A special event station in commemoration of the Lewis and Clark expedition will be operational July 30 through August 4. The station, WØL, will operate from Fort Atkinson State Park north of Omaha, Nebraska.

Fort Atkinson was the first U.S. military post west of the Missouri River and was erected near the campsite where Lewis and Clark held council with the Oto and Missouri Indians on August 3, 1804. That meeting gave the locale its name of “Council Bluff.” After their return to St. Louis, Clark recommended that a U.S. military fort be built on the site.

A massive celebration of the Lewis and Clark bicentennial is planned at Fort Atkinson including reenactments of the original council meeting as well as a range of historical displays on a 40 acre site adjacent to the original fort. Included in the displays will be a replica of the original Lewis and Clark flat-keel boat.

The special event station is sponsored by the Lincoln (Nebraska) Amateur Radio Club and will operate both SSB and CW.  SSB will be on, or near, one of the following: 28.350, 21.350, 14.250, 7.250 or 3.950. CW operation will be 35 KHz up from the bottom of the same bands.

The station will be a “Field Day” type of operation utilizing a mobile command post from Lancaster County Emergency Management, generator power, wire and/or vertical antennas, low power and laptops.

A special commemorative Lewis and Clark QSL card will be available with a self-addressed stamped envelope sent to event QSL manager KTØK.  In addition, an 8½” x 11” certificate suitable for framing will be available to stations that work WØL on three band/modes and include a business-sized envelope with their QSL.  

Ham radio operators are invited to visit WØL which will be located at the far west side of the public parking area south of County Road 34.  The Lewis and Clark bicentennial exhibition area will be on the north side of County Road 34.