Almost halfway across the state (Jefferson City, by the time you read this) – and should be at the confluence with the Mississippi on Saturday! It’s been a long, interesting, fascinating adventure. I’m anxious to be home, but will be reluctant to leave the River. Does that make sense? :-).
Lots to share, as always. Since I put out a ‘teaser’ based on Atchison earlier (and put the bridge picture above instead of the usual logo), we’ll lead with a whole section there. After, that, it’s back to helter-skelter!
Atchison, KS Named for David R Atchison, co-founder, and US Senator from Missouri (!). Lewis and Clark celebrated their first 4th of July (west of Mississippi) here. It’s the birthplace of Amelia Earhart, and Jess Stone, member of 4 music Hall of Fames, and writer of “Shake Rattle and Roll”. It has the only airport in the world named for one woman (only). It’s the ‘most haunted town in Kansas’ (the stories I heard!). It’s the closest spot to Colorado in what we now know as Kansas, making it an ideal place for a new ‘headed west’ settlement. Which is a perfect segue to my SURPRISE OF THE TRIP!! It appears almost certain that my great great grandfather was one of the 13 original founders of Atchison!! Wow. I doubt that anyone else is too interested, but if so, here are the details of the discovery (as well as other Atchison historical tidbits): EH.Norton There’s SO much I could share about my Atchison, visit, but for now, I’ll limit myself to these three items:
Birthplace of Amelia Earhart She was born in her grandparents’ home, now a beautiful museum. See EABM.
Amelia’s Sister Plane (named for her sister) Comes to Atchison! The ONLY one exactly like Amelia’s in the world! It is now in Atchison (as of about 2 weeks ago), has created quite a buzz, and I was allowed to see it (with wings back on) before they’re ready to open it for public showing! See Muriel! and read details of its uniqueness.
The Bridge Lighting! You’ve seen the picture above (maybe 2 or 3 times now). See details, and some more pictures (including other views and other colors) here: AtchBridgeNite
Potpourri 4 I’m starting here, as there’s a ‘double riddle’ I’ve not cracked, and I’m anxious to share. Saw a license plate on a car parked next to mine. Took me a second to ‘solve’ it. Then another riddle appeared. What do you think? Also some other good (and cute) shots here. See Pot4
Sunken Treasure . . in a Cornfield?! Perhaps you’ve read about this. Very short version: The Steamboat Arabia sunk on the Missouri River on Sep 5, 1856 (exactly 150 years ago today, if you read this on Monday!!). The River changed channel (several times) over the years, and it was thought to be lost. If was found and excavated in the mid 1980s, and has been a museum in KC since 1991. The largest collection of pre-Civil war ‘treasure’ ever found!! Amazing!! See Arabia.
The Mercedes of a Century Ago – World’s Largest Collection Apparently the Mitchell was quite the ‘upscale’ vehicle of about 100 years ago (the company having started with wagons!). Boonville hosts the largest collection of these vehicles – all restored – in the world. See Mitchell.
Jesse James, Pony Express, and The World’s Hotel All within a block or two radius in St. Joseph: I stood in the room where Jesse James was shot in the back. See JamesHome. I saw where Pony Express riders departed from, as well as visited what was once called “The World’s Grand Hotel”. They’re in the same building! LOTS of history here. See PateeHouse.
KC’s Old Airport – Almost Scary I can remember flying out of – and into – this airport on commercial flights as late as 1980, when we lived in Branson. The approach over Kansas City, the bluff, and the River was not easy, and I’ll bet pilots were glad to see KCI come along. I was on the bluff overlooking the airport in KC, and caught some landings both from there, and across the river at the Kansas/Missouri confluence. See DowntownAirport
Parkview & Riverside My official KC area host/contact was Riverside, MO on the north side, near the River. I met April Roberson, their Chamber Rep for coffee in nearby Parkview. For a few shots of each city, see P&R
Old Homes I like 1850s-ish stately old homes, and every so often I’ll snap a quick picture. Here’s a half dozen or so (there are more somewhere!) if you want a look: HOMES
Three more stops!! Next week’s blog will be the last ‘official’ one of the trip!! Depending on my schedule in St. Louis, I may even be home when you read it!! After that, I’ll update you on future plans for the weekly mailings – I think there’ll still be river remembrances for awhile. 🙂 Have a good week!