Our mission is to strengthen our community through impactful grants that improve quality of life for all.

Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD) was founded in 1989 during a turning point in Iowa’s history. As the state explored riverboat gaming to boost jobs and tourism, Woodbury County voters approved gaming on the Missouri River, and MRHD emerged as the nonprofit Qualified Sponsoring Organization (QSO) responsible for holding the county’s gaming license and ensuring gaming revenues benefit the community.

Formed from the Riverboat Tourism Task Force led by civic leader Betty Strong, MRHD became the first QSO licensed on the Missouri River. In the decades that followed, MRHD partnered with multiple operators and riverboat casinos, such as the Sioux City Sue and the Belle of Sioux City, while helping shape Iowa’s expanding gaming landscape.

MRHD’s grant program began in 1994. By 1996, over $1 million in local grants had been distributed. MRHD then started playing a key-role in supporting major civic, public, and charitable projects in Woodbury County. In 2002, MRHD funded the construction and operations of the Lewis & Clark Interpretive Center ($4 million). In 2007, MRHD funded the construction and operations of the Betty Strong Encounter ($3.6 million) which adjoins the LCIC facility and helps serve as one of the premier destinations in the country for visitors seeking to explore the legacy of the Lewis and Clark Trail and the story of early American exploration along the Missouri River.

A new era began on August 1, 2014, when Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Sioux City opened its doors under the MRHD gaming license. Ten years later, the momentum hasn’t slowed. With the support of Hard Rock and Churchill Downs, Inc., MRHD continues to fuel projects that build a stronger, more vibrant Siouxland. MRHD has awarded more than $40 million in grants generated through this partnership, and over $60 million in total since its program started in 1994.

2024: Local officials, Hard Rock leadership, and representatives of Churchill Downs, Inc. commemorate the 10-year anniversary of Hard Rock Hotel & Casino – Sioux City with the iconic Hard Rock guitar smash.