions (including fridges and freezers in the back that aren’t visible to the public), so keep in mind that they are not freely out on display.
The building the museum is located is - to me - a museum piece in itself. I find the architecture stunning. Probably a weird thing to say since it’s basically a massive chunk of concrete, but there is a certain charm to the geometry of it.

The gift shop was a pleasant surprise as well, the girl at the counter was incredibly friendly and answered all our questions, and we walked away with a bag full of mushroom and animal-themed souvenirs.

Nice park hours are very short ,during the day they close ferry early. Put three dollars in the dropbox, just to make sure don't wanna get a ticket. It's getting close to being hunting season the trails look to be closed.

Great job of displaying artifacts dug up from the mud of 100 year old shipwreck in air conditioned building.

You get to learn about the Bertrand was launched in Wheeling, West Virginia in 1864. At 161 feet (49 m) long, with a beam of 32 feet (9.8 m); its burden total 251 tons. A shallow-draft vessel, it drew only 18 inches (46 cm) when light, and perhaps no more than twice that when loaded.

Ownership of the Bertrand differ, but it probably belonged to the Montana and Idaho Transportation Line, based in St. Louis, Missouri. The firm was owned in part by John J. Roe of St. Louis.

On April 1, 1865, under the command of Captain James Yore, the steamboat struck a submerged log in the Desoto Bend of the Missouri River, about 25 miles (40 km) upstream from Omaha, Nebraska. In less than ten minutes, it sank in 12 feet (3.7 m) of water. No people died, the estimated value of vessel and entire cargo was lost combined was $100,000.

Great place to see geese and bald eagles and the museum is very interesting, but it needs to open on Sundays. For working people that may be the only day they can visit.

Great time with Grandpa on a rainy day at the visitors center and Bertrand Museum exhibits. But cold and windy to try the trails but he can only walk so far anyway. Very enjoyable afternoon. Friendly staff at the front counter.

Wonderful museum with great displays of the items needed by the people of the 1870s mining communities.

I always enjoy visiting the museum to see all the artifacts. It's amazing that so many items were found and saved.

Very, very interesting and informative

Great exhibit of life on the river 100 years ago.

A wonderful exhibit. Educational.

Amazing history!

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Tour is self-guided which I prefer.

Exhibits were good but I'd seen them many times before. Nothkng new.

Employee at desk gave the impression he'd rather be anywhere else and not be bothered.

Gift shop has very little to offer and nothing new for years.

Viewing area is spectacular and provides excellent vistas. (The couch seating does need serious help. I sat to watch a Canada goose in a nest and went straight onto the floor! Please either repair, replace or remove before someone gets hurt. )

All that being said, this is an wonderful place to visit.

Good exhibit on the steamboat and wildlife. Obvious the funding for upkeep is lacking. Lawns are overgrown with weeds. The air-conditioning was broken and talking to staff it's been out for 2-3 years. Had to be 85° inside, I feel sorry for them. I bet their bosses don't work in those conditions.
We left after a quick visit.