Appleton City Sesquicentennial Stamp Cancellation
In celebration of the Railroad arriving to build tracks exactly 150 years ago in 1870, the Appleton City MO Postmaster will be cancelling US Stamped items for mailing September 10, 2020 at the Depot Station 12:00-2:00pm.
Shook Elementary Pioneer Day
2021 is the 30th anniversary year of the Pioneer Day Program. It was originally written by the 4th grade teachers as a play to cover the statehood of Missouri. Later music and dance were added by the music teacher, square dancing by the PE teacher, and art projects by the art teacher. The day begins with students eating a traditional breakfast in their classrooms. Then they proceed to the gym to perform the program in costume. After the program the students participate in outdoor activities (ex. eating from a chuck wagon, playing games from the period, etc.) and indoor activities (ex. traditional instruments and songs) led by community members.
Murders, Mysteries, and Mayhem
Who doesn’t love a good murder mystery? Our committee has researched several stories of murder and mayhem from over 100 years ago such as a bludgeoning, stabbings, love-gone-wrong, robbery, jail breaks, horse thievery and some good old Jesse James legends. By focusing on some of the more unsavory, yet titillating, side of our county history, we will be able to also honor the brave men and women who helped to solve the mysteries involved. Our original plan was to present a community program to highlight some of these titillating stories, but because of the current pandemic now propose to offer one or more stories in county newspapers and social media each week for several months, running from the first of September through the end of 2020.
State of Stories: Commemorating the Missouri Bicentennial
State of Stories is a series of free public programs developed by The Story Center at Mid-Continent Public Library and the University of Missouri Extension Community Arts Program. Programs will explore Missouri history and culture through storytelling performances and workshops, book conversations, lectures, a publication, and other activities.
Missouri Mondays: Harry S. Truman’s Connections Across Missouri
Missouri Mondays: Harry S. Truman’s Connections Across Missouri is a social media campaign that will focus each week on a different Missouri town and its connection to Harry S. Truman. The Truman Library will use photos, documents, and motion picture footage to illustrate the connections that Truman made across Missouri that helped him win election to the Senate in 1934 and 1940, and made him a viable vice-presidential and presidential candidate in 1944 and 1948. This campaign will promote understanding of different Missouri communities, and illustrate the different ways that Missouri’s only President made an impact throughout the state, and not just his home region. Follow the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum on these social medial platforms:
Facebook: @TrumanPresidentialLibrary
Twitter: @TrumanLibrary
YouTube: HarrySTrumanLibrary
Instagram: @Truman.Library
A Woman’s Her-story Program: Famous Missouri Women
A Woman’s Her-story Program: Famous Missouri Women honors the part that Missouri women have played in state and national history. Several female seniors from Holt County high schools have been selected to present information on famous women who are from, or have influenced, Missouri. These famous women include entrepreneurs, pioneers, politicians, philanthropists, educators, athletes, and more. A brief overview of the strides made by women in past years will be presented as well. Area businesses have been solicited for donations to help provide a small scholarship to each of the participants.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the program is being re-scheduled. Details to follow.
Bicentennial Penny Drive
A project of the Missouri Humanities Council, a partner in the Bicentennial Alliance, the Bicentennial Penny Drive took place in Missouri public elementary and intermediate schools in 2018-2019. Students learned about the struggle for Missouri statehood and founding state documents. The money raised from the Penny Drive supports the conservation these documents in honor of the approaching Bicentennial of Missouri statehood.
Missouri Bicentennial Minute
Leading up to the Missouri Bicentennial, Bill Eddleman, associate director of the State Historical Society of Missouri’s Cape Girardeau research center, is writing, recording, and sharing the Missouri Bicentennial Minute. Eddleman will discuss some of the important moments that led to Missouri’s admission to the United States. The project is in partnership with KRCU Public Radio in Cape Girardeau. The State Historical Society of Missouri is a partner in the Bicentennial Alliance.
Show-Me Prize
The State Historical Society of Missouri’s Show-Me Prize encourages National History Day in Missouri students to investigate a key development in Missouri history or explore how a Missourian contributed to a significant national or international event. Students chosen for the prize receive $100, learn more about their state, and have a chance to see their work included in Missouri’s bicentennial observances.
The prize was created in 2014 to promote engagement with Missouri history among National History Day participants and to raise awareness of the upcoming 200th anniversary of Missouri joining the Union on August 10, 1821.
Each year, the State Historical Society of Missouri, a partner in the Bicentennial Alliance, issues up to five prizes of $100 each to students presenting individual entries on Missouri history topics in the senior division of the state competition.
Struggle for Statehood
Struggle for Statehood is a traveling exhibit commemorating the bicentennial of Missouri statehood created by the Missouri Humanities Council in partnership with the Kinder Institute on Constitutional Democracy at the University of Missouri, partners in the Bicentennial Alliance. The exhibit chronicles the three years that the controversy over Missouri’s admission into the Union was fiercely debated and reexamines the lasting significance of the conflict on a local and national scale. The exhibit leads visitors through the story of Missouri’s admission with accessible educational content, including historical accounts and stories of people that this controversy touched. The exhibit will travel throughout the state until December 2021. To learn more contact Claire Bruntrager, development manager, at claire@mohumanities.org or (314) 781-9660.