Summer 2017
Summer Time and the living is easy! If not easy, at least it will be warm and a great time to travel in Missouri. To aid you in planning some trips, both IRL and online, I have researched some internet sites for you.
When you live on top of the New Madrid Fault, which I did for 27 years in Caruthersville, the thought of an earthquake is never far from your mind. Nearly every day, there is at least a little shake. Most of them are below the threshold of feeling, but sometimes things do shake. In 1811 and 1812, the area experienced the largest earthquake in U.S. recorded history. The New Madrid Historical Museum has information about “The Big One” and much more. Learn more at NewMadridMuseum.com/. In addition to earthquake information, there are exhibits on Native American artifacts, and the Civil War Battle of Island No. 10.
Speaking of the Civil War, when Gen. Sterling Price made an attempt to capture Missouri for the Confederacy, his first major battle on his Missouri campaign was near Pilot Knob at Fort Davidson. Price technically won the battle but suffered huge losses. He began with 12,000 men and 10 percent of them died in the attack on the fort. After the first day, the 1,500 Union forces had lost only 28 men. They were running low on ammunition and during the night, they slipped away after blowing up their powder magazine. In September of 2017, there will be a reenactment of the battle. Read about it at MissouriCivilWar.net/reenactments/index.htm.
The losses caused Price to realize that he could not successfully attack St. Louis, but he did send Generals John Clark and Jo Shelby to attack my town of Glasgow (CivilWarOnTheWesternBorder.org/map/glasgow-missouri.) I often present a slide show about the Battle of Glasgow. The Confederates won this battle and captured weapons and clothing. Price had been the eleventh governor of Missouri and lived near Brunswick, just a little north of Glasgow, and General Clark was a resident of nearby Fayette. Price was defeated at Westport, near Kansas City, and retreated south after his failed campaign. The Westport Visitor Center in Swope Park has more information at BattleOfWestport.org/VisitorCenter.htm.
You could easily take the entire summer to visit Missouri’s many Civil War sites, but you may want to see some other things as well. On August 21, you can see a rare complete solar eclipse. The band of optimum viewing goes from coast to coast and the prime corridor in Missouri goes diagonally across the state. Kansas City and St. Louis are near the edge of this path. Glasgow is very close to the center and will experience total darkness a little after 1 p.m. for more than two minutes. To view a map that gives times for the eclipse, visit GreatAmericanEclipse.com/missouri/.
Use eye protection and do not look directly at the eclipse without it. Glasses can be obtained from many sources at low prices. DO NOT view the eclipse without them.
I know that you have heard things described as “...the greatest thing since sliced bread”. Sliced bread has only been commercially available since 1928, and it began in Chillicothe, Missouri. The Chillicothe Baking Company used a machine called the Rohwedder Bread Slicer to prepare bread for sale. You can read all about this mechanical marvel at ChillicotheCity.org/bread.html. You will find details of summer sliced bread festivals and can order sliced bread T-shirts and other sliced bread souvenirs including a candle that smells like fresh sliced bread.
I hope you have the greatest Missouri summer since sliced bread. If you see me at a Civil War battlefield, watching the eclipse or enjoying a toasted slice of bread, be sure to say hello. Until then, be safe in your travels on the road and online.
When you live on top of the New Madrid Fault, which I did for 27 years in Caruthersville, the thought of an earthquake is never far from your mind. Nearly every day, there is at least a little shake. Most of them are below the threshold of feeling, but sometimes things do shake. In 1811 and 1812, the area experienced the largest earthquake in U.S. recorded history. The New Madrid Historical Museum has information about “The Big One” and much more. Learn more at NewMadridMuseum.com/. In addition to earthquake information, there are exhibits on Native American artifacts, and the Civil War Battle of Island No. 10.
Speaking of the Civil War, when Gen. Sterling Price made an attempt to capture Missouri for the Confederacy, his first major battle on his Missouri campaign was near Pilot Knob at Fort Davidson. Price technically won the battle but suffered huge losses. He began with 12,000 men and 10 percent of them died in the attack on the fort. After the first day, the 1,500 Union forces had lost only 28 men. They were running low on ammunition and during the night, they slipped away after blowing up their powder magazine. In September of 2017, there will be a reenactment of the battle. Read about it at MissouriCivilWar.net/reenactments/index.htm.
The losses caused Price to realize that he could not successfully attack St. Louis, but he did send Generals John Clark and Jo Shelby to attack my town of Glasgow (CivilWarOnTheWesternBorder.org/map/glasgow-missouri.) I often present a slide show about the Battle of Glasgow. The Confederates won this battle and captured weapons and clothing. Price had been the eleventh governor of Missouri and lived near Brunswick, just a little north of Glasgow, and General Clark was a resident of nearby Fayette. Price was defeated at Westport, near Kansas City, and retreated south after his failed campaign. The Westport Visitor Center in Swope Park has more information at BattleOfWestport.org/VisitorCenter.htm.
You could easily take the entire summer to visit Missouri’s many Civil War sites, but you may want to see some other things as well. On August 21, you can see a rare complete solar eclipse. The band of optimum viewing goes from coast to coast and the prime corridor in Missouri goes diagonally across the state. Kansas City and St. Louis are near the edge of this path. Glasgow is very close to the center and will experience total darkness a little after 1 p.m. for more than two minutes. To view a map that gives times for the eclipse, visit GreatAmericanEclipse.com/missouri/.
Use eye protection and do not look directly at the eclipse without it. Glasses can be obtained from many sources at low prices. DO NOT view the eclipse without them.
I know that you have heard things described as “...the greatest thing since sliced bread”. Sliced bread has only been commercially available since 1928, and it began in Chillicothe, Missouri. The Chillicothe Baking Company used a machine called the Rohwedder Bread Slicer to prepare bread for sale. You can read all about this mechanical marvel at ChillicotheCity.org/bread.html. You will find details of summer sliced bread festivals and can order sliced bread T-shirts and other sliced bread souvenirs including a candle that smells like fresh sliced bread.
I hope you have the greatest Missouri summer since sliced bread. If you see me at a Civil War battlefield, watching the eclipse or enjoying a toasted slice of bread, be sure to say hello. Until then, be safe in your travels on the road and online.