Go ahead, call me a history nerd. It’s okay, I often refer to myself that way. You see, I have a real love for history.  Yes, I do possess an ability to recall names and dates, but mostly I think about history in terms of stories; stories of love, passion, murder, intrigue, war and sabotage.  History is every movie you’ve ever watched.

With that said, I’ve recently read a couple of books about historical events that have Missouri connections. It’s always fun to see those and then to check out the associated sites and towns.

Learn about an important piece of Missouri history by touring the Missouri State Penitentiary.

Last month, I read “Hellhound on his Trail,” a book examining the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  It opens with James Earl Ray escaping from the Missouri State Penitentiary, which has been decommissioned and is open for tours.This prison, located in Jefferson City and the oldest West of the Mississippi, has housed many other famous names, including Sonny Liston, who learned to box in the prison, and the gangster known as “Pretty Boy” Floyd.

I just finished “The Assassin’s Accomplice,” the story of Mary Surratt’s involvement in the plot to kill Abraham Lincoln. So what does a plot hatched in Maryland, Virginia and Washington D.C. have to do with Missouri? Well, it turns out that one of the defense attorneys at the conspiracy trial was none other than Union Gen. Thomas Ewing.

Ewing is best known for issuing Order No. 11 and evicting citizens from several counties along the Missouri border with Kansas.  Troops under his command then burned the houses and farm buildings to prevent southern sympathizers from returning. George Caleb Bingham immortalized this event in a painting that hangs at the State Historical Society of Missouri in Columbia.What would possess Ewing to defend someone accused of murdering his commander-in-chief? Perhaps he just believed in the right to a fair trial for everyone no matter what.

Finally, I was flipping an issue of American Heritage magazine, and noted the burial at Arlington National Cemetery of the last surviving World War I veteran. Cpl. Frank Buckles was a Missouri native who lied about his age to join up. He is now buried about 50 yards from another Missourian, Gen. John Pershing, who commanded the American forces during that war.

Explore the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial.

You can learn about Gen Pershing at his boyhood home. But you can also learn about what Cpl. Buckles faced during the war at the National World War I Museum at Liberty Memorial in Kansas City  AND you’ll find that another prominent Missourian played a role in WWI, President Harry S. Truman. Visit his library and museum to learn more about his life.

My love of history will keep me on the road this summer.  There’s an awful lot to check out.  No matter what inspires you to get out and go, you can probably find it here.

Conservation Naturalist Terri Eggers shows off a block of hard maple sugar as sap boils in copper kettles.

The days are already shorter.  The air is acquiring a sharper bite.  It’s hard to imagine the grey, cold indifference of winter could offer up one of Mother Nature’s sweetest gifts.  But winter does have its treats.  Sometimes you just have to go prospecting a little harder to find them.  Maybe even deep inside a tree.

It’s really all about the flow: February will produce the right conditions in Missouri to signal trees to start circulating their sap.  Below freezing temperatures at night and above freezing daytime highs gets the flow going.  The bigger the differences between day and night temperatures, the greater the flow as the trees begin realigning their sugar energies to prepare for spring budding.

The sugar is the key: Buried within the tree sap, which is mostly water, there is a small percentage of sugar.  Sugar maples have the most.  Still though, only about 3 percent of their sap is sugar.  During this time, these trees can be tapped and the sap collected, ready to extract the sugar.  American Indians taught all this to the early colonists.  The settlers would drill small holes in the trees and place hollow taps to draw the sap into wooden buckets.

Then it’s time to turn up the heat: The way to “mine” the sugar out is through boiling.  Back at the “sugar shed,” settlers would boil the sap down in large copper pots over an open fire.  Forty gallons of sugar-maple sap must be boiled for about 40 hours to yield one gallon of maple syrup.  Luckily, there wasn’t much else to do in the winter back then.  And in the days before central heating, boiling sap over an open fire wasn’t the worst place to hang out.

A Conservation volunteer creates sugar on snow, a toffee-like treat made when hot maple syrup mixes with snow.

Depending on how long the sap was boiled, a variety of products could be made, from syrup to hard sugar.  The most common product for the settlers was maple sugar blocks, because the sugar could be shaved off and used all year – or even traded for other goods.  By 1890, cane sugar became cheaper to import as a sweetener, so maple sugar production shifted to syrup instead.

Maple sugaring is not just about history, though.

Mark this down on your calendar:  Saturday, February 4, 2012.  That’s the date of the Annual Maple Sugar Festival.  It takes place at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Rockwoods Reservation in Wildwood, in west St. Louis County.  The festival goes from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., and will show you how to work this magic in your own backyard.

You and your family can discover first-hand how simple it is to identify maple trees, plus the proper technique to tap them, and boil the sap into syrup or sugar on your own to enjoy at home. While the sugar maple is the best, you can do it with any maple tree.

You can also take a guided hike to see sap collection in action and witness first-hand how the settlers made the sap into sugar. Of course, tasting real sugar and syrup samples at the festival is one of the most popular attractions.

Rockwoods Reservation is located at 2751 Glencoe Road, off Highway 109. That’s about two miles south of Highways 109 and 100, and about two miles north of Highway 109 and I-44.  Visitors are encouraged to dress for cold weather as most of the event will take place outdoors.

Perhaps the Rockwoods Maple Sugar Festival will help you uncover one of nature’s most delightful buried treasures.  For more information, please call 636-458-2236.

Written by Dan Zarlenga, St. Louis regional media specialist for the Missouri Department of Conservation

Whitewater races take place near Millstream Gardens Conservation Area in Madison County.

If you’re looking for things to do in Missouri, visit Madison County. Located in the Saint Francois Mountains, our area features a perfect blend of rolling farmland and heavily forested hills with many creeks, rivers and lakes.

Nestled amongst this natural beauty are the historic towns of Fredericktown and Marquand, each offering a unique experience to adventurers in Madison County. Once you have been here, we are sure you will return often; remember to bring your camera to capture the awe-inspiring beauty of this unique area of Missouri.

This area is home to an amazing diversity of outdoor recreational activities such as the Castor River Shut-Ins, Rock Pile Mountain Wilderness Area, Silver Mines Recreation Area, Millstream Gardens Conservation Area and Amidon Memorial Conservation Area and Fredericktown City Lake.

Plan a float trip, go swimming, horseback riding, hiking, biking, hunting, fishing and bird watching. If you’re a little more adventurous, try Zip and Dip at The Offsets or join the whitewater enthusiasts who come from several different states to kayak on the only whitewater in Missouri at Millstream Gardens.

The Missouri Whitewater Association Championship Races are held here every year in March.  This year marks the 45^th annual event on the St. Francois River. The race dates are March 17-19, 2012. A Race Clinic is held April 28-29 for beginner, intermediate and advanced students.  This is a perfect opportunity to “get your feet wet” and see if kayaking might be to your liking. If you’d rather observe, this is also a fun spectator event. If golfing is your passion, visit Southern Oaks Country Club.

When you’re not out exploring the outdoors, you’ll want to enjoy the comforts of town. Madison County has a variety of fine restaurants, wineries, annual festivals, antique shops, art openings, dinner theater, and live music. Our unique historic towns and landmarks are yet another reason to travel to our county and offer an interesting window into Missouri’s past.

Madison County Courthouse and War Memorial.

Our historical sites include the Battle of Fredericktown Civil War Museum, the War Eagle Trail, and the Berryman Cabin and One-Room Log School. We’re also home to The Gallery in Marquand, and a newer addition to Fredericktown is The Loft: Community Arts Center, located at 120 W. Main, above the Madison County Chamber of Commerce office. Here you’ll see a host of local talent ranging from photography, sculptures, quilting, basket weaving, a variety of art techniques and more.

The First Friday of each month brings new artists and some type of additional event for the evening, such as entertainment, poetry or book readings, movies and … you’ll just have to plan your visit to see what is happening while you’re in Madison County.  For additional entertainment, try Nelson’s Music City for a Branson-style show; Nelson’s is located on Highway 67 between Fredericktown and Farmington.

Remember to visit our website and the Area Events section for current and annual events to know what’s happening while you’re in town.

If you enjoy antiquing or specialty shops, try Mustard Seed Mercantile, Madison County Thrift Store, Four J Antler Creations & Tradin Post, Fred’s Bargain Barn, Regan Hotel Antiques, Nevaeh Faith Christian Store and Quilting on the Square. The Flower Shop and Country Lane Florist have a variety of home décor, gift items, candles and more.

We also offer a variety of lodging options while you’re here including Pinecrest Camp & Conference Center, Madison Inn Lodge, Plain & Fancy Bed & Breakfast and both full hookup and primitive campgrounds.

We offer an assortment of dining options: Downtown, you’ll find Olympic Steakhouse, Cowboy Coffee, Waynos Seafood Grille, and other familiar names.  Located just outside of Fredericktown, you’ll love the view and the cuisine at Vance Vineyards & Winery (Twisting V Grille).  And that’s not all, visit Half Time Sports Grille, or Fredericktown Eagles – open to the public on Friday nights and during special events – and Papas Fruit of the Vine a winery and bistro.

Written by Sandy Francis, executive director, Madison County Chamber of Commerce

This screenshot shows the 1940 Census website.

If you ask genealogists how they became interested in family history research, many will cite specific childhood memories. Others will point to hints of long-lost family secrets or to a total void of any information. All cite a need to know who they are and where they came from.

My interest in history began with the stories my grandparents and their siblings related at family gatherings. Both sides of my family had story tellers. My Granddaddy Smith always would relate a few requested stories, some of questionable authenticity, before drifting off for his afternoon nap.

Then the focus would shift to my grandmother pulling out photographs and other family keepsakes and sharing more object-centered stories about our family’s history. On my dad’s side, the pendulum often swung between my great uncle telling riveting stories that always turned out to be tall tales in the last sentence, and my grandpa recounting equally elaborate stories drawn directly from the humors of their sometimes difficult lives.

Some families just don’t have this oral tradition. Others may need to confirm and build on the vague images of their past. The first digital release of the 1940 US Census gives everyone with ancestors in the United States at that time an opportunity to start tracing their history, to fill in the blanks, to see a snapshot of their activities between the Great Depression and World War II.

My plan is to work with the hopefully thousands of volunteers helping to create a free index of the Missouri portion at the 1940 US Census Community Project . But before I start, I am going to search for my parents on their first census. The other relatives will just have to wait until the index is complete, but I will dutifully scroll through a couple of counties’ records if I have to before settling down to help create the indices.  I know the indices are the key to future easy searches, but I just won’t be able to resist.

The 1940 Census  images will be available in Missouri starting 8 a.m. on April 2.

Enjoy the search! Treasure the finds! Help index if you can.

Written by John Dougan, Missouri State Archives

Harper’s Weekly ran an illustration of the Battle of Island Mound in 1863.

A plot of rolling prairie near Butler on the Kansas border is Missouri’s newest state-park facility, serving as a monument to the bravery of the African-American Union soldiers who fought a small but important Civil War battle there.

The 240 soldiers, many of them escaped slaves, were members of the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry and took part in what became known as the Battle of Island Mound, marking the first time that black troops were used in Civil War combat.

The Battle of Island Mound State Historic Site, amid the soybean fields in a rural area west of Butler, will be dedicated Oct. 27, the 150^th anniversary of the day the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry marched into Missouri. The event (click here for a video)will include living-history activities and military demonstrations.

A kiosk at the site has interpretative panels that explain what happened, and why the battle was so significant. Here is a summary of the fight:

Bates County in far west-central Missouri had become a haven for guerrillas and Confederate recruiters. One of their haunts was a marshy area on the Marias-des-Cygnes River known as Hog Island. On Oct. 27, 1862, the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry was sent to clear them out.

The black troops commandeered a farmstead owned by Southern sympathizers, Enoch and Christiana Toothman. They fortified the yard with fence rails and called it “Fort Africa.”

The black troops eventually were lured from their camp and into a rebel trap. The two sides met on a low hill known as Island Mound. Outnumbered, the black soldiers faced a foe on horseback armed with shotguns, pistols and sabers. They fought back, using bayonets and the butts of their rifles.

Lt. Richard Hinton, a white officer with the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry, wrote of the battle: “This is what we have done. We have demonstrated that the Negro is anxious to serve his country, himself and race; that he can be drilled and made effective as a soldier; and that he will fight as well as any other set of men.”

The guerrillas used the prairie and the rolling landscape in the battle. They set fire to the prairie as a smokescreen, and used Island Mound to hide their movements. Hog Island has disappeared over time, as the river changed its course.

On Oct. 29, a small party of Kansans was about a mile from Fort Africa when some 130 rebel horsemen emerged from the woods. The two groups clashed on the southern slope of Island Mound. Two units of African-American troops arrived in support, and drove off the guerrillas.

Eight members of the First Kansas were killed and 11 wounded. Southern losses are not known, but were thought to be about the same.

The 1989 movie “Glory” received praise for telling the story of the 54^th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, which was billed as the first formal unit of the U.S. Army to be made up entirely of African-American men.

The soldiers of the First Kansas Colored Volunteer Infantry were officially mustered into the U.S. Army later, but they still fired the first shots.

To reach Island Mound State Historic site, take Highway 52 west from Butler, and go south on Route K to the park signs. The 40-acre site has a circular gravel path that leads around a replanted swath of prairie, with three smaller interpretative panels along the walk.

Written by Tom Uhlenbrock for Missouri State Parks, a division of the Department of Natural Resources. For more information, visit mostateparks.com.

Get an inside look at life inside the Truman home with a visit to the Truman National Historic Site.

With President’s Day fast approaching, why not resolve to learn about former president Harry S. Truman and his many ties to Independence? You might be surprised to discover Truman and his family had more connections throughout this fascinating city than you might imagine.

The obvious first choice on your journey of exploration should be the Harry S Truman Home National Historic Site, at 219 N. Delaware. Begin in the Visitors Center at 223 N. Main, where you’ll buy tour tickets, watch a brief orientation film and have a chance to browse through books and souvenirs in the gift shop.

If you’ve never visited the Queen Anne two-story Victorian house, you’ll be fascinated by the stories of the family told by National Park Service rangers. Take a few minutes before or after your tour to step inside the recently opened Noland House, just across the street, which belonged to Harry’s cousins. Exhibits and interactive kiosks there add even more color to the Truman story.

Walk or drive along the Truman walking trail (brochures at the Visitor Center and online at VisitIndependence.com) up Delaware to the Harry S. Truman Library and Museum at 500 W. U. S. 24 Highway. Don’t scrimp on time here. You’ll need several hours to see and hear all the films, videos, oval office, exhibits, audio sound sticks, experience the “Decision” theaters and let your kids investigate the activities on the lower level.

The “Talkin’ Truman” presentation, Saturday, Feb. 9, is “Young Bess in Hats.” The program begins at 11 a.m.; it is included with paid admission. In partnership with the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Truman Library celebrates the birthday of Bess Truman every year with a special program and reception. This year, the celebration is set for Wednesday, Feb. 13. The program, featuring Mark Updegrove, director of the LBJ Presidential Library in Austin, Texas, begins at 2 p.m.; the reception follows immediately. Both are included with regular museum admission.

You can meet and talk with “President Truman,” channeled by a historic reenactor, on President’s Day, Monday, Feb. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in the main lobby. Volunteers serve homemade cookies made from recipes collected from the wives of former presidents.

As a dedicated fan of history, Truman was involved with initial preservation efforts for the 1859 Jail and Marshal’s Home, at 217 N. Main. When he learned the two-story brick building was to be destroyed, he made the first phone call to solicit donations, to J. C. Hall, founder of Hallmark Cards. Although the jail is closed for tours through March, you can visit anytime from April 1 through the end of October, and return for holiday tours in December.

President Truman appreciated the story of the westward trails. He was instrumental in the “Madonna of the Trails” project, which erected 12 larger-than-life statues of pioneer women along Highway 40. You can see a wonderful pioneer woman statue at the National Frontier Trails Museum and learn about the people who made their way west along the Santa Fe, California and Oregon trails.

In honor of President’s Day, the National Frontier Trails Museum is offering a lecture, “John Tyler, the Accidental President.”  Take your lunch and learn about the first vice president to ascend to the presidency upon the death of the incumbent. Tyler was qualified to serve as the 10^th president of the United States but experienced many political difficulties during his administration. The lecture begins at noon and is included with museum admission (adults $6; seniors 62 and older $5; ages 6-17 $3.) Call 816-325-7575 or visit FrontierTrailsMuseum.org.

This marionette at Puppetry Arts Institute depicts President Truman.

Have you ever seen the incredible handmade Truman marionette on display at the Puppetry Arts Institute? Every detail is perfect, down to human hair placed on his head. If you visit on Feb. 16 or 18, you can watch a “Pinocchio” performance, featuring the puppeteers of the Puppetry Arts Institute.  Shows are offered at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and cost $5, which includes museum admission. If you can’t make the shows, be sure to walk around the museum and see the “Pinocchio Time” exhibit, which continues through July.

If you’d like to finish your Truman outing with an authentic sweet treat, stop by Clinton’s Soda Fountain on the Square for a phosphate or hand-dipped sundae. You can even sample Truman’s favorite combo – butterscotch topping over chocolate ice cream. With a tip of the hat to Harry’s time spent operating a haberdashery in downtown Kansas City, you can stop in next door to shop for men’s furnishings at “Wild About Harry.”

For the full calendar of tourism events in February, visit VisitIndependence.com.

Written by Janeen Aggen, media relations representative for Independence Tourism; photos courtesy Independence Tourism.

The Strehly house, part of Deutschheim State Historic Site in Hermann, was built in 1842; a winery was added later.

In the spring of 1838, steamboats carried German immigrants up the Missouri River to a hilly site, which eventually became the city of Hermann, as part of a massive migration that changed the face of Missouri forever.

The immigrants were led by George Bayer, a schoolmaster and surveyor. Bayer laid out the town and assigned lots on 11,300 acres; the total cost of the land was about $15,000.

March 2013 marks the 175^th anniversary of the town’s platting. By 1840, there were nearly 500 residents, and a decade later, some 1,500 lived there, as Hermann became the heart of the new German-America.

The river valley, with its rich soil and forested hills, is what drew them. German lawyer Gottfried Duden had visited the Missouri River valley and praised it lavishly in his book “Report of a Journey to the Western States of North America,” which was published in 1829.

Germans founded towns all along the eastern end of the Missouri River, from St. Louis to Boonville. Bringing their language and customs with them, they firmly established their Old World traditions on the New Frontier.

Today, at least half of all Missourians claim at least one parent of German ancestry, and that heritage is ingrained in many facets of everyday life. With more than 100 buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, Hermann reflects its past and revels in its German roots.

Deutschheim means “home of the Germans,” and the Deutschheim State Historic Site in Hermann gives tours of two historic residences.

Cindy Browne, administrator of the Deutschheim State Historic Site in Hermann, holds a photo of Rosa Strehly in the home where she lived for 97 years.

The Pommer-Gentner house, constructed in 1840 and one of the finest early buildings in Hermann, is furnished in the period of the 1830s and 1840s. The Carl Strehly house was built in 1842 and was home of the German language newspaper Hermanner Wochenblatt. It was enlarged later to include a winery and displays the belongings of the Strehly and Muehl families. Rosa Strehly lived her entire life in the house, from 1865 to 1962; the rooms remain as they were during her lifetime.

Visitors to the historic site often see the ways of the early Germans and fondly recall visits to their own grandparents’ homes. Many recognize old customs in modern life for the first time.

A printing press in the basement of the Strehly house illustrates how the Germans got caught up in a struggle that was dividing their new homeland. Strehly and his partner and brother-in-law, Eduard Muehl, printed articles opposing slavery.

In 1853, the Strehly house newspaper began publication of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin,” the anti-slavery novel by Harriet Beecher Stowe. The novel was serialized and printed in German.

When the Civil War broke out, Union Col. Franz Sigel led some 1,100 soldiers, most of them German-Americans, in several important battles in Missouri. German home guards defended the arsenal in St. Louis from falling into the hands of Southern sympathizers and chased the opposition out of Jefferson City.

German troops performed well, often against larger numbers of Confederates, and helped keep Missouri in the Union.

The Germans who arrived in Hermann had been organized by a group called the German Settlement Society of Philadelphia. They laid out Market Street to be 10 feet wider than Market Street in Philadelphia in the belief that Hermann would become a competitor to St. Louis.

The Germans constructed sturdy buildings and tidy farms of brick, rock and timber, with the homes in town sitting on the sidewalk, all on 60- by 120-foot lots. They furnished them with simple, almost Shaker-style, furniture using walnut cut from the forests.

Each house had a garden out back; plantings featured the fruits and vegetables immigrants brought from their homeland.

The Germans also brought their taste for wine, initially pressing the native grapes found in the wild, and then cultivating their own.

To improve a struggling economy, the town council in 1844 offered vacant lots to the residents if they planted grapes. The lots came with no money down, interest free, and no payments for 10 years. More than 600 lots were sold and vineyards planted. House wineries reached their heyday in the 1870s with dozens in Hermann and the surrounding area.

Martin Husmann was one of the first vineyard owners. His son, George, who came to Hermann at age 12, developed better methods of cultivation and became known as the father of the Missouri grape industry. In 1881, he accepted a position in California and helped establish the Napa Valley wineries.

Today, Hermann is in the heart of Missouri wine country with six wineries, including the award-winning Stone Hill, on its scenic, 20-mile Hermann Wine Trail. Visitors come for the annual Maifest and Oktoberfest celebrations, Kristkindl Markt and to visit the antique shops and quaint bed and breakfasts.

In recent years, Hermann has enjoyed a renaissance led by banker Jim Dierberg, owner of Hermannhof Winery. His projects include a renovated brewery and mill, an outdoor market square and upscale lodging in relocated and restored historic house wineries. His latest effort is a living-history farm that will demonstrate the traditions of the German-Americans descendants of those early settlers who arrived by steamboat in the 1830s.

Written by Tom Uhlenbrock, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks. For more information, visit MoStateParks.com.

Westminster College President Barney Forsythe, Churchill author Cita Stelzer and National Churchill Museum Executive Director Rob Havers sit down to the same meal Winston Churchill was served at the college before giving his famous Sinews of Peace speech. Photo by Dean Asher of The Fulton Sun.

“It has become fashionable to honor (Winston) Churchill at commemorative events by duplicating the meals he was served.”  ~ “Dinner with Churchill, Policy-Making at the Dinner Table,” by Cita Stelzer

I recently experienced a Churchillian meal when I joined author Cita Stelzer, and a small group of others, for a lunch that duplicated the meal served to Winston Churchill when he delivered a speech at Westminster College in Fulton.

Churchill delivered the Sinews of Peace speech as a part of the John Findley Green lecture series. President Harry Truman, Missouri’s native son, also was present that day in 1946 when Churchill first stated that “an iron curtain has descended across the Continent.” That phrase remains in our vocabulary more than 50 years later.

Westminster is home to the National Churchill Museum, which is housed below the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury. This 17^th century London church, severely damaged during World War II, was moved to Fulton in the 1960s and restored brick by brick to the architect’s original specifications.

Stelzer has written a book about Churchill’s dinner-table diplomacy and has combed many archives to describe the meals at dinners where Sir Winston used “good food, excellent champagne and Havana cigars” to engage with others and cajole them to his point of view.  She was on campus at Westminster earlier this week for a book signing, and the school re-created the meal served to Churchill.

Like Sir Winston, we dined on Callaway ham (Fulton is in Callaway County), fried chicken, mashed potatoes and gravy, buttered corn and rolls. Angel food cake with strawberry topping followed as dessert. The records indicate the meal was served “family style.” Sir Winston was quite pleased with this meal, particularly the ham.

This amazing experience allowed me to sit with Stelzer and her husband, Irving; Westminster’s president Dr. Barney Forsythe and his wife, Jane; Dr. Rob Havers, executive director of the museum; and a few others to discuss Churchill lore. During the meal, we quizzed Stelzer on any and everything Churchill related, and she told of the wealth of stories she’d uncovered.

The college, the museum and library comprise a true gem, smack dab in the middle of Missouri. The campus has hosted many other players on the global stage, including former Soviet Premier Mikhail Gorbachev; former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher; former president of Poland and Nobel Peace Prize Winner Lech Walesa; and former U.S. presidents Truman and Ronald Reagan.

I also learned Westminster continues to be a player on the global stage, hosting an annual symposium that brings renowned experts in a chosen field to campus for two days. Themes have included global health, democracy, sustainability and religion.

I love history, so this was a true treat. While they don’t regularly serve the Iron Curtain speech lunch, I highly recommend you visit the campus and the museum. It’s so worth it.

Learn more at the National Churchill Museum’s website.

The post Dining with Churchill appeared first on VisitMO Spotlight.

My husband, Major General Steve Danner, has received many gifts for gallantry and leadership during his 40-plus years in the Army.

However, he has never received and does not have an officer’s dress sword. Dress swords are used for various ceremonial proceedings, including, among other activities: change-of-command ceremonies; weddings; and other formal events. Steeped in history, purpose and pride, wearing the sword at such events is symbolic of liberty and strength. Steve and I decided to do some research to find an appropriate reproduction that would represent his life’s work.

For inspiration, we only had to look at a piece of history on display outside of Steve’s office at the Ike Skelton Training Site in Jefferson City, his command headquarters of the Missouri National Guard. (The Ike Skelton Training Site is also the home of the Museum of Missouri Military History, which is open for free public tours, 8 a.m.-3 p.m., Monday thru Friday.)

Washington Reviewing His Troops at Valley Forge ~ William T. Trego

Outside of his office, there is a reproduction of the famous William T. Trego painting: Washington Reviewing His Troops at Valley Forge.

The art print is not only historical; it is a sentimental gift, presented to General Danner by his mother, Congresswoman Pat Danner, upon his swearing in as The Adjutant General of Missouri.

During the era of George Washington, an officer and gentleman would no more leave his quarters without his sword then he would leave without his trousers. We wondered: What did George Washington use as a ceremonial sword? A quick Google search showed a number of swords Washington used; some ceremonial, others battle worthy. One particular sword caught Steve’s eye. It was made of forged steel with a grooved blade and a grip of green died ivory and had silver strip decoration.

The Lafayette-Washington Sword

This particular sword is said to have been presented to General Washington by the Marquis de Lafayette. Washington, in turn, presented the sword to Chaplain John Gano, who served as the chaplain to Colonel Webb, General Clinton, and later General Washington during the Revolutionary War. At a meeting in Newburgh, New York, celebrating the Treaty of Paris (the treaty which officially ended the American Revolutionary War), General Washington called upon Chaplain Gano to offer a prayer of thanksgiving.

That sword is now on display in the John Gano Memorial Chapel, located on the campus of William Jewell College in Liberty, Missouri. No fooling – right in the backyard of where I grew up and where our family still lives.

Last weekend, Steve and I took a side-trip to “Jewell,” as we always refer to the campus. And right there, in full view just inside the Gano Chapel, is Washington’s sword. It is historic and inspirational.

Go see it! A map to Gano Chapel is posted below.

The post Hunt for History Leads to Washington’s Sword appeared first on VisitMO Spotlight.

Independence attractions celebrate Truman’s birthday with special, $1 admission rates on May 4, 2013.

President Harry Truman loved all things history and anything to do with his adopted hometown of Independence, Missouri. To honor his memory, the historic tourism attractions of Independence celebrate his birthday on Saturday, May 4 – which coincides with the start of National Travel and Tourism week.

Echoing the famous slogan on a sign that sat on his desk which read, “The Buck Stops Here,” the following sites offer $1 admission all day:

• Bingham-Waggoner Estate , 313 W. Pacific
• Vaile Mansion, 1500 N. Liberty
• 1859 Jail and Marshal’s Home Museum, 217 N. Main
• Harry S. Truman Library and Museum, 500 W. U.S. 24
• Puppetry Arts Institute, 11025 E. Winner Road
• National Frontier Trails Museum , 318 W. Pacific
• Harry S Truman Home National Historic Site, 219 N. Delaware (buy tickets at Truman Visitor Center, 223 N. Main)
• Leila’s Hair Museum 1333 S. Noland

Vaile Mansion is one of the city’s most historic homes.

From 10 a.m.-5 p.m., enjoy unlimited rides on the Truman Trolley for $1 per person. The trolley begins at the Independence Square and circles past the above-listed attractions (except the Puppetry Arts Institute and Hair Museum).

As always, the Community of Christ Temple, 201 S. River, and Mormon Visitors Center, 437 W. Walnut, provide complimentary tours. Guided tours at the Chicago & Alton 1879 Depot, 318 W. Pacific, also are free.

The Depot will recognize National Train Day and Truman’s love of and use of trains on May 11, when visitors can watch model trains in operation and savor free cake and punch, served outdoors on the grounds of the Depot. While tours and events at the Depot are provided at no charge, cash donations are welcome.

The Truman Library & Museum hosts a wreath ceremony at the Truman graves on May 8, his actual birthday. The ceremony begins in the courtyard at 9 a.m. Free birthday cake will be served beginning at 1:30 p.m. and a chance to visit with a Truman reenactor is planned from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Before you leave, walk downstairs to see the new long-running special exhibit, “Benton and Truman, Legends of the Missouri Border,” included with regular paid admission.

Plan your visit with online resources like a complete calendar of events, details about attractions, lodging and dining suggestions and an interactive visitor’s guide at the Independence Tourism website, VisitIndependence.com.

Written by Janeen Aggen, media relations representative for Independence Tourism.

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The Lyceum Theatre in Arrow Rock

Great theatre productions and fabulous food are hallmarks of a trip to historic Arrow Rock, a small town in northwest Missouri.

I recently was part of a group outing to Arrow Rock; our focus was catching a production at Lyceum Theatre, but I was blown away by the town and its charm.

The first item on our agenda was a tour of the town with Kathy, a Friends of Arrow Rock tour guide. She showed our group a variety of attractions while describing the history and significance of each. Among the stops was the home of George Caleb Bingham, a prominent American artist who is best known for portraying daily life in the Western frontier.

Kathy also took our group to see charming bed and breakfasts sprinkled around Arrow Rock. If you are looking into an extended stay in Arrow Rock, you’ll find these options are quaint, comfortable, and within a close walking distance of everything in town.

In the last leg of the tour, Kathy took us to see the Arrow Rock African-American Museum. Located in Brown Lodge No. 22, the museum was restored by Friends of Arrow Rock and documents the lives of African-Americans in Arrow Rock. The museum exhibit archives history through interviews, photographs, and records that you can observe on a self-guided tour.

Chez Trappeur offers a great dining experience.

Next up was the visitor’s center, which is not far from the center of the town and houses a museum describing the rich history of the area and the part it played in settling the West. Housed in the visitor’s center you find some of Bingham’s original prints and paintings. Here you also find preserved artifacts that allow you to delve deeper into the heritage and history of Arrow Rock.

Chez Trappeur, a wine bar and bistro on Main Street, offers a great dining experience. The restaurant has an array of French food selections; each is delectable and unforgettable. When they say, “bon appetite,” they mean it! I suggest starting with the artisan cheese and meat sampler – it is to die for.

After lunch, we headed over to Lyceum Theatre to see, “Meet Me in St. Louis.” The theatre seats a slightly more than 400 people, making every seat a good seat. As you can imagine, it is a small theater, but a cozy and intimate one at that.

I cannot imagine a better place to see a professional production. The entire cast of “Meet Me in St. Louis,” did a great job of depicting what it what life was like in the early 1900s, and they offered a great showcase for the fictional Smith family.

Although it was my first experience at Lyceum, I sensed you can’t go wrong seeing a show at this venue. Whether it’s a comedy, drama, or musical, Lyceum Theatre seems a wonderful place to catch a performance.

Written by Brittney Mormann, summer intern at the Missouri Division of Tourism.

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The Cotton Ramble is a great way to experience historic Sikeston and southeast Missouri.

Are you looking for a convenient location that promises a week-end of fun-filled activities? Look no farther than Sikeston.

Located half-way between St. Louis and Memphis, you find us at the junction of I-55, I-57 and U.S. 60. We invite you to celebrate our cotton heritage and fall fun in Sikeston with the 5^th Annual Cotton Ramble Bike Ride and Downtown Harvest Festival & Antique Tractor Show being held Saturday, Oct. 12, 2013.

The Cotton Ramble isn’t a race. With 13, 26, 65, and 100-mile routes, riders choose the one best suited to their individual level of training. All routes begin and end in historic downtown Sikeston at the Sikeston Depot Museum and Gallery, 116 W. Malone Ave.

From the mass start, riders travel along shaded, tree-lined streets featuring homes constructed in the early 1900s. Leaving town, the routes take you along fields of cotton, soybeans and corn. Terrain for the 13- and 26-mile routes is mostly flat. The 65- and 100-mile routes include rolling hill country. Longer routes also include tours of two working cotton gins. (Tours are open to both riders and area visitors.)  All routes are well-marked and include rest stops with refreshments and restroom facilities. SAG service will be provided. Registration and detailed event information can be found at CottonRamble.com. Contact Ride officials at 573-475-3725 or via email at Parks@Sikeston.org.

Legion Square, Front Street at N. Kingshighway, is the site of the Downtown Fall Festival & Antique Tractor Show. You’ll enjoy family fun, food, crafts and live entertainment. While Downtown, don’t forget to visit the Sikeston Depot Museum and Gallery! Built in 1916 as an Iron Mountain Railroad Depot, the structure is on the National Register of Historic Places. Its displays offer visitors a historic look at the region and its agricultural history. Historic downtown Sikeston also provides visitors a wide selection of unique shops and galleries.

We invite you to spend the night and enjoy our self-guided tour itineraries. The newest, our Fall Ag Driving Tour, showcases the harvest of cotton, rice and soybeans. Other tours include the Historic Homes Walking/Driving Tour, Wine Lovers Trail, Fishing Trail, Veterans’ Memorial Driving Tour, Art & Antique Lovers Tour, and our Nature Lovers Trail. Driving instructions for all tours can be found on VisitSikeston.com or call the CVB at 888-309-6591.

On Saturday mornings, visit our expanded Farmers Market held in Legion Square of downtown Sikeston. Enjoy a great selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, jams, jellies and breads, while being entertained by local musicians.

Beggs Family Farm hosts their Fall Harvest Festival each weekend in October. Pick your pumpkins, enjoy a corn maze, pig races and animal displays.

Don’t overlook Sikeston’s unique restaurants, cafes and pubs – catch a roll at the world-famous Lambert’s Café, 2325 E. Malone Ave., or enjoy down-home southern barbecue at Dexter BBQ, 124 N. Main St.

Your possibilities for fun and adventure are endless — Enjoy the Sikeston difference!

Written by Linda Lowes, director of the Sikeston Convention and Visitors Bureau.

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Take time to learn an important history lesson at Lincoln University in Jefferson City.

On a few previous occasions, I’ve written about my love and fascination with history.

Well, here’s another story.

Recently, I got the chance to visit the American Civil War Center at Historic Tredegar in Richmond, Va. This museum examines the war from the multiple perspectives of the Union, Confederate and African-Americans who lived through it. You may be wondering why I am talking about a museum in Virginia, but it’s because they missed what I think is a very important Missouri story. I don’t think enough Missourians know this story either and they should.

In 1847, the Missouri Legislature outlawed education for blacks, stating, “No person shall keep or teach any school for the instruction of Negroes or mulattos, in reading or writing, in this State.” When the war came to Missouri, many enslaved blacks ran away to take shelter with the Union army. Once blacks were allowed to enlist, many joined up and the white officers taught them to read and write.

In 1866, the soldiers of the 62nd and 65th United States Colored Troops took up a collection to open a school for the newly freed blacks in Missouri. Richard Baxter Foster, who was a first lieutenant with the 62nd, became the first principal of Lincoln Institute.

The story is that the first classes were held in a dilapidated building. In the early days, Lincoln also held classes in the log cabin that was home to Quinn Chapel African Methodist Episcopal (A.M.E.) Church, another historic gem in Jefferson City that was founded before the war by a mix of people still held in slavery and free blacks. One of the early church members had worked to buy his freedom and then purchased the church for the congregation.

Lincoln became a state school in 1879, and obtained land grant status under the Morrill Act in 1890. Land grant schools came about to focus teaching on more practical areas such as agriculture, science, military science and engineering rather than classical liberal arts.

In 1921, Lincoln gained university status. During the 1920s, ‘30s and ‘40s while Missouri still practiced segregation, Lincoln University became known as “the black Harvard of the Midwest,” in part because then-president Nathan Young recruited top-notch professors who had been educated schools such as Harvard and Columbia, located in states that didn’t segregate their schools.

Today, Lincoln University honors its founders with a breath-taking sculpture sitting at the center of the campus in the Hilltop Campus Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Soldiers Memorial Plaza, created by Ed Dwight, captures the story of Lincoln and depicts the journey from soldiers to students. Two life-sized statues stand at the approach to the monument. The farthest wears a full pack, the next has dropped his weapon. A bas-relief on the side of the monument shows three soldiers heading towards “the future.” The next life-sized figure is reaching up to the full-sized solider on the top of the monument, who is reaching back to lend a hand. Finally, on top facing front, three life-sized soldiers hold books. It’s a powerful image that you need to see.

An interesting side story is that of Cpl. Logan Bennett, a life-long resident of Jefferson City. Mr. Bennett never attended Lincoln, but his daughter, Rosetta, graduated from the school. He is reported to have attended every Founders’ Day celebration in his uniform. A dormitory on campus bears his name and he is buried in the national cemetery on McCarty Street, just a few short blocks from campus.

Other treasures to be found on campus include an original Thomas Hart Benton mural. Benton captures the founding of the school with Abraham Lincoln looming large in the middle ground, holding the hand of a black man in tattered clothes. In the foreground, a young black woman teaches two young boys with a table of books in front of her. In the background, the mural depicts the vestiges of war. When you view the mural from back to front, you get the story of LU.

While you’re in the library, also check out a painting of the early presidents of LU, done by James D. Parks, PhD. Dr. Parks taught art at Lincoln.

For more of the history, click here.

By the way, before I left the museum that day, I suggested that they include Lincoln University of Missouri’s story in their collection. When I got home, I mailed the curator a copy of our Missouri Civil War brochure along with a nice letter.

Written by Lori Simms, the deputy marketing director for the Missouri Division of Tourism. 

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For those who love history, creativity and the joy of Christmas, there is a quaint 175 year-old town set amongst the beautiful countryside north of Kansas City, where the Holiday Season is brought to life!

For 32 years, the small town of Weston, Missouri, with its historical preservation and distinction, has offered up five of its unique homes for the Candlelight Home Tour. Each home presents a different snapshot of a life past and present merging to greet the many looks and traditions for the holidays.

So come see us at the Weston Candlelight Home Tour 2013 and take some time out from the hectic holiday must-dos and relax in the beautiful countryside. Enjoy a trip to the past through all the one-of-a-kind tour homes by following the candle luminaries along the way. Father Christmas promises to make an appearance throughout the day and carolers and musicians will fill the air with song. On Friday night, a dinner is included before your tour. Just in time for Christmas, Weston opens its heart as well as its homes.

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Just off of 1-70, 20 minutes west of Columbia, the town of Boonville is nestled beside the Missouri River. Boonville’s history runs as deep as the river, with hundreds of National Historic sites within the city limits.

The Boonville Walking Tour takes you on a journey back in time to the 1800s, where moving West was the dream of many American settlers. With more than 20 places to visit, the tour is the perfect way to discover a piece of Missouri history.

Just like the settlers exploring the new territory, follow the map given to you at the old Katy Depot, which now houses the Chamber of Commerce and Tourism offices, and start your journey.

The Hotel Frederick is a key stop on the walking tour. Built in1905, this huge historic hotel cost a whopping $40,000 at the time. It went from a hotel to a bus depot and restaurant, to a retirement home before closing its doors in 1994. It was restored 10 years later with an eclectic mix of old and new. It offers 24 unique rooms to stay in and houses “The Fred” restaurant, as well – it’s a great stop for lunch during your tour.

If you are familiar with the University of Missouri, you will recognize the name Walter Williams, known for establishing the first school of journalism at the university. Walter Williams’ boyhood home is just up the street from Hotel Fredrick. Owned by Edward Lang, the managing editor of the Boonville Daily News, the Walter Williams home is transformed into a Christmas wonderland during the holiday season – more than 90 trees and indoor and outdoor decorations adorn the property

Just blocks away are the Old Cooper County Jail and Hanging Barn. The last hanging in Boonville was in 1930. After climbing the 13 steps to the second floor, while spectators packed into the small barn, Lawrence Mabry hanged for more than 12 minutes before being pronounced dead. The noose still hangs ominously from the ceiling in the old barn

Old Cooper County Jail.

Although the last hanging was in the 1930s, the jail was open until 1978. Prisoners, who were usually caught speeding through town, were held in small, dark cells awaiting trial. Carvings cover the walls, depicting the morbid sentiments of the inmates. As a perfectly preserved piece of Boonville history, the jail and hanging barn are available for tours during normal business hours.

On a more upbeat note, another popular stop on the walking tour is Bell’s View Park. In a neighborhood filled with grand Victorian-style houses, Charles Bell created this park to provide a serene sitting area surrounded by colorful flowers and plants. He also picked this perfect spot to highlight the scenic view of the Missouri River from the park’s lookout point.

Bell’s View Park in Boonville.

Another stop on the tour is Roslyn Heights, known as “one of the last Main Street Mansions.” It’s stood in downtown Boonville since 1895. The Daughters of the American Revolution have restored and maintained the mansion’s structure and charm and offer tours by appointment. Just like the Walter Williams home, the mansion has an annual open house during the Christmas season, inviting people to celebrate the holidays inside its intricately decorated doors.

To see the other attractions on the walking tour and plan your trip to historic Boonville, check out GoBoonville.com or VisitMO.com for more information.

Written by Abbey Theban, intern for the Missouri Division of Tourism.

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If this presidential election has you confounded by candidates and dumbfounded by debates, make the logical choice by picking Harry Truman in 2016.

Okay. You’re right. Truman isn’t going to appear on official ballots anytime soon, but that doesn’t mean you can’t show him your support by visiting his home state in 2016.

Around Missouri, several museums, historic homes and other sites are dedicated to Truman’s legacy, with Independence serving as the epicenter of all things Truman.

• The Harry S. Truman Library and Museum is a history lover’s dream come true. Truman’s papers, personal artifacts and a replica oval office are part of the experience. Visit org for hours of operation and admission fees.
• At the the Truman Home in Independence, a National Historic Site, you get an inside look at Truman’s life. This home was Truman’s primary residence from 1919 until he died in 1972, covering the years before, during and after his service as president. Stop at the site’s Visitor Center, 223 N. Main, to obtain your tickets for the home tour – the home is at 219 N. Delaware St., about five blocks west of the Visitor Center.
• About two hours south of Independence, see where it all began for Truman at the Harry S Truman Birthplace State Historic Site. Truman was in born Lamar on May 8, 1884, in this modest home, nestled in the heart of the city.
• Outdoor enthusiasts also have a great opportunity to connect with Harry Truman, and perhaps reel in a lunker, when they visit the Harry S. Truman Reservoir, better known as Truman Lake. Covering more than 55,000 acres, Truman Lake’s clear waters make it a great destination for anglers seeking crappie and bass.
• A peninsula that juts into the lake contains the Harry S Truman State Park, a popular destination for hiking, swimming and camping.

These are some of the places to explore when you visit Missouri with a Truman-focused itinerary. Learn more about these sites, and other attractions with ties to Truman, at VisitMO.com.

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So summer is here and you want to find outings of interest to family members of various ages. One excellent spot is the National Churchill Museum in Fulton (located 90 minutes from St. Louis, just 10 minutes off I-70).

Here, Winston Churchill made the “Iron Curtain” speech that many see as the start of the Cold War between the United States and the Soviet Union. Children and adults can explore the life and legacy of Churchill in the museum complex, which includes a Christopher Wren church brought stone-by-stone from London; a 32-foot section of the Berlin Wall sculpted by Churchill’s granddaughter; and the historic gymnasium in which Churchill spoke in 1946. (Bring a basketball and shoot some hoops!)

Museum exhibits are hands on and technologically rich. Use a Victorian magic lantern to see images of Churchill’s early family life. Walk through a World War I trench and use the periscope to keep an eye on enemy troop movements.

The museum also has exhibits on World War II, allowing you to explore London during the Blitz and watch as Britain wards off the Nazi war machine and struggles to survive.  Celebrate the Allied victory and the post-war years.  And hear highlights of the famous “Iron Curtain” speech Churchill delivered at Westminster College. (There might even be secret messages left by spies to intercept!) In 2016 the museum hosts several original oil paintings by Churchill on loan from the Churchill family.

Then climb the spiral staircase and visit the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury. Burned in 1666 in the Great Fire of London, it burned again in 1940 during the height of Nazi bombing.  Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, St. Mary’s was dismantled and rebuilt at Westminster College as a fitting memorial to Churchill’s historic visit to Fulton.

Also see and touch real sections of the Berlin Wall.  Churchill’s granddaughter created the massive sculpture that celebrates the “Breakthrough” at the end of the Cold War when the wall no longer separated Europe.

The National Churchill Museum is open daily from 10 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.  The self-guided tour is “go at your own pace” and can usually be accomplished in about 90 minutes (depending on attention spans and reading levels).  The Berlin Wall is located outdoors and is a great place to stretch your legs before heading out on your next adventure! For more information visit NationalChurchillMuseum.org.

Written by Joanna Babb from the National Churchill Museum.

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Old Settlers Day 2016 in Waynesville, Missouri, is shaping up to be the most exciting family friendly festival in Central Missouri.

The 36-year-old event is returning to its roots; activities are scheduled for both Saturday and Sunday, July 30-31, allowing festivalgoers to immerse themselves in a weekend of living history.

One of the most anticipated additions to the schedule of events is the first ever Civil War battle reenactments. The 8th Missouri State Militia Cavalry Reenactors, and their comrades, take their roles as living historians very seriously. Attendees will be able to visit and interact with their historically accurate Civil War campsites along the Roubidoux River in Waynesville City Park.

At General U.S. Grant’s headquarters, Wayne Issleb will be appearing as the Union Commander. Grant’s telegraph is sure to be a crowd pleaser. United States President Abraham Lincoln (as portrayed by Lance V. Mack) and Confederate President Jefferson Davis (as portrayed by Don Belles) will be in attendance.

Kickapoo Trace Muzzleloaders will carry on their tradition of rendezvousing on the banks of the Roubidoux River during Old Settlers Day weekend. Their pre-1840s encampment will carry festivalgoers back to the days of the Mountain Man and the Ozarks’ earliest settlers.

Additionally, the festival will include Cavalry and Infantry drill demonstrations, weapons and artillery inspections, period dance and music, a period Church service, unique food vendors and shopping opportunities. Reenactment camps will be open for the public to visit, explore and tour at specified times.

Scheduled appearances include The Back Porch Players (specializing in Civil War Era music), Beyond The Circle Dancers (sharing Native American culture through song and dance), Flower O’Scotland Dance Troupe (celebrating their Scottish roots through dance) and Waynesville alumni, Connor Howley, a Celtic musician.

The Old Stagecoach Stop Museum and the 1903 Route 66 Courthouse Museum, both on the historic downtown square, will be open to visitors Saturday, July 30. Admission to both locations is free, although donations are appreciated.

While exploring Old Settlers Day, festivalgoers should plan to visit nearby Roubidoux Spring Cherokee Campsite at Laughlin Park. During the 1838-39 Trail of Tears, thousands of Cherokees traveling along the Northern Route camped in the large field located south of Roubidoux Spring. Visitors can walk to the historic crossing at Roubidoux Creek and discover a hidden history along the route with seven wayside exhibits.

Plan now to immerse yourself in a weekend filled with living history!

For more event details visit Route66Courthouse.com, or visit their Facebook page.

To learn more about Pulaski County events, attractions, dining, and lodging visit PulaskiCountyUSA.com.

Written by Laura Huffman from the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau. 

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Visitors to Oktoberfest in Hermann during the first four weekends in October will have a new site to visit, the 200-acre Hermann Farm and Museum on the east side of town.

The farm, which opened in spring, offers a trip back in time to see how the first German immigrants lived and farmed after arriving in 1837 in the hilly valley that would become Hermann.

Visitors can tour the restored historic buildings, including the two-story Hussmann House, a Greek-revival style home that served as the estate and business office of prominent leaders in Hermann since 1850. The house now serves as a museum with authentic period furnishings.

The collection of meticulously restored, and in some cases relocated and reassembled, buildings on the grounds creates a pastoral setting in the hills overlooking the Missouri River.

Tram tours take visitors through the farm, which has chickens, sheep, cattle and a pair of white mules named Pat and Jane. The farm also has eight Shire draft horses, a massive and mild-mannered breed that graces the pastures along the 2.2-mile tour.

The farm features the restored master distiller’s house, where whiskey, brandy and gin will be made, and the log trading post, which dates back to the 1700s. An 1838 house has been reborn as a visitor center and mercantile with gift items.

Admission to the farm is $18 for adults, and $9 for children ages 3 to 15.

Along with some of the state’s oldest, award-winning wineries, Hermann is home to the Deutschheim State Historic Site, where visitors can stroll through restored 1840s and 1850s German homes.

The historic Hermann Museum at the Old German School displays a collection of artifacts from the German immigrants who settled the area.

Hermann, the heart of Missouri’s German America, is the perfect place to visit on an October weekend, when fall colors light up the hills and bluffs in the Missouri River Valley.

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A Wine Country Getaway is Closer Than You Think!

Be Adventurous! Ever wanted to rent a canoe, kayak or raft and float the Missouri River? You can! You can travel the exact path Lewis and Clark forged more than 200 years ago! Missouri River Excursions is offering a new experience for adventurous souls. Take a chance on the Missouri – unlike floating smaller rivers, the Missouri is a wide-open adventure experience. Plan your adventure today.

If dry land is more your speed, then try your luck on the Katy. The state of Missouri is lucky to have the Katy Trail State Park, and historic Missouri Wine Country has some of the prettiest views along the trail. Stop by the Katy Bike Rental in either Defiance or Augusta and rent a bike for a day long adventure. It’s an easy 7.3-mile ride between Defiance and Augusta, we challenge you to do the marathon ride of 26.9 miles! Go ahead, be adventurous.

Explore the Night Sky! Broemmelsiek Park in Defiance features 494 acres of natural beauty, several large lakes for fishing and more than seven miles of multiuse trails for hiking, biking and equestrian use. But if you’re looking for something truly unique, check out the Astronomy Viewing Area. The site, which is free and open to the public, features 24/7 access, with nine paved telescope stations. Every Friday night, the skies come alive as members of the Astronomical Society of Eastern Missouri (ASEM) host public star gazing events, beginning at dusk.

Discover Why French Wine Has Missouri Roots! In 1876, when the French wine industry was on the brink of ruin, millions of cuttings of Missouri grapevine rootstock were shipped to France. Our Native American rootstocks were immune to the American plant louse that found the French roots particularly appealing. By grafting French vines on to the Missouri rootstock, healthy grapes could be produced.

St. Charles County is home to more than a dozen award-winning wineries. Take time to discover Birdlegs Blush from Sugar Creek Winery, or the Norton Missouri from Mount Pleasant Estates, or sit on the expansive deck with vineyard views at Chandler Hill Vineyards and enjoy a glass of Savage Norton. You’ll need a few days to discover them all!

Be Pampered! Tucked into a 100-year-old mill in downtown Augusta is Halcyon Spa. Whether you’re a cyclist coming off the Katy Trail or just looking for a relaxing escape, Halcyon Spa is the place to visit. Get a therapeutic massage, rejuvenating facial or refreshing body wrap and you’ll be nurtured and refreshed when you leave.

Be on the Lookout for Dangerous and Audacious Squirrels! If you’re a biker or a BIKER!, Historic Missouri Wine Country will not disappoint. You can get off the trail, or the highway, and stop for a libation at one of the colorful stops in Defiance, Augusta and New Melle. Try the Augusta Brewing Co. in Augusta for a bite to eat and a tasty craft beverage, head over to Liz’s Bar and Grill in New Melle and discover why it’s a cornerstone for locals, and then check out Terry & Kathy’s in Defiance for local bands, billiards and a “Defiant” attitude. Then cross the street to the Defiance Roadhouse and check out those cheeky Squirrels.

Walk in the Footsteps of Daniel Boone! Step into history at the Historic Daniel Boone Home at Lindenwood Park. Nestled upon the rolling hills of wine country and overlooking the Femme Osage Valley, this beautiful setting represents life in the early 1800s. At 65 years old, Daniel Boone came to Missouri with his wife Rebecca and several of their children and settled in the area. The home, located at Lindenwood Park, is the home of Daniel’s youngest son, Nathan Boone. Take a tour of the four story house with two-and-a-half foot thick limestone walls and discover life in 1800s.

You’ll Need a Bed, Breakfast, Perhaps Both! Historic charm with modern comfort? A quiet peaceful country setting? Boutique B&B with a convenient location and lots of charm? A pool with a great view? Historic Missouri Wine Country has what you’re looking for and is home to more than a dozen beautiful bed and breakfast. Plan to spend some time in Wine Country.

For all this and more, visit HistoricStCharles.com and discover St. Charles.

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