Towns along river await Lewis and Clark events

Cape Girardeau's plans to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Lewis and Clark expedition next November are taking shape right on the riverfront. The footings of the front and back porch have been poured for the replica of founder Don Louis Lorimier's Red House, and work on the roof of the building that will become a city museum is almost ready to begin.

A re-enactment of the day Meriwether Lewis called on Lorimier and his family at the Red House is planned on the 200th anniversary, Nov. 23, 2003. Mayor Jay Knudtson has agreed to play the role of Lorimier, a portrayal that may require a wig to be convincing since Knudtson is bald and Lorimier had very long black hair.

Other communities in the region that share in the Lewis and Clark heritage also have plans for next November. Most revolve around the group of re-enactors from St. Charles, Mo., who are going to retrace the explorers' entire journey. Union County, Ill., is considering erecting a statue to Seaman, Lewis' black Newfoundland dog.

Ground was broken in Charleston, Mo., last weekend on an outdoor interpretive center at Whipple Park off Interstate 57. The kiosk will explain Mississippi County's significance in the Lewis and Clark saga.

The formative stages of the Lewis and Clark expedition are as important as the more well-known parts, said Tom Graham, president of the Mississippi County Historical Association.

"Ninety percent of people say it started in St. Louis. How did they get there? They didn't fly into Lambert."

After journeying down the Ohio River and camping a number of days at Cairo, Ill., the confluence of the Ohio and the Mississippi, they crossed the Mississippi and set foot for the first time in the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase. A sign commemorating the spot, now known as Bird's Point, will be the first Lewis and Clark marker to be placed by the state Department of Natural Resources.

"We're using this as an opportunity to talk about the natural resources along the river," says Ginny Wallace, outreach and education unit chief for the DNR Ozarks region.

Theme of Floodfest

Lewis and Clark also stopped at the present-day location of Commerce, Mo. The explorers will provide the theme next year at the community's largest celebration, Floodfest, held annually the last weekend of September. Plans are being made to bring school children to the river to observe the encampment of the re-enactors in November.

Ste. Genevieve has Lewis and Clark plans even though Lewis' journal does not mention the locale. The explorers stayed on the Illinois side for a number of days but made no journal entries. "What has been proposed by a number of historians is that during that time they probably came over to Ste. Genevieve on a recruiting mission as well as securing salt from the salt springs and lead being mined here," says Ron Armbruster, chairman of the Ste. Genevieve Tourism Commission and a past president of the city's historical society.

The city has applied for grants to acquire two exhibits, including the Corps of Discovery II, sponsored by the National Park Service. The St. Charles re-enactors also are planning to encamp in Ste. Genevieve.

Southern Illinois communities also are working on Lewis and Clark projects. It was at Fort Massac, the current site of Metropolis, Ill., that Lewis and Clark recruited George Drouillard, who became invaluable to Corps of Discovery as an interpreter of Indian languages. Events at Fort Massac State Park will focus on Drouillard.

At Cairo, Lewis began to teach Clark how to use navigational tools. They spent nearly a week in Cairo making plans to begin the journey upstream on the Mississippi River. Dr. Frank Nickell, director of the Center for Regional History at Southeast Missouri State University, said the explorers also spent time at Cairo recruiting more men.

The Corps of Discovery II, a National Park Service traveling exhibit, has committed to spending some time in Cairo. Various speakers and visits by schools are planned.

sblackwell@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 182