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Missouri River Folk History Project

With the help of AmeriCorps member and filmmaker, Kate Gorman, and Meredith Ludwig, Folk History Project Director, we have a chance to start collecting stories that recall the ways of life that laid the foundation of Missouri's culture. This year, we will capture on audio and video the living history of people from up to 30 river communities as they tell it to us. We have already interviewed 20 people in eight different river towns. The stories gathered so far have come from as far back as the early 1900s. Eventually the histories will be made available to the public via the Western Historical Manuscript Collection, and edited into a documentary. Over $17,000 has been donated so far to help fund this project, but more is needed to reach our goal of saving the folk history of Missouri's river towns! Each day a little more is lost, but it's not too late to catch the stories of life along one of our nation's greatest rivers.

Did you know?

• The river and its tributaries were forms of transportation for its early citizens, who used it daily for tasks such as grocery shopping, moving belongings and recreation.
• Lewis and Clark used the river in 1804 to make their journey westward.
• Taylor McBaine, a legendary fiddle player, crossed the river by boat to Lupus at the age of 14, and won his first fiddle contest upstairs at Odd Fellows Hall. The prize was a pair of overhauls.

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Heritage Tourism Initiative

This project is a grassroots community-based planning process. AmeriCorps members will help local committees in central Missouri communities assess existing heritage tourism resources, create a local tourism development plan, identify the resources needed to implement that plan, and start working with other nearby communities to implement the plan. The goal is to create a regional destination-marketing strategy that will help participating Missouri River communities in central Missouri attract economic development via river-based tourism. Participating communities include Jefferson City, Hartsburg, Lupus, Huntsdale, Columbia, Rocheport, Boonville, New Franklin, Fayette, Arrow Rock, Glasgow and Brunswick.

Did you know?

• The 225-mile long Katy Trail was built from the remains of the old Missouri-Kansas-Texas railroad. Currently the trail runs from St. Charles to Sedalia. For more information on the trail's historical and recreational benefits, visit the Missouri Department of Natural Resources' Katy Trail page. 
• Clark's Hill (right) was documented in William Clark's journal in the early 1800s. It is now a State Historic site, with a trail, interpretive information and beautiful views of the Missouri and Osage Rivers. For more information, call (800) 334-6946.

Photo Courtesy of Jefferson City Parks and Recreation  

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Missouri Stream Team Support Project

This is a cooperative project between MRCN and the Missouri Department of Conservation. AmeriCorps members in the St. Louis and Columbia area will provide direct contact and assistance to regional Stream Teams by helping to recruit and train new members, assisting in the organization of events (drain stenciling, tree plantings, trail building, etc.) and river cleanups, and maintaining a database of Team events and accomplishments. MRCN is proud to be Stream Team #549. To date, Missouri has nearly 3,000 Stream Teams statewide. MRCN is also attempting to receive funding to integrate non-point source pollution mitigation education into Columbia schools. 

Did you know?

• At about 2,500 miles, the Missouri is the longest river in the United States.
• Volunteers removed 70 tons of trash during the Missouri River Relief Cleanup last year.
• Last year, MRCN helped organize three riverfront cleanups in Washington, Jefferson City and Lexington.

MRCN has placed AmeriCorps Stream Team Assistants with the following organizations:

Missouri Coalition for the Environment, St. Louis

Bryant Watershed Education Project, West Plains

James River Basin Partnership, Springfield

The Great Rivers Greenway District, St. Louis

Watershed Committee of the Ozarks, Springfield

The Open Space Council, St. Louis

Blue River Watershed Association, Kansas City

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Lewis & Clark Education Project 

The Lewis and Clark Education Project was a vital part of last year's Bicentennial Commemorations that took place across the state. This year, MRCN will continue to do its part in educating children and the public about the role the river has played in the state's history. This includes making presentations to the community and in classrooms concerning Missouri River history, providing educators with Missouri River history lesson plans and publicizing the role of Lewis and Clark in Missouri's early history.

Did you know?

• Lewis and Clark traveled about 7,000 miles beginning May 14, 1804, and ending in St. Louis on Sept. 23, 1806.
• The expedition documented almost 150 never-before recorded species, including Timer Rattlesnakes, Black Bears and the Pack Rat. All entries were meticulously journaled with a quill pen on leather, parchment paper and bark.
• Only one person died - of natural causes - during the two-year expedition.
• Clark was an expert mapmaker who recorded his surroundings with astounding accuracy. Some of his maps were only about 1/10 mile off. 

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