This year marks the 150th anniversary of Mark Twain’s timeless masterpiece, “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer.” To celebrate, Mark Twain Birthplace State Historic Site invites the public to view its most prized artifact: the original, handwritten manuscript. The manuscript went on display beginning Memorial Day
Celebrate the 150th anniversary of “Tom Sawyer” at state historic site Read More »
By Bob Frakes As I have mentioned before, I have had an interest in the “Goshen Road” or trail for a long time. Having read Francis Parkman’s book, the “Oregon Trail,” I always saw the Goshen Road as our own “Oregon Trail” in miniature. Then,
I was in western Missouri and thought I would follow the route of the Santa Fe Trail from its beginning in New Franklin, Mo., to the Kansas state border. Dennis Bresnahan When the Santa Fe Trail was first laid out in 1821 by William Becknell,
A 47.5-mile section of the former Chicago, Rock Island, and Pacific Railroad that ran from St. Louis to Kansas City opened in December 2016 as the Rock Island Trail. Dennis Bresnahan The Missouri Department of Natural Resources first named it Rock Island Trail State Park
Former railroad towns build their own sections of Rock Island Trail State Park Read More »
By Judy Stewart Richard McGee presented an interesting program based on his book — “Mills and Springs of the Ozarks” — at the Shannon County Museum in Eminence on Oct. 22. The book describes many mills and springs, both in Missouri and Arkansas, including those
Author talks about his latest book: “Mills and Springs of the Ozarks” Read More »
The Lincoln Shields Recreation Area is a US Army Corp of Engineers park along the Mississippi River in Missouri just across the river from Alton, Illinois. It is a nice park with a pavilion with picnic tables and a barbecue grill, restrooms, a boat launch,
Fish, picnic, hike & learn some history at Lincoln Shields Recreation Area Read More »
By Judy Maggard Stewart New exhibits, revamped displays, remodeled areas, creamy ice cream, and fresh squeezed lemonade made for a wonderful evening at the Shannon County Museum on Friday, Sept. 5. About 50 people attended and it was a great way to celebrate the end
Can you imagine going your whole life in the Ozarks without ever seeing a white-tailed deer? That was a real possibility around here at one time. Wes Franklin I find it interesting how different the plant and animal landscape – both wild and domestic –
By Betty Murr, Shannon County Museum The craft of making turkey calls is not merely a hobby; it is an art form steeped in tradition and history. Local turkey call maker David Ferguson recently delivered an illuminating hour-long presentation that delved into the intricacies and
Spring is here and baseball season has already started. Many people from all over Missouri and neighboring states come to downtown St. Louis to see a Cardinals baseball game at Busch Stadium. Even baseball fans from the western side of the state come to St. Louis
Several years ago I decided one day to write three books. The first would be on the forest lookout towers of Missouri. I checked that box in the fall of 2019. The second would be on the Battles of Patterson and Fort Benton. You see
Last week, retired fish hatchery employee Jeff Messens brought three brass buttons to the visitor center. The plan is to put them on display in the same case as the old hatchery employee uniform. You may think… “So what? Who cares about a few old
