Ribbon-Cutting at Dewey Short Visitor Center
The following is an excerpt from the April 23 Ozarks Water Watch newsletter. It was written by David Casaletto, executive director of Ozarks Water Watch.
The wait is almost over! The US Army Corps of Engineers Little Rock District announced the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Dewey Short Visitor Center in Branson will take place this Friday, April 27.
The center is located at 4600 State Highway 165, next to the Table Rock Lake dam, and the ceremony begins at 10:30 a.m. The realistic appearance of the visitor center makes it look like it is built into the natural bluffs and the landscaping and “green” features are fantastic.
Here’s a look at some of the features that have allowed this Class A facility to qualify for a LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) GOLD certification:
• Building materials: Materials were chosen considering their environmental impact, with an emphasis on nontoxic, recycled content, locally sourced and manufactured.
• Water-efficient landscape: Site drainage and water quality is managed through a series of rain gardens and dry streams winding their way through the native landscape.
• Geothermal heating and cooling system: The lake is an existing resource that plays a key role in the building’s HVAC system. The building utilizes a water-to-water heat pump, which incorporates an exchange loop that dumps heat to the lake in the summer and picks up heat from the lake in the winter.
• Day lighting/natural light: Thermal pane insulated glass is used throughout the facility. Fluorescent lighting is installed to supplement natural light.
• Green housekeeping: Environmentally preferable products will be used for cleaning the facility. Power-cleaning equipment meets standard Green Cleaning criteria. Use of recycled paper and plastic products helps conserve natural resources.
At the center, large glass walls provide views of lake and dam, while featured exhibits include a two-story waterfall cascading down the face of a limestone bluff, native flora and fauna displays. Another display, a rowboat filled with circa 1940s home furnishing, depicts family’s attempt to escape rising flood waters prior to the construction of Table Rock Dam.
Explore, Discover and Enjoy …
… all that Madison County, Missouri has to offer. Whether you’re planning to visit or relocate, you will fall in love with our beautiful, historic part of Southeast Missouri.
Take a look around Fredericktown,as you enter from Highway 67, and enjoy local produce and crafts at the Madison County Farmer’s Market. Opening on Friday, April 27, local growers and crafters will be available 2 p.m.-7 p.m. every Friday through October at a building adjacent to Gifford Lumber Company, located at 149 Commercial Drive. Before you continue to explore, stop by GT Express and YKnot Diner to fill your tank and enjoy some great food. If you’re in a hurry, call ahead and try the new drive-up window for YKnot Diner: 573-561-2500.
One of the highlights of summer in Fredericktown is our annual Azalea Festival. “May Time Is Azalea Time”… and you won’t want to miss this year’s festivities as we celebrate 50 years of family fun! Throughout the weekend (always the first full weekend in May) May 4-6, 2012, there is a variety of entertainment including Johnny Fever; events and happenings will include historic sites open with reenactors in period dress at Battle of Fredericktown Civil War Museum, Berryman Cabin and Captain’s Creek Log School. If history isn’t your style, there will be pig races, a mini-rod tractor pull, an antique tractor pull, an abundance of crafts and food, carnival rides, and more. Visit the Madison County Chamber of Commerce website for a full schedule of events for this exciting weekend.
During the Azalea Festival, join us for a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the new Fitness for All Children – Project Happy Feet Playground, which is designed to allow children with disabilities to play with everyone else. As there are no other playgrounds like this within 100 miles, we truly feel it’s a benefit not only to Fredericktown, but to the region as a whole. The ribbon cutting is 10 a.m. on May 5; the playground is located on North Main Street, in Azalea Park.
If you join us by way of Highway 72, from Jackson/Cape Girardeau area, you’ll enjoy visiting Twisting V Grille at Vance Vineyards just before you get into town. They have delicious food and great entertainment, plus wine tasting and a beautiful setting to relax.
As you continue to explore Madison County, you’ll enjoy visiting Cherokee Pass where you can fill up your gas tank at Cherokee Pass Mobile Station and then continue down Route A to historic Marquand. Once you’re in Marquand, stop by Marquand Market for a delicious meal or some deli items and relax in the beautiful city park. We are truly blessed in Madison County to have a variety of outdoor recreation areas to enjoy. Stop by the Chamber Office to get your brochures or call ahead of time to plan your visit by receiving a visitor’s packet.
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Missouri Hidden Treasure: When you enter historic, downtown Fredericktown, you find one of our many hidden treasures – The Loft: Community Arts Center, located above the Madison County Chamber of Commerce at 120 W. Main St. Stop by to enjoy art created by local artists in a variety of painting techniques, photography, sculptures, pottery, quilting and more. There is also a display created by local students.
Enter to win a Missouri Hidden Treasures Giveaway: http://VisitMOtreasures.com.
Written by Sandy Francis, executive director of the Madison County Chamber of Commerce
Missouri’s Hidden Treasures
If you pay attention to the Missouri Division of Tourism’s Facebook page and VisitMO.com, you know we think Missouri is a great place to find Hidden Treasures.
We’re not the only ones who see it that way.
Mike Cook, owner of Mikes Unique Collectible and Antique Flea Market in Springfield, says Missouri has become the go-to resource for antique lovers and treasure hunters around the country, especially during the last two to three years.
“We are the destination for antique and treasure hunters for the whole United States,” Cook says.
Cook believes shows such as History Channel’s “American Pickers” have helped people realize items they take for granted as worthless have actual value – especially to someone else.
“The shows are showing people they may have treasures at home they don’t know about,” adds Cook. “It’s a treasure hunt; it’s a quest. It gives people something to do.”
One of the best things about antique shopping in Missouri is value, Cook says, adding prices for antiques in Missouri are much lower than in other states. He’s seen instances of antique dealers, from bordering Oklahoma to as far as Idaho, come to Missouri to buy merchandise, only to mark it up and re-sell it at their stores.
But in Missouri, antique dealers know how to show their customers a good deal, which is important.
“People aren’t buying as much as they used to,” Cook says, “and when they do buy, they want to get the best deal they can get.”
Cook, who worked construction for 30 years before going into the antique business with “no experience,” says he’s even been caught unaware of an item’s value more than a few times.
“I’ve sold items where (the customer) has said, ‘Do you know what this is?’ and I’ll say, ‘No.’ Then they enlighten me and … well, we’ve sold some really high-dollar stuff for next to nothing,” he says.
Missouri is home to countless antique stores such as Mikes, and shops are located in every region of the state, meaning there truly is treasure everywhere. Check out VisitMO.com to find antique shops (and a few other retail locations) in your area, or the area in which you’ll be traveling.
Even if antiques aren’t your thing, you’re sure to find a Hidden Treasure of some kind, from a museum to a retail shop to an incredible natural wonder, in Missouri.
To learn more about Missouri’s Hidden Treasures, see the special insert in the May/June issue of Midwest Living magazine (or view a PDF copy here). Don’t forget to sign up for our Missouri Hidden Treasures contest; you could win a fantastic Missouri getaway. There’s also a $500 gift card from SIMON malls up for grabs.
To learn more about antique shopping in Missouri, go to VisitMO.com; keyword search “shopping malls/antique shops.”
Happy Birthday, Harry!
A Harry Truman reenactor greets a visitor outside the Jackson County courthouse that houses the restored Truman courtroom and office.
Forget that bunch of politicians wrangling about who will be our nation’s next president. If many folks had their druthers, we’d magically bring back our nation’s 33rd president. This man left office with dismal approval ratings in the low 30s and yet now polls among the top five presidents who ever served. Of course we are talking about Harry S. Truman, the famous Missourian who was born in Lamar, Missouri and raised, married, lived, retired and died in Independence.
Harry was a sociable guy who loved a good party, so it’s only fitting his adopted hometown celebrates his birthday in style. The historic Independence Square is the gathering place for those who wish to honor Truman, with the party set for Saturday, May 5 (his actual birthday is May 8). You need not wait for an invitation – everyone is invited!
So, what can you look forward to? Here’s a quick rundown on this All-American hometown birthday party, sponsored by the City of Independence, National Park Service, Independence Chamber of Commerce, Antiques on the Square, Harry S. Truman Library and Museum and Independence Square Association.
- Wave your flag and hold your campaign poster high (both passed out to the crowd) with the big Shriner’s parade, kicking off at 10 a.m.
- With a nod to Harry’s famous “Buck Stops Here” sign, the top tourism attractions of the city are rolling back their prices to the 1940s by charging just a buck a person all day. To get around, you can hop on the charming cherry red Truman trolley, also priced at just a buck for all-day rides. The trolley will circle from the Square to and from fascinating sites such as the National Frontier Trails Museum, Chicago & Alton Depot, Bingham-Waggoner Estate, 1859 Jail and Marshal’s Home, Trinity Episcopal Church (where Harry and Bess married, offering free tours from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.) , Truman Home and Truman Library. Also offering dollar admission, but not on the trolley route, are the charming Puppetry Arts Institute at 11025 E. Winner Road and the not-to-be-missed Leila’s Hair Museum at 1333 S. Noland Road.
- Walk back to the late 1940s by strolling past cars of the era parked around the Square and exploring shops and
See classic cars, such as this one, parked outside Clinton's on the square.
restaurants on the Square. You can pop into an antique store for an art deco jewelry necklace or pull your stool up to the old-fashioned ice cream counter at Clinton’s Soda Fountain as you watch the soda jerk make a root beer phosphate. Stores will be decorated in vintage style to transform you back to the Truman era and will sell Truman-themed merchandise.
- From noon to 1 p.m., visit with historic reenactors on the Square, including “Harry,” “Bess” and other characters that will make you swear you’re walking down Main Street way back when. See a handmade Truman marionette demonstration and enjoy listening to the jump and jive of classic groups such as the Andrews Sisters.
- While you’re at the Truman Library, make sure to go downstairs and catch their new long-running special exhibit, “Tracing the Trumans” on display till the end of the year. You’ll see such treasures as the 1883 wedding dress of Bess’s mother, Mamma Truman’s shotgun, poppies sent home by Captain Harry Truman from the battlefields of World War I and Margaret’s baby carriage.
- Take your best shot around town with your camera, as May 5 is the kick-off of the Tourism and Examiner newspaper “Images of Independence” photo contest, which will run through Labor Day. For details, including rules, registration, information on cash prizes and directions on downloading digital pictures, go to www.Examiner.net and look for the contest logo.
Although a visit to Independence is a great family friendly destination any time of the year, spending the day on May 5 wishing the great man a Happy Birthday guarantees a fun-filled, wallet-friendly experience everyone in your family is sure to remember.
Intrigued? For a complete list of attractions, events, suggestions for lodging or to view our interactive brochure, go to www.VisitIndependence.com or call 800-748-7323.
By Janeen Aggen, media relations representative for Independence Tourism; photos courtesy Independence Tourism
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Missouri Hidden Treasure: Although it’s free year-round and therefore doesn’t participate in the buck admission price offered by other attractions for Truman’s birthday, don’t miss a real hidden treasure for kids in Independence: the hands on interactive Children Peace Pavilion. Located in the Community of Christ Auditorium at 1001 W. Walnut, the Peace Pavilion offers a chance for kids to explore ways to achieve peace. Turn them loose and let them choose from art, music, puppets, mazes, computer games, fantasy play places and much more. You can easily spend an hour or two at this one of a kind children’s museum.
Enter to win a Missouri Hidden Treasures Giveaway: http://VisitMOtreasures.com.
Remembering the Titanic
A starboard view of the White Star Line passenger liner R.M.S. Titanic embarking on its ill-fated maiden voyage, April 10, 1912, near Liverpool, England.
This is an excerpt from the a story told by Jaynee, Titanic’s First Class Maid and one of the faces of Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson. This post commemorates the 100th anniversary of the sinking of Titanic, which hit an iceberg in the late-night hours of April 14, 1912, then sunk in the early morning hours of April 15, 2012.
Hello, I’m Jaynee, Titanic First Class Maid. I’ve had the honor of introducing you to some of Titanic’s 2,208 passengers and crew. I hope you’ve come to know them and the dreams, ambitions, secrets and fears they carried with them on Titanic.
On the 100th anniversary of Titanic’s last day at sea, we close the book, for now, on this special series of personal stories. We’ve only scratched the surface, though.
The Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson.
There are many, many more tales to be told, each adding a fascinating chapter to one of the most dramatic stories of all time. These are the stories we bring to life at the Titanic Museum Attraction in Branson. 2012 is The Year of Titanic, and we invite you to join us in honoring all those who sailed into history 100 years ago.
We’ve found that the most meaningful way of keeping their memory alive is to simply tell their stories. Our entire crew does that, with deep respect, everyday of the year at our museum. We’re proud to be guardians of Titanic’s legacy and the keeper of her passengers’ and crew’s hopes and dreams.
This was Titanic owner John Joslyn’s vision following his historic expedition to Titanic’s resting place 25 years ago. Now, what he imagined stands among the largest and most prestigious, permanent Titanic museums in the world. Visitors come here to experience what it was really like to be a passenger on the ship.
Some come to honor a family descendant who was on board, and to learn more about their story, others, to see why a 100-year-old story still haunts people to this day. They all leave – I can tell you – with a new appreciation of Titanic and the men, women and children who were on board.
Much of what has been accomplished at our museum has come under the guidance and support of Ed and Karen Kumada, founders of the Titanic Historical Society. In 1963 they vowed to keep the spirit of Titanic alive and to honor the memory of all who sailed her.
They wouldn’t let the world forget them and neither will we.
Storytelling Festival Fun for All Ages
There's something for everyone at the Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival.
Scottish ballads with a North Carolina flavor, spoons as instruments instead of eating utensils, myths and folktales, tomboys and princesses … you can hear all of the above and then some on the banks of the Mighty Mississippi at the 5th Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival.
When we bill the festival as a way to “get back to your roots,” we mean every word of it. The stories the tellers perform at the Main Street and River Campus tents touch on your own memories, and all of sudden you’re in your grandma’s kitchen watching her roll out dumplings, or you’re on the banks of the pond with your dad, two bobbers floating in the still water. The stories transport you in every sense, and it is truly an experience beyond measure to share with your loved ones.
We are very proud of the fact the Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival is fit for all ages. How many events can you enjoy alongside your kids and your grandparents? Without one set suffering through a cartoon they’d like to erase, that is! The storytelling festival gives you a weekend to sit back and soak in stories at an unhurried, leisurely pace. We know that you’ll create memories you’ll hold close as well as some stories of your very own.
Throngs of people enjoy entertainment under the tent at Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival.
Maybe I haven’t convinced you that you should come and experience the Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival. I personally didn’t grasp the power of storytelling until I saw one of our tellers from the Evening of Ghost Storytellers on Oct. 14, 2011, perform at a local high school. I was transfixed, and so was the entire room of 16-18 year olds. My experience has been that once you take in the art of storytelling done well, then you’re hooked for life! So many of our fans come back year after year after year. One time was all it took for storytelling to touch a chord.
So, come share the experience of storytelling at the 5th Annual Cape Girardeau Storytelling Festival and start a tradition. Kim Weitkamp, Sheila Kay Adams, Dan Keding and Jennifer Munro as well as Jessica Carleton and Larry Brown will perform Friday, April 13, Saturday, April14, and Sunday, April 15, 2012, in historic downtown Cape Girardeau.
Check out CapeStorytelling.com or give us a buzz at 800-776-0068. We’d love to tell you all about our storytelling festival. Pre-registration pricing ends April 12, 2012, so secure your tickets today and we’ll see you this soon.
Written by Stacy Dohogne Lane, director of public relations, Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau
Go Batty at Unique Missouri Festival
The public is invited to Missouri’s first ever Bat Festival on Saturday, April 21, at Onondaga Cave State Park at the Leasburg exit off Interstate 44.
Rob Mies, the director and founder of the Organization for Bat Conservation, is coming and bringing some of his furry friends, including a Malayan flying fox, which, with its six-foot wingspan, is the largest bat in the world.
The organization presents some 1,500 live shows a year to educate people about one of the world’s most unique, and misunderstood, animals.
Rob Mies of the Organization for Bat Conservation holds a Malayan flying fox, the largest bat in the world.
Mies, pronounced “my-ess,” has become somewhat of a celebrity; his work has been featured in television documentaries and he has made appearances on shows hosted by Ellen Degeneres, Conan O’Brien and Regis and Kelly.
Mies’ talks will range from how a homeowner can humanely evict bats from the attic, to how a gardener can attract them to eat bugs.
Missouri State Parks got the idea for holding a bat festival after U-Haul, the truck rental company, decided to feature Onondaga Cave and its bats on graphics on the sides of some 1,900 new trucks scheduled to hit the road in mid-October. The “Venture Across America” graphics program includes little known facts and mysteries found in the various states.
The Missouri graphic will explain echolocation, the method by which bats communicate, for travelers who go to uhaul.com. The graphic features a bat flying over a map of the state, with a star pointing out the location of Onondaga Cave State Park. A second bat snoozes upside down. Both are red bats, which are found in the woods of the state park.
A truck bearing the Missouri graphic will be unveiled on Saturday at the festival. The festival will be held from 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with the unveiling at noon.
Bat houses – along with bat jewelry, bat puppets, bat mobiles and all things batty – will be available for purchase at the festival. The event also will have barbecue, bluegrass music, volunteers from caving organizations and booths manned by master gardeners and naturalists. Onondaga Cave, one of the state’s most stunning, will be open for tours during the festival.
The festival actually starts on Friday, April 20, but is open that first day only to some 600 pre-registered school children who will be treated to their own show with Mies and to free cave tours. On Saturday, cave tours will be discounted for the public. The tours will be $10 for adults, and $5 for kids 6 to 12. The regular price is $12 and $7. All other programs at the festival are free.
Bats are an integral part of the chain of life, and play an important role in the entire ecosystem by eating insects that can be pests to people and agriculture. Onondaga Cave contains up to 1,000 bats, which are among the 68 species found in the cave, from tiny invertebrates to grotto salamanders.
Onondaga Cave State Park is located seven miles south of the Interstate 44 Leasburg exit on Highway H in Crawford County. For more information about the park and the event, contact the park at 573-245-6576 or visit MoStateParks.com.
Written by Tom Uhlenbrock, Missouri Department of Natural Resources, Division of State Parks
