July 2008
Vol. 14 No. 7
Editor - Jan Weaver
208 Tucker Hall, MU 65211
See Missouri
by Jan Weaver
Just like prophets, local attractions have no honor in their own country. So we often measure the value of a trip in the miles
traveled instead of in the experience gained. But necessity is the mother of invention, and these days, with gas over $4 a gallon, necessity has the potential to open our minds to the natural, historic and cultural gems in our own back yards. So, here are some more or less local attractions that may not have occurred to you before as a destination -
World Heritage Site
Cahokia Mounds - Alton Illinois (close enough to count) http://www.cahokiamounds.com/cahokia.html
This is the premier site of the mound builder culture in North America, on a par with Chaco Canyon, Mesa Verde, Stonehenge and Vatican City. This facility has a video, an interactive topographic map, walk through and miniature dioramas, and extensive explanations of various aspects of mound builder culture - and to top it off, you can climb the mounds themselves.
National Parks and Historic Sites http://www.nps.gov/
Lewis and Clark Trail
Start at the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial and Arch on the St. Louis riverfront. The museum has artifacts and a timeline for the westward expansion of europeans, as well as a chance to ride a tram to the top of the Arch. Follow the river by road, or along the Katy Trail from the Lewis and Clark Boathouse and Nature Center in St. Charles through Boonville, Arrow Rock and Fort Osage (in Sibley) on up to the National Frontier Trails Center in Independence
Ozark National Scenic Riverways
134 miles of the Current and Jack's Fork River and the surrounding watershed were established as the first national wild riverway in 1964. The area encompasses the world's largest collection of first magnitude springs - discharging at least 100 cubic feet of water per second, along with some of the most scenic beauty in Missouri that you can see from a canoe.
Wilson's Creek Battlefield - Springfield area
On August 10, 1861, the 2nd major battle of civil war, 1st major battle west of Mississippi was fought at Wilson's Creek
It was Union Regulars vs Missouri Guard, resulting in about 2500 casualties - The north lost the battle, but kept Missouri in the Union
There is a 4.9 mile road with 8 interpretive stations and 5 walking trails, and a civil war museum. The anniversary of the battle is remembered with a special tour and program and there are living history programs on weekends in the summer
Harry S. Truman National Historic Site - Independence
The home Truman came from and went back to after serving as President, and where he regularly greeted the visitors who gathered at his front gate to see the "Missouri striped mule". The site includes a slide show, a tour of the Truman home and a self guided tour of Truman's haunts in Independence.
National World War 1 Memorial & Museum - Kansas City http://www.nww1.org/
Originally dedicated to the First World War's dead in the 1920's, the site also has a new museum that outlines the factors leading up to the war and the experiences of the different classes fighting in the war.
National Historic Landmarks in Missouri http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_National_Historic_Landmarks_in_Missouri
Just to name a few: Anheuser Busch Brewery (St. Louis), Eads Bridge (St. Louis), Graham Cave (I 70 east of Fulton), St. Genevieve (I 55 north of Cape Girardeau), Sanborn Field (Columbia), Westminster College Gymnasium (Fulton)
Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites - http://www.mostateparks.com/
If you tend to think of places you can drive to on half a tank of gas as mundane, just imagine how exotic they would seem to someone from Cairo, New Delhi or Shanghai. But the truth is, you may not know much more than a foreign visitor about what it was like to farm in Missouri in 1870, or walk the Trail of Tears, or be surrounded by boulders the size of elephants, or see the Mississippi from a prehistoric mound. Take advantage of necessity this summer, and get to know the place you live.
Special Events/Programs/Classes/Talks
July 8 - Tracking Catfish on the Missouri River - Bryant Cabin, Overton Bottoms -
http://www.riverrelief.org/events/08bigmuddysessions.html
July 10 - Primary Election Forum: Legislature - Columbia Public Library 6 pm - http://lwvcolumbiaboonecalendar.pbwiki.com/
July 12 - Wildflower Tour - Fulton - http://wildones.missouri.org/calendar.html
July 12 - Creek Walk to learn about aquatic critters - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park -
http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge/geninfo.htm
July 15 and August 7 - Nature Detectives (for preschoolers) - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park -
http://rockbridge.missouri.org/fevents.htm
July 15 to 19 - Missouri 340 Canoe and Kayak Race - Clinton to St. Charles - http://rivermiles.com/mr340/
July 22 - Everything's Cool Video - Columbia Public Library 7 pm
July 23 to July - Kids age 9 to 11 can earn Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites Explorer Patch - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge/geninfo.htm
July 24 - Primary Election Forum - County - Columbia Public Library 6 pm - http://lwvcolumbiaboonecalendar.pbwiki.com/
July 26, August 1 and August 9- Superhero Bats to the Rescue (family event) - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge/geninfo.htm
August 2 and 8 - Bats Are Connected (12 and up) - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park -
http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge/geninfo.htm
August 7 through 17 - Missouri State Fair - Sedalia
September 4 - Tomato Festival - Bradford Farm - http://aes.missouri.edu/bradford/events/
September 6 - Lost in the Woods: Orienteering, map and compass skills - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge/geninfo.htm
September 13 - Sustainable Liviing Fair - Unity Center, 1600 W. Broadway - http://www.slfcolumbia.org/
September 13 - Wildflower Seed Collection - http://wildones.missouri.org/calendar.html
September 19 & 20 - Columbia Bioblitz - Twin Lakes Park - http://bioblitz.missouri.edu/
September 27 - Spider Sniff and Owl Prowl - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park -
http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge/geninfo.htm
October 11 - Invasive Plant Removal - http://wildones.missouri.org/calendar.html
October 18 - Wild Area Adventure: 2 mile hike in the Gans Wild Area - Rock Bridge Memorial State Park - http://www.mostateparks.com/rockbridge/geninfo.htm
Organization Meetings and Contact Information
AUDUBON SOCIETY: 874-3904 / columbia-audubon.missouri.org Meet 3rd Wed 7:30 pm, Unitarian Church, 2615 Shepard Blvd.
BIG CANOE: 573-875-8590 / bryce_crispies@yahoo.com / http://www.bigcanoemo.org/ - Saturday workdays 10-1 at 406 Sanford
BOONE COUNTY SMART GROWTH COALITION: http://smartgrowth.missouri.org/, 1st Weds 7:15 Boone Co Govt Ctr.
CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE LIVING: 875-0539 or http://www.midmopeaceworks.org/sustainableliving.php
CHOUTEAU GROTTO: http://chouteau.missouri.org/, Meet 1st Wed, 7 pm, The Casteel Building, 1518 Business Loop 70 East
COLUMBIA CLIMATE CHANGE COALITION: 573-529-9273, Meet 3rd Thu http://www.columbiaclimatechangecoalition.org/
COLUMBIA FOOD CIRCLE: 882-7463 or http://foodcircles.missouri.edu/sources.htm
COLUMBIA PUBLIC WORKS VOL. PROGRAMS: 874-6271 or http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/Volunteer/Opportunities/#PW
COMMUNITY GARDEN COALITION: 875-5995 or cgardenc@yahoo.com or http://cgc.missouri.org 3rd Thursdays 7 pm Columbia Public Library
ENV EDUCATION WORKSHOPS AND CONFERENCES: http://www.conservation.state.mo.us/teacher/workshops/
FRIENDS OF BIG MUDDY: friends@friendsofbigmuddy.org or www.friendsofbigmuddy.org 2nd Tues, 7 pm, Bryant Cabin
FRIENDS OF ROCK BRIDGE M. S. P.: 815-9255 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org/ Outdoors Bldg, 200 Old 63 S.
GET ABOUT COLUMBIA: http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/GetAbout_Columbia/index.php
GREEKS GOING GREEN: new group for fraternities and sororities at MU sauzp5@mizzou.edu
GREEN SANCTUARY: 1st Fridays, 7:00 pm UU Church 2615 Shepard Blvd alternates green movies and discussions g_baka2002@yahoo.com
GREENBELT LAND TRUST OF MID-MISSOURI: 442-4789, greenbelt.land.trust @gmail.com or http://greenbelt.missouri.org
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE: 815-9836, drop off/ buy 1906 Monroe St. Columbia Mon to Fri 8:30 to 3:30, Sat 8-1 1pm,
MISSOURI ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION ASSOCIATION: www.meea.org
MO NATIVE PLANT SOC.: http://columbianativeplants.missouri.org/, 2nd Mon, odd months, 7 p.m., UU Church, 2615 Shepard
MISSOURI RIVER COMMUNITIES NETWORK: 573-256-2602 or www.moriver.org or moriver@coin.org
MISSOURIANS FOR SAFE ENERGY: http://www.mosafeenergy.org/Content/ first Tuesdays, 7:15, Peace Nook on Broadway
PEDNET COALITION: email: pednet@pednet.org or http://www.pednet.org
RIVER RELIEF: http://www.riverrelief.org/
ROCK BRIDGE MEMORIAL STATE PARK: 449-7402 or http://rockbridge.missouri.org
SHOW ME CLEAN STREAMS COALITION: (573) 751-4115 ext 3169 or www.mostreamteam.org
SIERRA CLUB: 875-2916, http://missouri.sierraclub.org/osage/index.htm 3rd Tuesdays 7:30 pm Hillel Found., 1107 University Ave
SUSTAIN MIZZOU: http://students.missouri.edu/~sustainmizzou/
WILD ONES: 573 882-9909, ext 3257 or email wildonesmo@yahoo.com, http://wildones.missouri.org Meetings 2nd Saturdays.
Feedback - Got an opinion? If we have space, we will consider publishing it. Submit it by email (envstudy@missouri.edu), snail mail (Environmental Studies, 211 Lowry , MU, Columbia MO 65211), or call Jan Weaver to talk about it (882-7116). MU Environmental Network News is published by MU's Environmental Studies Initiative. All opinions expressed are the responsibility of the editor. Any part of this newsletter may be copied for distribution but please give us credit.