SPEND THE EVENING WITH MERIWETHER LEWIS AT THE SOUTHEAST MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY RIVER CAMPUS TO SUPPORT THE RED HOUSE INTERPRETIVE CENTER OF CAPE GIRARDEAU!

Spend the evening with Meriwether Lewis on September 20 at the Southeast Missouri State University River Campus in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, for a Red House Interpretive Center fundraising dinner and program!

In 1803 Captain Meriwether Lewis and Captain William Clark commanded the Corps of Discovery - a group of individuals who explored the Louisiana Purchase for President Thomas Jefferson. As they made their way up the Mississippi River they stopped in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Meriwether Lewis met with the city’s founder, Louis Lorimier, at his home, the Red House. Meriwether Lewis, portrayed by historical re-enactor Bryant Boswell, will return to Cape Girardeau on September 20 to talk about his adventures during the Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Re-enactment, what he saw, who he met, and what it means to this country. The George Drouillard Chapter of the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation is sponsoring Boswell’s visit.

The Red House Interpretive Center of Cape Girardeau, Missouri, will host this fundraising dinner on September 20 starting at 5:00p.m. The dinner, historical presentation, and recognition of Louis Lorimier’s Birthday will be held at the Southeast Missouri State University Earl and Margie Holland School of Visual and Performing Arts – “The River Campus.”

As a special addition to the evening’s festivities, the Red House has arranged for those attending the event to have the opportunity of meeting and talking with Meriwether Lewis from 5-6:00p.m. During that time they will also be able to meet artist Gary Lucy, nationally known creator of the River Campus Mural. An exhibit of 40 of Lucy’s works will be on display. Attendees will also be able to visit the Regional Museum and the Art Department Gallery, located at the River Campus, which will be open for visitors to enjoy from 5-6:00p.m.

Cost for the event will be $25 per person. Tickets may be purchased at the Red House, the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department (573) 335-5421, the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau (573) 335-1631 or at Old Town Cape (573) 334-8085. Deadline for purchase of tickets is September 16.

The schedule for the event:

Visit Art Department Gallery

Boswell will speak about his experiences during the Bicentennial Commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Missouri and the Commemoration of the Life of Meriwether Lewis by the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.

When interviewed, Bryant Boswell who portrays the historical Meriwether Lewis, replied, “People often ask "How did you get involved in the Lewis and Clark reenactment"? When my son, who is in the practice of dentistry with me, finished dental school he enlisted in the Public Health Service and was sent to the Northern Cheyenne Reservation at Lame Deer, Montana. He sent me a copy of "Undaunted Courage" by Stephen Ambrose and encouraged me to read it. I could not put it down. I made two trips to "visit my son" in 1999 and 2000, but really went to retrace the Expedition route. Then my second son was attending graduate school in St. Louis and it was on one of the trips to visit him early in 2001 that I discovered the men in St. Charles who were building the keelboat. I was invited to join their group, The Discovery Expedition of St. Charles (DESC), which I did that year. So, from 2001 - 2003 I trained with DESC and departed with the keelboat from Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, on August 31, 2003.

I portrayed Pvt. Robert Frazier in 2003 and 2004. I remember Cape Girardeau well. I danced with Jane Jackson on the porch of The Red House.

In February, 2005, I was asked to assume the role of Captain Lewis. I portrayed Meriwether Lewis for the last two years, 2005 - 2006. Bud Clark and I made a good team. Our philosophies and priorities were identical. The two highlights of my time as Lewis came just 24 hours apart. They were the dedication of a bust of William Clark to Capt. William Clark and Capt. Peyton "Bud" Clark at Pompey's Pillar and then taking part in a phenomenal healing ceremony at the Two Medicine Fight Site with the Blackfeet Tribe.

Our number one priority for the last two years was education. But equally important was hearing the Native American's "side of the story".

After returning to St. Louis on September 23, 2006, I organized a reenactment of Captain Lewis and Clark's movement to Locust Grove in Louisville, across the Cumberland Gap, through Ambingdon, Virginia, Fincastle, Virginia, Lexington, Virginia, and into Charlottesville and back to Monticello.

The Discovery Expedition of St. Charles was able to end the Bicentennial Commemoration where it began in January, 2003 - the home of Jefferson, Monticello.

DESC has joined ten other reenactment groups from across the nation to form the Living History Association under the umbrella of The Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. I was asked last summer at the annual meeting in Charlottesville to host the 2009 annual meeting retracing Lewis' last journey from St. Louis to Grinder's Stand. That annual meeting will occur October 3 - 7, 2009 in Memphis, Tennessee, and Tupelo, Mississippi, and finally Hohenwald, Tennessee. The George Drouillard Chapter has offered to provide volunteers for that meeting. I have also lectured at schools and adult groups for the past six years.” Said Bryant R. Boswell

aka: Gov. Meriwether Lewis, Upper Louisiana Territory.

Attend the Red House Interpretive Center fundraising dinner on September 20 starting at 5:00 p.m. and during the program hear Bryant R. Boswell speak about his experiences during the Bicentennial Commemoration of the Lewis and Clark Expedition by the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Missouri and the Commemoration of the Life of Meriwether Lewis by the Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.

Bryant Ridgway Boswell, aka: Governor Meriwether Lewis, Upper Louisiana Territory resides near Star, Mississippi. He was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi, and attended Millsaps College from 1963 -1965 and is a Graduate of Mississippi State University in 1967. He earned a D.D.S. degree from Baylor University College of Dentistry, Dallas, Texas, in 1971. He served in the U.S. Army from 1971 – 1974.

He has been in the practice of Dentistry in Jackson, Mississippi, since 1974. Married to the former Sarah Batte of Jackson, the couple has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.

Bryant is Past Secretary/Treasurer & President of the Mississippi Dental Association;

Past President of the Mississippi Section of the American College of Dentists;

Member of First Presbyterian Church in Jackson; Member of the SAR; Boy Scout Scoutmaster – 12 years; and Host of the 2009 annual meeting of The Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation.

Bryant portrayed Captain Meriwether Lewis in the Bicentennial reenactment of the Lewis and Clark Expedition as a member of the Discovery Expedition of St. Charles, Missouri.

As part of the presentation by Meriwether Lewis at the September 20 Red House fundraising dinner there will be a fifty minute power point presentation including an overview of the United States in 1803; why President Thomas Jefferson felt it was important that the Expedition of 1803 be carried out; and why the Bush Administration wanted it reenacted in 2003. Also at the September 20 Red House dinner, an overview of the Expedition of 1803 – 1806 will be presented along with the Reenactment of 2003 -2006 and a display of accoutrements and books, along with a bibliography. The audience will be informed of the forthcoming annual meeting of The Lewis and Clark Trail Heritage Foundation. This annual meeting will be held in Mississippi and Tennessee October 3 –7, 2009, commemorating the life of Meriwether Lewis and retracing his final journey to his death on the Natchez Trace, October 11, 1809.

The Red House Interpretive Center encourages the public to support the Red House Foundation and enjoy this excellent opportunity to meet Meriwether Lewis!