Missouri 2021 is excited to announce that the Missouri State Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (MSSDAR) as the newest member of the Bicentennial Alliance. MSSDAR will offer a new and diverse audience who are passionate about sharing Missouri’s history and eager to make a difference for the future of the state. MSSDAR will play an important role in assisting the State Historical Society of Missouri and other Alliance members with Missouri Bicentennial celebrations.

“MSSDAR is thrilled to partner with Missouri 2021,” said Joan Magee, State Regent of MSSDAR. “ Since its founding in 1894, MSSDAR has had a long commitment in service to our great state. Arrow Rock State Historical Site (the Old Tavern) resulted from the DAR’s efforts to preserve the old tavern. Today, Missouri DAR owns and maintains Cold Water Cemetery, the oldest Protestant cemetery west of the Mississippi, located in Florissant, MO. Patriots who fought in our wars have been buried in Cold Water Cemetery—among them are heroes from not only the American Revolutionary War but every American War, including the War of 1812, WWI and WWII.”

MSSDAR participation in the Bicentennial will include identifying and documenting quality activities throughout the state such as events at the Madonna of the Trail, Cold Water Cemetery, Arrow Rock, and Rosyln Heights.

“Missouri Daughters have been marking historical trails and sites since the early 1900s as a way of preserving our rich Missouri history,” said Caroline Greene, MSSDAR State Historian. “The Madonna of the Trail monument, located in Lexington, MO, is one of twelve identical statues dedicated to pioneer women in the United States, marking the historic National Old Trails Road from Cumberland, Maryland, to Upland, California.”

Additionally, the organization provides annual education scholarships, recognizes outstanding Missouri teachers and local high school ROTC chapters, supports local veterans’ homes, as well as cleans and marks historic trails.

 “DAR’s commitment to preserving and celebrating history makes them an exceptional partner for this commemoration,” said Bicentennial Coordinator, Michael Sweeney.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 185,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. DAR members are committed to volunteer service having served more than 12.5 million hours in communities throughout the world during the past three years. To learn more about the work of MSSDAR, visit www.MSSDAR.org or connect with DAR on social media on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube – @TodaysDAR.

The Bicentennial Alliance is a coalition of statewide non-profit organizations and government agencies working together to develop and promote statewide projects commemorating the Missouri Bicentennial. Learn more about the Bicentennial Alliance and the bicentennial at https://missouri2021.org/bicentennial-alliance

Missouri 2021 is excited to announce Missouri State University as the newest member of the Bicentennial Alliance. MSU brings new supporters for Missouri’s Bicentennial, including higher education faculty, staff, and students from across Missouri and the United States. 

“Missouri State University is honored to partner with the Bicentennial Alliance to celebrate our past, present and future,” said Lori Fan, Executive Director of Alumni Relations

Founded in 1905 as the Fourth District Normal School, Missouri State University (MSU) has played a significant role in the state’s progress, innovation, and creativity. To commemorate the Missouri Bicentennial, MSU will host a series of publicly available webinars beginning January 2021 to explore and contemplate what’s next for our state. Missouri and MSU: A shared past. A vision for the future. will examine topics important to the growth of Missouri – including agriculture, diversity and inclusion, education trends, health care, Missouri caves, and technology – and explore how MSU and its partners will have an effect on the state today, tomorrow and for decades to come.

Missouri State University is a public, comprehensive metropolitan system with a statewide mission in public affairs, whose purpose is to develop educated persons. The university’s identity is distinguished by its public affairs mission, which entails a campus-wide commitment to foster expertise and responsibility in ethical leadership, cultural competence, and community engagement.

The Bicentennial Alliance is a coalition of statewide non-profit organizations and government agencies working together to develop and promote statewide projects commemorating the Missouri Bicentennial.

COLUMBIA, MO, June 12, 2020 — To commemorate the 200^th anniversary of the first Missouri Constitutional Convention, the Supreme Court of Missouri’s bicentennial committee, in partnership with Missouri 2021, created two quizzes highlighting the importance of the Missouri Constitution to the lives of Missourians.

On June 12, 1820, delegates from across the territory of Missouri gathered in St. Louis to develop Missouri’s first constitution. After nearly six weeks, on July 19, 1820, the delegates adopted a constitution, taking another critical step toward Missouri statehood.

Two quizzes are available: one quiz is designed for students and the other quiz, with increased difficulty, is for adults. Missourians of all ages are encouraged to test their knowledge of the Missouri Constitution from June 12 through July 19, mirroring the period of the first Missouri Constitutional Convention. The quizzes can be taken multiple times and no personal information will be collected. The quizzes are available on the Missouri 2021 website – missouri2021.org/missouri-constitution-quiz.

Missouri Supreme Court Judge Mary R. Russell assisted in developing questions for the quiz, which range from the structure of government created by the first constitution to amendments passed by voters in recent times.

“As we prepare to celebrate Missouri’s Bicentennial next year, we are reminded that a constitution had to be written before we could become a state,” said Judge Russell. “It was 200 years ago next month that the first Missouri Constitution was adopted. Over the years, this document and its successors have reflected the will of Missourians about how to check and balance the powers of their three equal branches of government while guaranteeing the fundamental rights of the people. In contrast with our federal constitution, the people have made multiple amendments to Missouri’s constitution over time, ensuring the supreme law in our state remains relevant in our daily lives.”

A native of Hannibal, Judge Russell served nearly a decade on the Missouri Court of Appeals, Eastern District, before her September 2004 appointment to the Supreme Court of Missouri where she is one of seven judges. She served as the state’s chief justice from July 2013 through June 2015. Judge Russell is also a member of the Missouri Bicentennial Commission, which has been tasked with assisting the State Historical Society of Missouri to plan for and implement the commemoration of the Missouri bicentennial.

The State Historical Society of Missouri is the premier research center for the study of Missouri state and local history. Under the Missouri 2021 banner, SHSMO is coordinating a bicentennial commemoration in collaboration with local and statewide entities. The mission of Missouri 2021 is to promote a better understanding of Missouri and its regions, communities and people, both past and present.

Missouri 2021 is excited to announce Missouri Alliance for Arts Education (MAAE) as the newest member of the Bicentennial Alliance. MAAE brings new supporters for Missouri’s Bicentennial, including arts educators and their students across Missouri. Now the observance of the 200th anniversary of Missouri’s statehood can add the power of some of the most creative students from around the state and their dedicated teachers to assist with finding unique and meaningful ways to promote the 2021 commemoration.

Already the Missouri Art Education Association, a long-time member of MAAE, has announced that its annual coloring book project for elementary students will be devoted to the bicentennial. Theatre instructors are discussing a playwriting contest for their students to find the best student-written short plays that best display Missouri’s past two hundred years and cast a vision for its future.

To kick off 2021, Missouri’s select All-State Choir will perform a piece by a Missouri composer. The Missouri Dance Organization is exploring how movement can help us express all that it means to be a citizen of our great state. Many other observances of the Bicentennial by Missouri students are also in the planning stages at both the state and local level.  Contact your local school district for more information.

MAAE is already planning for next spring’s annual Fine Arts Education Day at the Missouri State Capitol. This day will serve as a tribute to the impressive artistic history throughout our state.

“What better way to celebrate the 200-year history of our state than to hear from the young people who will have such a major impact on its future as well?” said Jeff Sandquist, chair of the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education.

MAAE is an alliance of Missouri’s professional arts educator organizations and their supporters. The organization’s mission is to support, promote, and advocate for fine arts education for the benefit of all Missourians. This is exemplified in its motto, “Every School, Every Student, Every Day.”

Over the years, MAAE has advocated for a central role for arts instruction in a student’s schooling. This advocacy was based on the growing body of evidence that identifies study in the arts as a key factor in many students’ success. In recent years, MAAE has successfully worked with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to overhaul the Arts Education Learning Standards and promote the expanding field of arts integration as an important way to reach all children in subjects as diverse as history and computer technology.

“The Arts holds incredible promise as a means to open up new skills and knowledge for even the most reluctant of learners,” said Ben Martin, executive director of the Missouri Alliance for Arts Education.

The Bicentennial Alliance is a coalition of statewide non-profit organizations and government agencies working together to develop and promote statewide projects commemorating the Missouri Bicentennial. Please visit missouri2021.org to learn how you can be involved in or support what promises to be a year full of celebration and commemoration. To learn more about Missouri Alliance for Arts Education, you may visit its website at moaae.org.

Shelter Insurance®is the platinum sponsor for the My Missouri 2021 photo project.

The State Historical Society of Missouri is coordinating a bicentennial commemoration in collaboration with local and statewide entities.

PRO Expo Exhibits designed the photo exhibition which will be traveling around the state for the next 21-months.

After receiving nearly 1000 submissions as part of the My Missouri 2021 Photograph Project, representatives from the State Historical Society of Missouri (SHSMO) have selected 200 photographs to be featured in the My Missouri 2021 exhibition.

All photographs displayed on the My Missouri 2021 exhibition were carefully selected to represent the unique aspects of Missouri’s physical and cultural landscape. Oriented around the four seasons, the selected photographs showcase the geographic and cultural diversity of the state.

The exhibit, designed by PRO Expo Exhibits in St. Louis, will travel across the state in 2020 and 2021 beginning in April. Following a public event at the Center for Missouri Studies in Columbia March 28, the exhibition will begin its 21-month journey April 9 at the Missouri River Regional Library where it will be on display until April 27. See the full exhibit schedule here.

SHSMO is proud to announce that Shelter Insurance^® is the platinum sponsor of the My Missouri 2021 photograph exhibition. As the platinum sponsor, Shelter has generously agreed to provide half of the cost of the design and fabrication of the exhibit and its travels around Missouri. Their sponsorship displays the commitment that Shelter has for the state and the commemoration of Missouri’s bicentennial.

Headquartered in Columbia, Missouri, with operations in twenty-one states, Shelter Insurance^® is one of the largest super-regional insurance companies in the United States, offering auto, property, business, and life insurance. Information about the photo exhibition and other Missouri Bicentennial offerings will be available at Shelter offices throughout Missouri. For more information or to find a Missouri Shelter agent, visit ShelterInsurance.com.

The State Historical Society of Missouri is the premier research center for the study of Missouri state and local history. Under the Missouri 2021 banner, SHSMO is coordinating a bicentennial commemoration in collaboration with local and statewide entities. The mission of Missouri 2021 is to promote a better understanding of Missouri and its regions, communities, and people, both past and present.

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More than 10,000 people have left their mark through painting on the Missouri Bicentennial mural. This unique mural project commemorating 200 years of Missouri statehood consists of 18 state symbols in various forms in front of the Missouri State flag.As the mural travels the state, Aaron Horrell and Barb Bailey, Best of Missouri Hands artists and Cape Girardeau natives, are focused on bringing people together to lend their hand to paint the mural.  With a goal to complete the project by the summer of 2021, Horrell and Bailey are continuing to make stops in all regions of Missouri.

Their most recent stop was at the Missouri State Capitol on Wednesday, February 19 to allow both the public and legislators to leave their mark on the mural. The first person to add their mark was Missouri Governor Mike Parson and Miss Missouri, Megan Kelly. Legislators from across the state also painted a small piece of the state seal, as well as general members of the public, including Missouri’s 4-H legislative leadership class and the Vision Leadership Class from St. Charles County. In total, 182 people painted on the mural.

The painting was hosted outside of Lieutenant Governor Mike Kehoe’s office, who has been an advocate for the project since first adding his mark in Chaffee, Missouri in Scott County.

“The first time I heard about this project, I was in love with it,” Mike Kehoe, Missouri Lieutenant Governor said. “This project allows thousands of Missourians to participate in the Bicentennial, in a small but very meaningful way. The mural showcases things that make up our Missouri and it’s a great way to capture the things that our state offer. Ultimately, it gives every Missourian an opportunity to be involved personally in the Bicentennial.”

Paint-for-a-Cause will continue its travels around the state with public painting in March in Cape Girardeau at the Noon Optimists Chili Day on March 4 and school stops at Dent County Schools and Poplar Bluff Middle School. Other public painting events include April 16 – 19 at the Dogwood-Azalea Festival in Charleston and May 15 -17 at the Art and Wine Festival in Washington.

To learn more or to schedule a painting event in your area, visit https://mo2021mural.org or contact Horrell and Bailey by phone at 573-579-1000.

The State Historical Society has launched a demonstration website for the Missouri Encyclopedia, an online reference work planned for publication during the state’s bicentennial year in 2021.

The Missouri Encyclopedia will offer concise, informative articles on all facets of the history of Missouri and Missourians. It is intended for general audiences.

The demonstration site will also serve as a developmental site, providing opportunities for the Encyclopedia’s staff to experiment with content and design, as well as to receive feedback from the public. The site is expected to undergo numerous changes as it grows and moves closer to the official launch in 2021.

The Missouri Encyclopedia website currently includes a small but growing pool of sample articles as well as a suggestion box encouraging visitors to offer ideas for improving the site and adding further topics. Article proposals will be reviewed by the Encyclopedia’s staff, and approved topics will be assigned to writers. Anyone may write for the Encyclopedia, although article submissions will be subject to review prior to acceptance for publication.

Visit the Missouri Encyclopedia

Two projects commemorating Missouri’s bicentennial in 2021 need your help. The My Missouri 2021 Photograph Project and the Missouri Bicentennial Quilt are both seeking submissions from Missourians in every single county to ensure the final results will be truly representative of the Show-Me State. Accepted submissions will become a permanent part of Missouri’s historical record after touring the state in traveling exhibits during 2020 and 2021.

The My Missouri 2021 Photograph Project invites professional and amateur photographers to capture and share images of unique and meaningful aspects of place in Missouri. Submissions are due November 1, 2019. Two hundred photographs will be selected for the traveling exhibition as well as a digital showcase on missouri2021.org. The images will also be added to the State Historical Society of Missouri’s permanent Bicentennial Collection.

“Photographs provide a window into a time that is really irreplaceable for people trying to understand a specific place and its culture,” Anne Cox, SHSMO photograph archivist, said. “The images from the My Missouri Photo Project will be invaluable to future students, family historians, and scholarly researchers hoping to better understand what the Show-Me State is like today. Plus, we hope it preserves images of places that might otherwise go undocumented.”

Learn More about My Missouri 2021

The Missouri Bicentennial Quilt, a collaborative project of the State Historical Society of Missouri and the Missouri Star Quilt Company, also invites submissions, which are due before September 2, 2019. Individual quilters and quilting organizations are encouraged to submit blocks expressing unique characteristics of Missouri culture and style. Submissions should be 6.5-inch squares, as blocks will be finished at 6 x 6 inches. Entries should have no embellishments, contain no copyrighted images, and be made of 100 percent cotton fabric. A description of the block and its significance to Missouri must accompany each submission.

“Using one quilt block from every Missouri county and the independent City of St. Louis, we’re looking to create a quilt featuring both the diversity of the Show-Me State and its solidarity,” said Michael Sweeney, SHSMO’s bicentennial coordinator.  “Like a patchwork quilt our state is greatly varied, but I’m learning through visits across the state that Missourians are remarkable in the ties that bind us together—our communities, our innovations, and our ingenuity.”

Learn More about the Bicentennial Quilt 

Missouri 2021 is excited to announce that the Missouri State Fair has joined the Bicentennial Alliance!

“The Missouri State Fair is the perfect venue to partner with the Bicentennial Alliance as the showcase for the best of the best from our great state,” said Mark Wolfe, Missouri State Fair Director. “We are proud to work with the Alliance to bring many of the Bicentennial activities and exhibits to the 2021 Fair in Sedalia, August 12-22.”

The Bicentennial Alliance is a coalition of statewide non-profit organizations and government agencies working together to develop and promote projects commemorating the Missouri Bicentennial throughout the Show-Me State. Visit missouri2021.org to see a wide variety of projects that are already underway by Alliance members.