Heritage Hall adds another destination for visitors

Just taking a stroll around Cape Girardeau's Downtown Historic District gives a visitor the immediate impression that this is a place with history behind it.

Maybe it's the quaint old storefronts or gabled rooftops, the Common Pleas Courthouse perched on its towering hill, or the Old World architectural details around every corner, but, whatever it is, a sense of time permeates the town's original footprint.

How appropriate, then, that a new history center has made its home at 102 N. Main St. called the Southeast Missouri Heritage Hall; the center officially opens today at the site of a former bank building and is the handiwork of the Kellerman Foundation for Historic Preservation.

Geoffrey Giglierano, a museum consultant serving as the center's interim director, said it is meant to help people appreciate the local region's rich heritage.

"Cape and the surrounding region is in so many ways a living museum. It really is," he said. "It's not just one time period. There's Civil War stories, entrepreneurial stories, river stories -- there's so much diversity, so many angles to the history. It's not just about preserving buildings or historic sites; it's also about saving stories."

The Heritage Hall, which recently held a soft opening, is already hosting an exhibit called "A State Divided: The Civil War in Missouri" from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. on weekends. General operating hours are still being determined, but this small window of opportunity offers visitors a chance to pore over artifacts and informational panels that trace the national conflict in the local region and beyond.

As part of the exhibit, a period dress is displayed on a mannequin and a soldier's uniform is housed in a glass-paneled display case. These are just two of the exhibit's attractions, but for those who like to dream of days gone by, they're really something to see.

The museum adds just one more facet to local tourism, with the new heritage hall joining the ranks of organizations such as the Red House Interpretive Center, the Glenn House, the River Heritage Museum and others. Ultimately, that will add up to more visitors and dollars.

We extend a special thanks to the Kellerman Foundation for its vision and investment in Southeast Missouri Heritage Hall.