Museum season begins with program on gospel music

Gospel music has proven influential across genres, and Altha Robinson will give a presentation Saturday to begin the Cape River Heritage Museum’s 2017 speaker series.

Robinson, a Cape Girardeau native, teaches music in Sikeston, Missouri. Her talk will focus on the history of gospel music and its development, influence and importance.

Robinson also will touch on the composers, singers and songs from gospel’s beginnings to the present day.

“Music, for me, is not just a vocation or a hobby; it is my passion and a huge portion of my life — especially gospel music,” Robinson said in a news release for Saturday’s event.

“I attribute that to the encouragement of my parents and teachers and the inspiration of many great gospel singers/songwriters I had the privilege of listening to while growing up. That includes not only nationally known artists, but the many talented musicians right here in the local community as well,” she said.

Robinson’s program, “Let The Church Say Amen: A Celebration of Gospel Music,” will begin at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Cape River Heritage Museum, 538 Independence St. in Cape Girardeau.

The event is free to the public.

Museum volunteer Jerry Ford, whose wife, Margaret, is the museum’s director, said he’s looking forward to the 2017 season.

“We don’t have all the programs booked yet, but Chief Paul White Eagle will be making an appearance,” Ford said.

The theme of the speaker series is local history, he said.

“One program is on Pineapple Jackson,” he said, referring to one of the original Little Rascals. The presentation will be about his life and accomplishments.

Dr. Frank Nickell will give a program later in the season, and Lester Goodin will give a presentation on Mark Twain.

Ford will give a talk on the former St. Vincent’s Seminary, which now is Southeast Missouri State University’s River Campus.

Ford said the museum also has several new exhibits for visitors.

One exhibit, titled “Ozark Light, Photographs of Charles Elliott Gill,” is from the Missouri State Archives, showing images from daily life in the Ozarks during the late 19th century and early 20th century.

Another new exhibit details one of the first duels west of the Mississippi River, and a new World War II exhibit is in as well, Ford said.

“We’ve made additions to our exhibit on Jean Pierre Girardeau,” Ford added.

Admission to the museum is free, but donations are accepted, Ford said.

The museum is open from noon to 4 p.m. Thursday and Fridays and from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday from mid-March through mid-December.

For additional information, including special tours, call (573) 335-6459.

mniederkorn@semissourian.com

(573) 388-3630

Pertinent address:

538 Independence St., Cape Girardeau, Mo.