TAKE VACATION FROM ORDINARY: CAPE OFFERS HISTORIC STOP-OVER

July and August are vacation months across the country for many individuals and families. In this bicentennial year for Cape Girardeau, the city extends a welcome to travelers to stop and visit. There are many attractions in the city that had its founding in 1792-93 by a French Canadian who arrived with two tribes of Indians in tow the Shawnee and the Delaware, members of the Algonquin nation.

The leader of the Indians was Louis Lorimier, who was invited by the Spanish, who claimed the land west of the Mississippi known as "Louisiana," to become a resident. The Spanish granted him land with certain privileges, and the same to the two Indian tribes.

The background of the early days of Cape Girardeau makes interesting reading, and since vacations must be interesting to be worthwhile and enjoyable, you will find a stop-over in Cape Girardeau will provide the requirements of a restful vacation.

The city is one of the oldest on the Mississippi River. It was a great hunting ground in the past for Indians, who came looking for beaver, bear, buffalo, and other wild game that lived in the heavy, wooded forests.

It will mar the visit of out-of-state travelers to list all of the sites and unusual attractions in the city, because its fun to make discoveries. But to fully enjoy a visit to this city, pamphlets are available at the Chamber of Commerce (601 N. Kingshighway, 63701, 314-335-3312) that will list many of the attractions.

When the land was under the Spanish crown, it was divided into five original districts. Ste. Genevieve just north of Cape Girardeau, which was settled by the French the original owners of Louisiana was founded in 1735. St. Louis was next, in 1763, followed by St. Charles, New Madrid and Cape Girardeau.

Louisiana was divided into Upper and Lower Louisiana, and the entire region was under the rule of the governor general who resided in New Orleans. Upper Louisiana, of which the Cape Girardeau district was one of the five divisions, was under a governor, and each sub-district was ruled by a commandant.

Louis Lorimier was made the Commandant of the Cape Girardeau District. He was its only commandant, serving from 1793 until the United States made the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, and all of Louisiana became part of the United States. Cape Girardeau has three flags to display French, Spanish, and the Star Spangled Banner. In addition, there is also the state flag.

Since this is the city's bicentennial year, all organizations are preparing pamphlets about themselves, or some project they are promoting. These interesting pamphlets are free and available in motel lobbies, at the Chamber of Commerce office, banks and some restaurants.

Jackson is the county seat, four miles northwest of Cape Girardeau. It was named, according to all historical references, in 1815 almost immediately after Andrew Jackson was victorious at the Battle of New Orleans, defeating the British. The battle was fought on Jan. 8, 1815. Jackson has been proclaimed the first city in the country named for the general.

There is a steam train in Jackson that runs on Saturday and Sunday, and entertainment in connection with the rides. Travelers enjoy this outing. Many children have never ridden a steam train.

Cape Girardeau is known as the "City of Roses." Many years ago two women in the city, who grew roses and belonged to the National Rose Growers Association, prompted the planting of roses in the city. Garden clubs began to be organized and in a short time an area was set aside in Capaha Park for a rose garden. It became a rose test garden for rose growers, who annually send rose bushes, known only by numbers, to be planted in the garden. The garden clubs care for the beds that contain hundreds of plants. It is open to public viewing, and a pleasure to see and photograph. This test rose garden is one of three in the state of Missouri. Roses also are planted throughout the city.

Cape Girardeau residents are nostalgic about the past. In other words, they love the city, its history, and mementos of the past. The Glenn House, 325 S. Spanish St., is one of the 19th century restored homes furnished with period furniture that depicts the style of homes that once bordered many of the streets. It is open and may be toured. There is a small fee.

Missouri has many masterpieces. Forty-six state parks, 74 historic sites, and Southeast Missouri with Cape Girardeau on the river, the Trail of Tears State Park on the north, where the Cherokees crossed in 1838, and Jackson on the northwest are all vacation places you will enjoy.