Cape Girardeau's historic attractions gear up for a busy summer season

Nestled along the banks of the Mississippi River, Cape Girardeau has drawn visitors for more than 200 years. This summer, four local historic sites will continue the celebration of the city's history and heritage by offering visitors extended hours, private tours and special events.

Thanks to funding from the Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Cape River Heritage Museum, the Red House Interpretive Center, Old St. Vincent's Church and the Glenn House will be open Tuesday through Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. The extended hours start May 19.

"People come to town and ask if there's anything to see. They rattle off these places, then the next question is 'when are they open?' And they're not," said Ron Kirby, director of Old St. Vincent's Church.

Chuck Martin, executive director of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, said the bureau first funded the cost of the attractions' extended hours last summer to establish a consistent schedule to promote tourism.

"It is nice to be able to say we have the riverfront, the murals, the nature center, the River Campus and now, four attractions open at uniform time. When someone is in town they can hit all these sites in one swoop, instead of how it was before," Martin said. "It is so important to give people that option."

Denise Houck of Union, Mo., foreground, and her mother, Olive Keller of Cape Girardeau, take a tour Saturday of the library in the Glenn House with docents Mary Lou Bass, left, and Tom Bass. The Glenn House is on the National Register of Historic Places and was completed in 1883 and restored in 1900. It is at 325 S. Spanish St. (Elizabeth Dodd)

Martin said they funded 100 percent last year, 75 percent this year, and plan to fund 50 percent next year and 25 percent the following year.

The gradual decrease in funds is meant to build up enough interest over the five-year period so the sites can support themselves.

"It was started as a little bit of a jump to get them to carry forward eventually on their own," he said. "We're trying to set up a program that will ultimately lead to the attractions being able to reach a point of enough people coming to reach a point of self-sufficiency."

From May 19 to Sept. 6, the four attractions will be open five days a week, offering private tours and special events that commemorate Cape Girardeau history.

Cape River Heritage Museum

The building that now houses the Cape River Heritage Museum, at 538 Independence St., opened in 1909 as the home of the police and fire departments, jail and city hall. The museum has already hosted events and has exhibits honoring the building's 100-year anniversary, the 100th anniversary of the police and fire departments, and the 70th anniversary of the sharecroppers' roadside demonstration in Missouri.

Though the museum already held its season-opening event, volunteer director Viney Mosley said the museum has a revamped the gift shop to "represent the region" and will have its grand opening in June. The gift shop has everything from birdhouses and toys to items made of pewter and blown glass. "And everything is made in the state of Missouri," Mosley said.

On July 30, Kohl's is helping sponsor a summer camp for children at the museum. Mosley said the camp is for children who go to summer programs at the Salvation Army and the Family Resource Center.

Also this summer, the museum will host a lecture series with local authors. Mosley said the Southeast Missouri State University Press is working with the museum, and Southeast history professor Bonnie Stepenoff is one of the authors expected to speak.

Mosley said the museum is also planning workshops around August to teach people how to preserve family heirlooms. "We may have photographs, textiles, quilts and all these different things that people don't know how to care for it," she said.

Admission is free for most events, and special tours and meetings cam be arranged at the museum. For more information, call 334-0405.

Glenn House

The Glenn House, at 325 S. Spanish St., was completed in 1883. The home is an example of the way a middle-class family would have lived at the turn of the 20th century. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the home has been restored but still includes many of its original architectural features.

"It's just a jewel in the area. It's a wonderfully restored historic home that shows what life was like in the late 1800s," said volunteer director Donna Grantham.

Grantham said two special events are being planned for this summer at which visitors can have dinner in the house. Grantham said no dates have been set and details will be announced. The Glenn House will be open for regular tours, although special tours are welcome. For more information, contact Grantham at 335-3490 or tomgrantham@charter.net.

Old St. Vincent's Church

Only a few blocks away from the Glenn House stands Old St. Vincent's Church. Built in 1853, the structure is an example of English Gothic Revival design. On the National Register of Historic Places, the church is designated as a "Chapel of Ease" and hosts a number of religious and cultural events.

Church services are held at 10 a.m. Sundays. Kirby said the church will be open for tours from 1 to 5 p.m. every day but Monday. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children. For more information, call 651-3433.

Red House Interpretive Center

Just across from Old St. Vincent's Church on Main Street, the Red House commemorates the life of Louis Lorimier, Cape Girardeau's founder, and Lewis and Clark's visit to the area. Margaret Dement, volunteer publicity director, said the center offers visitors a "very unusual way to learn the history of Cape Girardeau."

"When you come to the door, you're met by ladies in period dress and they're smiling and just start telling you these stories. You can see the river mural through the back windows, and you step back in history. Before you realize it, you've learned the history of Cape Girardeau."

During this summer's season, Rose Mary Oxley will be playing dulcimer music and offering free lessons at the center at 1 p.m. on the first and third Saturdays of the month. Oxley can order each student a book for $8 and obtain a dulcimer if needed. For more information, contact Oxley at 334-3689 or strummingrose@charter.net.

Also on the first Saturday of each month, Lucas Beine will display a tent, campfire, tools, tomahawks and other items used in an encampment from the 1800s. Beine will be joined by Adam Koehler, who will be crafting arrowheads. They will also participate in the center's 4th of July event, which will feature a special flag display. Dement said more details will be announced.

Admission to the Red House is $3 for adults and $1 for children and students. For more information, call 334-6954.