News Release 517

TOUR MISSOURI'S FIRST CAPITOL BY CANDLELIGHT
DEC. 1 AT FIRST MISSOURI STATE CAPITOL STATE HISTORIC SITE

Volume 34-517

Contact: Sue Holst

(For immediate release)

573-751-6510

JEFFERSON CITY, MO, NOV. 20, 2006 -- Kick off the holiday season at the "Capitol by Candlelight" event on Friday, Dec. 1, at First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site in St. Charles. The event is sponsored by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and will be held from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the historic site, 200-216 South Main St., St. Charles. This family-friendly event is open to the public.

Historically dressed tour guides will take visitors on a candlelight tour of Missouri's first state Capitol, which will be decorated in 1820s holiday style. Guests can then join in on some festive traditional Christmas carols or simply sit back and enjoy the cozy fire while indulging in hot cider and ginger snap cookies. Tour fees are $2.50 for adults and $1.50 for children age six to 12. Space is limited so reservations are required.

First Missouri State Capitol State Historic Site served as the meeting place for the state's first legislators from 1821 through 1826. Today, the governmental chambers and dry goods store have been restored to their original appearance.

To make reservation or for more information, call the historic site at 636-940-3322 or the Department of Natural Resources toll free at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf). For more information about state parks and historic sites, visit the Web at www.mostateparks.com.

For news releases on the Web, visit www.dnr.mo.gov/newsrel. For a complete listing of the department's upcoming meetings, hearings and events, visit the department's online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/parkssearch.do.

###