Fall 2019
Following a summer of floods and high water that rallied Missourians to help one another, fall brings a welcome change of pace. Fall is a great time to explore Missouri either on the highways or on the internet. As always, I have researched some web sites to help you travel through your computer or plan your road trip.
Here is a site that I bet very few of us have visited IRL: Atlasobscura.com/places/welch-spring-hospital-ruins. The Welch hospital ruins are located on the upper Current River between Cedargrove and Akers and are best reached by canoe. The spa was built in 1913 by a doctor who believed that the waters of the spring and the air from the nearby cave had healing qualities. Access at the time was only by two dirt roads, and the crowds he expected never came.
The Vacuum Cleaner Museum at St. James offers easier access. Found online at Atlasobscura.com/places/vacuum-cleaner-museum-and-factory-outlet, the museum boasts 600 vacuum cleaners on display. It is advertised as the cleanest museum in the United States.
Fall festivals and fairs can be found throughout the state. Hootin and Hollering (HootinAnHollarin.com) takes place in Gainesville. Folks, that is Missouri country at the finest. They promise crafts, food, entertainment and square dancing. It sounds like a good time to me.
If Ozark Country Music is not quite your style, you might prefer Blues music at the National Blues Museum (NationalBluesMuseum.org) in downtown St. Louis. Visiting the museum on Saturday or Sunday provides the opportunity to hear live Blues performances.
There might not be many things more calming than the sound of running water. and the sound and the sight of waterfalls can be very appealing. TheCrazyTourist.com/14-amazing-waterfalls-in-missouri/ showcases photos of 14 amazing Missouri waterfalls. Instructions are included on how to visit them IRL, but the photos prove that the “amazing” title is well deserved.
My home town of Glasgow joins with many other towns with Civil War battles to participate in the Civil War Passport Program. Our location is the Bushwhacker Bend Winery (BushwhackerBend.com). Visitors can have their “passport” stamped to mark their visit to Glasgow. We were the site of a significant Civil War battle in 1864. The passport program is described in detail at MO-passport.org/glasgow/.
As a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, I was delighted to find this site at VisitMO.com/things-to-do/american-revolutionary-war-era-flagway. This is the largest display of the flags of the American Revolution in existence. The display, owned by Sue and Ken Molzahn, can be found three miles west of Collins on US Highway 54. The “flagway” down their 1/8th-mile-long driveway, features more than 135 hand-painted or sewn flags honoring the militia, regimental, dragoon, artillery, naval ensigns and variations of the original 13-star Stars and Stripes. Also included are the regimental flags of the French Expeditionary Units that participated and fought alongside George Washington’s army for an independent America.
Missouri offers an abundance of things to do and see in all our seasons during the fall. Perhaps our paths will cross. If you should see me tapping my toe to some country or blues music or sampling some Missouri wine, be sure to say hi. Meeting friends always makes any day a better one. Until then, be safe on the IRL road or on the internet.
Here is a site that I bet very few of us have visited IRL: Atlasobscura.com/places/welch-spring-hospital-ruins. The Welch hospital ruins are located on the upper Current River between Cedargrove and Akers and are best reached by canoe. The spa was built in 1913 by a doctor who believed that the waters of the spring and the air from the nearby cave had healing qualities. Access at the time was only by two dirt roads, and the crowds he expected never came.
The Vacuum Cleaner Museum at St. James offers easier access. Found online at Atlasobscura.com/places/vacuum-cleaner-museum-and-factory-outlet, the museum boasts 600 vacuum cleaners on display. It is advertised as the cleanest museum in the United States.
Fall festivals and fairs can be found throughout the state. Hootin and Hollering (HootinAnHollarin.com) takes place in Gainesville. Folks, that is Missouri country at the finest. They promise crafts, food, entertainment and square dancing. It sounds like a good time to me.
If Ozark Country Music is not quite your style, you might prefer Blues music at the National Blues Museum (NationalBluesMuseum.org) in downtown St. Louis. Visiting the museum on Saturday or Sunday provides the opportunity to hear live Blues performances.
There might not be many things more calming than the sound of running water. and the sound and the sight of waterfalls can be very appealing. TheCrazyTourist.com/14-amazing-waterfalls-in-missouri/ showcases photos of 14 amazing Missouri waterfalls. Instructions are included on how to visit them IRL, but the photos prove that the “amazing” title is well deserved.
My home town of Glasgow joins with many other towns with Civil War battles to participate in the Civil War Passport Program. Our location is the Bushwhacker Bend Winery (BushwhackerBend.com). Visitors can have their “passport” stamped to mark their visit to Glasgow. We were the site of a significant Civil War battle in 1864. The passport program is described in detail at MO-passport.org/glasgow/.
As a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, I was delighted to find this site at VisitMO.com/things-to-do/american-revolutionary-war-era-flagway. This is the largest display of the flags of the American Revolution in existence. The display, owned by Sue and Ken Molzahn, can be found three miles west of Collins on US Highway 54. The “flagway” down their 1/8th-mile-long driveway, features more than 135 hand-painted or sewn flags honoring the militia, regimental, dragoon, artillery, naval ensigns and variations of the original 13-star Stars and Stripes. Also included are the regimental flags of the French Expeditionary Units that participated and fought alongside George Washington’s army for an independent America.
Missouri offers an abundance of things to do and see in all our seasons during the fall. Perhaps our paths will cross. If you should see me tapping my toe to some country or blues music or sampling some Missouri wine, be sure to say hi. Meeting friends always makes any day a better one. Until then, be safe on the IRL road or on the internet.
Summer 2019
School is out and the kids are involved in summer activities. It is time to build memories (or relive some old memories) with some summer trips and Missouri has many varied places to visit for weekend or short trips. If time is not available for long trips, we can still travel with our computer to either experience these places or to plan some IRL trips.
It may seem early to talk about the Missouri Bicentennial, but it takes time to prepare for a celebration of the 200th anniversary of statehood. Missouri2021.org has much information about the upcoming celebrations.
One special thing is the bicentennial quilt project, which will be made using a quilt block from each county and the city of St. Louis. Missouri2021.org/bicentennial-quilt/ provides details on how to enter a quilt block. Individuals and organizations may submit a quilt block that represents their homes. A committee will select the blocks to be made into the official state quilt.
The Missouri Civil War Passport Program (MO-passport.org) will provide a fun way to visit important Civil War sites in Missouri. You can purchase a “Passport Book” and then visit any of the 29 sites around the state that have Civil War history events. At each site you can receive a stamp in your passport to commemorate your visit. My town of Glasgow was the site of an important Civil War battle and is included in these sites. The location to visit to get your book stamped in Glasgow is the Bushwhacker Bend Winery (BushwhackerBend.com). The Glasgow page in the passport can be found at MO-passport.org/glasgow/.
Around Glasgow, when we say, “....at the Lake”, we are talking about the Lake of the Ozarks. The lake has more shoreline than the state of California and offers many vacation opportunities. Check them out at VisitMo.com/in-the-spotlight/lake-of-the-ozarks. Of course there are many boating, fishing, and water sports to enjoy, but there are also shopping, shows and fine eating. You don’t want to miss Ha Ha Tonka State Park, which can be previewed online at VisitMo.com/things-to-do/ha-ha-tonka-state-park.
As a boy I was always interested in American Indians and I have never grown out of it. I recently enjoyed a program on Missouri Indian tribes given by Mike Dickey, the state administrator at Arrow Rock State Historic site (MoStateParks.com/park/arrow-rock-state-historic-site) and an expert on Missouri Indian tribes. Missouri-vacations.com/missouri-native-american-history/index.htm is loaded with information about the native tribes who lived in what is now Missouri..
Mr. Dickey spoke at my SAR Chapter Meeting. SAR is the Sons of the American Revolution. If you have an ancestor who participated in gaining our nation’s freedom during the revolution, you would be eligible to join the SAR. My Chapter, the M. Graham Clark Chapter can be found at mgcsar.org. We have 15 Chapters in Missouri and would be happy to have you join us. You can contact me for more information or consult the state association page at mossar.org/membership/becoming-a- member/.
Perhaps we will cross paths while visiting a state park or while having our passports stamped at a Civil War site. If we meet, please say “hello”. Those friendly greetings are some of the best things about living in Missouri. Of course, be safe while traveling either on the internet or IRL.
It may seem early to talk about the Missouri Bicentennial, but it takes time to prepare for a celebration of the 200th anniversary of statehood. Missouri2021.org has much information about the upcoming celebrations.
One special thing is the bicentennial quilt project, which will be made using a quilt block from each county and the city of St. Louis. Missouri2021.org/bicentennial-quilt/ provides details on how to enter a quilt block. Individuals and organizations may submit a quilt block that represents their homes. A committee will select the blocks to be made into the official state quilt.
The Missouri Civil War Passport Program (MO-passport.org) will provide a fun way to visit important Civil War sites in Missouri. You can purchase a “Passport Book” and then visit any of the 29 sites around the state that have Civil War history events. At each site you can receive a stamp in your passport to commemorate your visit. My town of Glasgow was the site of an important Civil War battle and is included in these sites. The location to visit to get your book stamped in Glasgow is the Bushwhacker Bend Winery (BushwhackerBend.com). The Glasgow page in the passport can be found at MO-passport.org/glasgow/.
Around Glasgow, when we say, “....at the Lake”, we are talking about the Lake of the Ozarks. The lake has more shoreline than the state of California and offers many vacation opportunities. Check them out at VisitMo.com/in-the-spotlight/lake-of-the-ozarks. Of course there are many boating, fishing, and water sports to enjoy, but there are also shopping, shows and fine eating. You don’t want to miss Ha Ha Tonka State Park, which can be previewed online at VisitMo.com/things-to-do/ha-ha-tonka-state-park.
As a boy I was always interested in American Indians and I have never grown out of it. I recently enjoyed a program on Missouri Indian tribes given by Mike Dickey, the state administrator at Arrow Rock State Historic site (MoStateParks.com/park/arrow-rock-state-historic-site) and an expert on Missouri Indian tribes. Missouri-vacations.com/missouri-native-american-history/index.htm is loaded with information about the native tribes who lived in what is now Missouri..
Mr. Dickey spoke at my SAR Chapter Meeting. SAR is the Sons of the American Revolution. If you have an ancestor who participated in gaining our nation’s freedom during the revolution, you would be eligible to join the SAR. My Chapter, the M. Graham Clark Chapter can be found at mgcsar.org. We have 15 Chapters in Missouri and would be happy to have you join us. You can contact me for more information or consult the state association page at mossar.org/membership/becoming-a- member/.
Perhaps we will cross paths while visiting a state park or while having our passports stamped at a Civil War site. If we meet, please say “hello”. Those friendly greetings are some of the best things about living in Missouri. Of course, be safe while traveling either on the internet or IRL.