MUSEUM BENEFITS FROM HOT CHOCOLATE TOUR

The Christmas tree inside Cape Girardeau River Heritage Museum isn't like any other tree in the city.

Museum director Patty Mulkey beamed as she explained the differences.

This tree, she said, boasts ornaments from historical societies, universities and chambers of commerce across the state.

There's an ornament from Hannibal featuring author Mark Twain. The one from St. Joseph depicts the Pony Express, and the one from Excelsior Springs features the Elms Hotel, where President Harry S Truman stayed on Election Day in 1948.

Mulkey, a retired elementary schoolteacher and longtime history enthusiast, began purchasing the ornaments herself on a visit to Jefferson City. The collection process was becoming too expensive for one person, so Mary Miller of the local visitors bureau began requesting the ornaments from her tourism contacts throughout Missouri.

Now the tree is covered in mementos from other cities.

It was only one of the unique items on display during Sunday's Holiday Hot Chocolate Tour, which took in the museum and six bed and breakfasts in Cape Girardeau and Jackson.

Three hundred tickets for the tour were printed, but the museum sold out of them. At $5 each, the tickets will pay museum expenses next year.

"It was so generous for the bed and breakfasts to go through all this trouble and then let us keep the money," Mulkey said. "The museum isn't funded through any state or federal funds, so we must have local members and do our own fund-raising."

The land and building, at least, is furnished by the city. Louis Lorimier, credited with settling Cape Girardeau, died in 1812, willing the property to the city. He said that as long as it was put aside for public use, the city could have it. Otherwise, the property should go back to the Lorimier family.

Mulkey corresponds with one of Lorimier's descendants who lives in Alexandria, La. The museum director said she isn't familiar with any who live in this area.

The museum was once a fire and police station. It was closed but reopened in 1982 as the museum.

Mulkey said interest in the collection of antique furniture, clothing and equipment was light at first, but the museum has become a popular stopping point during the past two years.

The six bed and breakfasts on the hot chocolate tour were popular with tourists on Sunday, too. Many went from the museum to nearby Rivendell Bed & Breakfast at 151 S. Spanish.

Owned by Jim and Cyndy Hall, the home can accommodate two couples or a couple and a family. It opened in October 1993 and currently features unique holiday decorating ideas.

Cyndy Hall said she didn't mind opening her home to help raise money for the museum.

"The River Heritage Museum is a good organization because it gives people insight into the history of Cape Girardeau and the Mississippi River," she said. "Also, people interested in history are usually interested in staying in bed and breakfasts."

Normal hours for the museum are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday, Friday and Saturday. However, the facility will close for the winter Saturday and reopen in March, featuring new displays.

Mulkey said part of the reason was that the building is difficult to heat evenly on bitterly cold days.

"Most of the people who work here are older, and we have had some very bad winters," she said. "Besides, we are volunteers, and we need a rest!"