News Release 022

DEPARTMENT CELEBRATES BLACK HISTORY MONTH

Volume 36-022	Contact: Sue Holst
(For immediate release)	573-751-6510

JEFFERSON CITY, MO., JAN. 17, 2008 -- The Missouri Department of Natural Resources will commemorate Black History Month with special activities planned throughout the month of February at state historic sites in Missouri.

The following is a list of activities and programs that have been confirmed for Black History Month. Call the individual state historic site for additional information.

Arrow Rock State Historic Site, Arrow Rock 660-837-3330. On Feb. 2, Tim Baumann, Ph.D., professor of archaeology at Missouri Valley College in Marshall, will present a case study of American-American identity as seen through "soul food." The presentation, "Soul Food and African-American Identity: a Case Study from Missouri's Little Dixie," will begin at 10 a.m. in the site's visitor center and is free and open to the public.
Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio State Historic Site, Kansas City 816-931-5722. Several of Thomas Hart Benton's drawings, two prints and one sculpture depicting African-American laborers during the 1930s and 1940s will be on display at the site during February.
Battle of Lexington State Historic Site, Lexington 660-259-4654. An exhibit entitled "Civil War Black Missourians Volunteer/Lexington's Contributions," which honors black Civil War soldiers in Lafayette County, will be on display throughout February.
Gen. John J. Pershing Boyhood Home State Historic Site, Laclede 660-963-2525. An exhibit entitled "Buffalo Soldier Bicycle Corps of the 25th Infantry Regiment" will be on display throughout February. The exhibit will focus on the soldiers that road their bicycles from Fort Missoula, Mont., to St. Louis in 1897. This was considered to be an experiment to see how effective a bicycle would be as a troop transport. The unit traveled across northern Missouri following along old Highway 8. The unit spent a few days encamped at the city park in Laclede.
Jefferson Landing State Historic Site, Jefferson City 573-751-2854. An exhibit of artwork entitled "The Light in the Other Room" by a collaborative of African-American artists from the Kansas City area will be on display in the Elizabeth Rozier Gallery until the end of February. The exhibit includes pastels, charcoals, acrylics, oils and pencil drawings as well as fabric pieces.
Scott Joplin House State Historic Site, St. Louis 314-340-5790. The historic site will host two events in February. On Feb. 16, guests can dance the night away at the Rosebud Ball. Live ragtime music will be performed by Nora and Mark Hulse and the St. Louis Ragtimers in the site's New Rosebud Cafe. On Feb. 17, Nora Hulse, Ph.D., a musician and historian, will tell the history and perform the music of women who composed ragtime music. The lecture, demonstration and artifacts will define this unique program, which begins at 2 p.m.

For more information on Missouri's 83 state parks and historic sites, call the Department of Natural Resources at 800-334-6946 (voice) or 800-379-2419 (Telecommunications Device for the Deaf) or 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 upcoming meetings and events in the state park system, visit the online calendar at www.dnr.mo.gov/calendar/parkssearch.do.

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