About Us

Group of protesters, including women and men, holding signs such as "Save the Farm," "Stop," and "Party" at a demonstration advocating for farm preservation.
A man in a suit is sitting at a table, preparing to inject himself with medication, while four other individuals, two men and two women, observe him. The scene appears to be in a formal or official setting.
Black and white photo of an elderly woman with short, light-colored hair and glasses, looking slightly to the right.

Missouri River Historical Development (MRHD) exists because of a bold idea born during one of Iowa's most challenging economic periods.

During the 1980s Farm Crisis, Iowa faced declining tax revenues, rising unemployment, and a struggling tourism industry. State leaders looked for innovative ways to stimulate economic growth, create jobs, and generate new revenue without increasing taxes. That vision led Iowa to legalize riverboat gaming, making it one of the first states in the nation to embrace gaming as an economic development strategy.

When the Iowa Legislature authorized local communities to decide whether to allow riverboat gaming, leaders across Woodbury County saw an opportunity to strengthen the local economy. Local community leader Betty Strong organized the Riverboat Tourism Task Force, which gathered more than 6,500 petition signatures to place the question before voters. Supporters believed riverboat gaming could create hundreds of jobs, attract thousands of visitors each year, and generate millions of dollars in economic activity for the region.

People waving as a paddle steamer boat named 'Dewitt Clinton' passes on a river, with trees in autumn colors in the background.
A large riverboat with multiple decks cruises along a river with trees and open fields on the shore. The boat has black and red accents and displays signs for 'Belle Casino' and 'Argosy,' with an American flag at the rear.
The Mississippi Queen cruise ship sailing on the water with a park and water tower in the background.

In September 1989, Woodbury County voters approved riverboat gaming, making the county the first on the Missouri River to do so. The following month, MRHD was incorporated as the nonprofit Qualified Sponsoring Organization (QSO) responsible for holding the county's gaming license and ensuring that gaming revenues would be reinvested for the public good. From the very beginning, MRHD represented a broad coalition of community leaders, local governments, educators, labor organizations, tourism representatives, nonprofits, and business leaders united by a common vision: using gaming as a catalyst for community development.

The road to opening Sioux City's first riverboat casino was anything but easy. Two development partnerships fell through before local developer Ted Carlson and Sioux City Riverboat Corporation ultimately brought the Sioux City Sue to the Missouri River in 1993. As demand grew, the Belle of Sioux City replaced the Sue in 1994, increasing capacity and, alongside changes in Iowa gaming laws, significantly boosting employment, tourism, and local revenues. In 2005, the Argosy Sioux City ushered in the next chapter with a larger, and more modern riverboat casino.

Bronze statue called "Spirit of Discovery" depicting two men in historic military attire with a dog, with a plaque indicating it was created by Pat Kennedy in 2002.
Museum exhibit displaying a historical scene with a large mural of soldiers and civilians from the Civil War era, American flags hanging from the ceiling, and informational displays.
Aerial view of a park with a large American flag on a flagpole, green lawns, trees, winding pathways, a river in the background, and modern buildings and a bridge across the river.

MRHD’s grant program began in 1994. Those early investments established a tradition that continues today, using gaming revenue to improve quality of life for all. 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.

Group of people in front of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino in Sioux City, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Exterior view of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino building with signs and parking lot in foreground
People playing guitars on a stage outside Hard Rock Hotel & Casino during a music event, with a large brick wall and the Hard Rock logo in the background.

When Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Sioux City opened in August 2014, it ushered in a new chapter for gaming in Woodbury County. The development preserved the historic Battery Building while introducing a boutique hotel, multiple restaurants and bars, indoor and outdoor live entertainment venues, meeting and event space, retail shopping, and nationally recognized entertainment programming, all designed to broaden the property's appeal beyond gaming and strengthen downtown Sioux City's role as a regional destination.

Although gaming evolved from a riverboat experience to a premier land-based entertainment destination, MRHD's purpose has remained the same: reinvesting gaming revenue to strengthen the communities it serves. Through its partnership with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Sioux City and Churchill Downs Incorporated (CDI), MRHD has awarded more than $40 million in grants since 2014 and more than $60 million in total since launching its grant program in 1994, supporting projects that improve quality of life and create lasting opportunities throughout Woodbury County.

After more than two decades of riverboat gaming, the industry was evolving. Communities across Iowa were transitioning from excursion boats to modern, land-based entertainment destinations that offered visitors much more than gaming alone.

In 2013, the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission (IRGC) selected MRHD's proposal to replace the Argosy Sioux City riverboat casino with Hard Rock Hotel & Casino - Sioux City. The winning proposal included a $118.5 million capital investment that transformed a prominent downtown site into a premier entertainment destination.