3RD ANNUAL SCENIC DRIVE IS SCHEDULED APRIL 24-25

Area residents will have an opportunity to discover historic points of interest while taking part in the third annual Mississippi River Valley Scenic Drive April 24-25.

The 131-mile, self-conducted driving tour is coordinated by the Center for Regional History and Cultural Heritage at Southeast Missouri State University.

More than a dozen villages and towns are participating in the event to showcase the region's cultural heritage.

Participants in the tour may enter the designated route at one of three points, the Biehle exit off Interstate 55, the Cape Girardeau waterfront, or the junction of Highways 51 and 34 at Marble Hill. Maps and booklets describing the communities, sites and activities along the route will be available at these locations.

Towns to be featured include Cape Girardeau, Pocahontas, Altenburg, Frohna, Wittenberg, Apple Creek, Sedgewickville, Patton, Marble Hill, Burfordville, Jackson, Brazeau, Marquand and Old Appleton. The drive will take visitors to the Trail of Tears State Park, and participants are encouraged to also visit Penzel's Azalea Farm, the Black Forest, and Tower Rock.

Rocky Holler USA, located off I-55 at the Fruitland-Jackson exit, will feature horseback riding, fishing and a petting zoo. Participants also may pan for gold.

The Missouri Department of Conservation will host an open house at the Cape Girardeau North County Park throughout the weekend. In addition, the Zenon River Brigade will present a "living history encampment" representing the time period of 1795 at the Elk's Lake, located west of the Cape County Park on County Road 619.

Other stops along the route may include the Hideaway Restaurant, west of Patton, where visitors may enjoy country cooking, and the village of Marquand, where tour participants may browse for antiques and tour several historic homes.

Communities along the drive have organized several activities to highlight the weekend's event. Visitors may tour historic homes and ride on a working steam engine in Jackson or tour the Bollinger Mill and Covered Bridge in Burfordville.

A historic cookie contest will be held in the Saxon Lutheran Memorial in Frohna April 24. Judging will be conducted at 2 p.m. Participants must enter a minimum of 10 cookies, a complete recipe of ingredients and a description of the preparation process. Cookies must be displayed on ceramic or china plates and be covered with clear, plastic wrap.

Recipes must be at least 50 years old. Three $25 prizes will be awarded for the most historic cookie, the tastiest cookie, and the prettiest cookie. Any resident of the region may enter the contest. No entry fee is required.

For more information regarding the historic cookie contest, contact the Center for Regional History at (314) 651-2555.