Thinking Out Loud

Charles Palmer Is Blazing Old Trails

There are tons of books on Lewis and Clark, and during the bicentennial celebration we learned a lot about the Expedition. Charles Palmer has been a strong supporter of local efforts and he's a docent at the Trailhead Memorial in Jefferson City. But he's taken his mission to a new level. His handy publication, "Follow the Lewis & Clark Trail in Missouri" follows the expedition trail through present day settings through Missouri. It's both historical and modern, with local folklore, photos and directions for obscure sites you'd never be able to find without his help. It's spiral bound to sit on your dashboard all the way from Bird's Point to White Cloud. Mine will have an honored place in my bedside reading library.

Charles will be signing his books at Downtown Book and Toy in Jefferson City Thursday at 11:00. You can order through Book & Toy, or post a Comment and I will get you connected. 

Civil War Lecture Thursday Will Include Current Issues

There are lots of events commemorating the Civil War lartely. But the presentation by Dennis Boman Thursday night at 7:00 at the State Archives (Secretary of State) Building will include some issues that are in the news today. The title is "Lincoln and Citizens' Rights in Civil War Missouri: Balancing Freedom and Security."

Lincoln stretched the consititution to its limits when he ordered troops into the state and approved war time policies he thought were necessary to subdue the insurgents. Boman will argue that the same issues are at stake today when we debate military tribunals and Guantanimo.

 

 

Lincoln Road Trip - Geographic and Spiritual

Thursday is the 200th anniversary of President Lincoln's birth, a day celebrated in various ways in various locations. I'm no history scholar, but I am fascinated by the multiple assessments of Lincoln's leadership. Here are three things you and your family can do this summer to take a look.

1. Visit the Lincoln Presidential Museum in Springfield, Illinois. It's user friendly and inspiring. They have something for all ages, as the old family photograph below illustrates.

2. On the way to Springfield, read at least the Prologue to Lincoln at Gettysburg - the Words That Remade America by Garry Willis. It will change the way you think about America and a few other things.

3. Keep going east to Gettysburg. From Missouri you can drive to this national park in a day. Stand in the place where the Address was given. Read Garry Willis' prologue again.

No disrespect intended by the photo combining the past and present families. The museum in Springfield is fun and instructive for young people, but thorough and robust for serious visitors.

The fingermarks on the original stovepipe hat made me pause.