The first annual Cape Girardeau Heritage Days will take place September 30, October 1 and October 2, 2016. Enjoy free entry to Cape Girardeau's historic attractions for a weekend of special activities and fun! The LST Memorial 325 will also be in town, and it will be an exciting time to be in downtown Cape Girardeau.
Download the event flyer here!
Schedule of Events
Friday, September 30
6:30 p.m.: *Moved to Old St. Vincent's Church due to weather* Kick off concert featuring music through the years. The following musical performances will take place:
- Early Era: Dennis Stroughmatt
- Civil War Era: Steve Schaffner and Derrick Irwin
- 20's, 30's & 40's: Jerry Ford Swing Band
*Old St. Vincent's Church will be the alternate location in the event of rain.
Saturday, October 1
10 a.m. - 2 p.m.: Tea in the carriage house at the Glenn House; pre-register here.
11 a.m.: John Hatton, Chief Engineer of the LST Memorial 325, speaks at the Cape River Heritage Museum on "saving history," followed by free hot dogs at noon.
12 p.m.: Dr. Debra Lee-Distefano and Southeast Missouri State University Students speak on ¡Adelante! The Spanish History of the Region.
12 p.m.: Billy O'Donnell, plein air painter, speaks at Crisp Museum; $10 fee.
1:30 - 4 p.m.: Tours of Old Lorimier Cemetery
1 - 2 p.m.: Fireman's demonstration at the Cape River Heritage Museum, followed by children's music and games from 2 - 3 p.m.
2 p.m.: John Tallent, Master Chief in Engineering of the LST Memoral 325, will speak at Crisp Museum on the history of LST ships.
3 p.m.: Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp perform at the Red House Interpretive Center.
5 p.m.: Presentation on architect JB Legg followed by a reception at Heritage Hall hosted by Celebrations.
Sunday, October 2
11 a.m. : Period worship service at Fort D Historic Site with music by the Front Porch Players.
12 p.m.: Dr. Debra Lee-Distefano and Southeast Missouri State University Students speak on ¡Adelante! The Spanish History of the Region.
1 - 2 p.m.: Fireman's demonstration at the Cape River Heritage Museum followed by children's music and games from 2 - 3 p.m.
1 - 3 p.m.: Tours of the Flag House at 740 North Street.
2 p.m.: Gregory Wolk presents on the Civil War at Crisp Museum.
2:30 - 4 p.m.: Full military honors for two US Colored Troops at Fairmont Cemetery unveiling the new headstones for the previously unmarked graves and a presentation of historical record regarding each of the USCT buried at Fairmont Cemetery. *The Cape Library will serve as the alternate location in the event of rain.
Cape Girardeau Heritage Days Participating Attractions
Cape River Heritage Museum
The Cape River Heritage Museum is located in a local landmark, the old police and fire station dating back to 1908. Permanent exhibits feature Louis Houck, Marie Oliver, Mississippi River boats and police and fire displays. Special exhibits for 2016, “The Girardeau Family—the Naming of our City" and “Antique Clocks and Clock-makers from the late 1700s to the early 1900s.”
538 Independence ~ 573-334-0405
Open for tours: Saturday, October 1 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. and Sunday 2, 12 - 3 p.m.
Special events during Cape Girardeau Heritage Days: Saturday, October 1, 11 a.m., John Hatten representing the LST Memorial 325 will speak followed by a fireman's demonstration from 1 - 2 p.m. and children's games and music from 2 - 3 p.m. Sunday, October 2, 1 - 2 p.m., police demonstrations followed by music and children's games from 2 - 3 p.m.
Crisp Museum
The Crisp Museum is located inside Southeast Missouri State University's River Campus. Admission is free. The museum’s Crossroads history gallery highlights this region’s land and waters, first peoples, frontiers and empires, river and rail, civil war, early agribusiness, expressions of faith and Southeast University history. A video in the highlights southeast Missouri's cultural and economic heritage. The Greene art gallery features works by local, regional, national and international artists on a changing basis.
518 S Fountain St. ~ Website ~ 573-651-2260
Open for tours Friday, September 30, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday and Sunday October 1 and 2, 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Special events during Cape Girardeau Heritage Days: Saturday, October 1 at 12 p.m., artist talk "The Importanct of Finding Like Minded Artists" by plein air painter Billy O'Donnell ($10 fee), painting demonstration to follow. Saturday, October 1 at 2:00 p.m., USS LST 325 Presentation by John Tallent, Master Chief Engineer. Sunday, October 2 at 2:00 p.m., Civil War Presentation by Gregory Wolk, author of "Friend and Foe Alike: A Tour Guide to Missouri's Civil War." A Plein Air Paint-Out will take place throughout the weekend with two Categories, Landscape/Cityscape and Portrait/Narrative, each with day and nocturne awards. Paintings will be available for purchase.
Fort D Historic Site
Constructed in the summer of 1861 by Union troops under the leadership of John Wesley Powell, Fort D is the only remaining of four Civil War Forts that protected the City of Cape Girardeau from Confederate attack. The earthwork walls remain intact and historical signage throughout the fort’s grounds brings its storied past to life. The site also contains a limestone building that was constructed in 1937 as a federal WPA project. Self-guided tours can be taken during daylight hours, 365 days a year.
920 Fort St. ~ Website ~ 573-979-3793
Open for tours 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. Saturday and Sunday October 1 and 2.
Special events during Cape Girardeau Heritage Days: Sunday, October 2 at 11 a.m., a period worship service with music by the Front Porch Players. A living history of camp life featuring the Turner Bridge (Civil War Union reenactors portraying Missouri's German Union heritage) during the Civil War will be in action throughout the weekend from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m. each day, with cannon fire on the hour and rifle fire on the half hour. Other demonstrations include: blacksmith, rope making, lace making, spinning wheel, carpentry, women as soldiers, the role of the Civil War laundress, Ladies Union Aid Society and the Western Sanitary Commission.
Glenn House
Step back in time on a tour of the Glenn House and see what life was like during the Victorian period in Cape Girardeau. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Glenn House has many of its original architectural features as well as original plumbing fixtures, moldings and wall treatments. This home has been faithfully restored with authentic period furniture throughout. Each room is as it was at the turn of the twentieth century.
325 South Spanish St. ~ Website ~ Facebook
Open for tours: Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2 from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Special events during Cape Girardeau Heritage Days: Saturday, October 1, 10 a.m - 2 - p.m., tea in the carriage house including etiquette and history. Pre-registration is required so enough sweets and savories can be prepared; sign up here!
Heritage Hall
Heritage Hall is the exhibit space for the Kellerman Foundation for Historic Preservation. The Hall features rotating exhibits looking at the architectural and cultural history of Southeast Missouri as well as hosting receptions and events for local organizations.
102 N Main St. ~ Website ~ Facebook ~ Instagram
Open for tours Friday, September 30, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., Saturday, October 1, 10 a.m. - 8 p.m., Sunday October 2, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Special events during Cape Girardeau Heritage Days: Saturday, October 1, 5 p.m. Linda Heitman will give a talk on architect JB Legg at 5 p.m. followed by a reception. Self-guided driving tours of local JB Legg buildings will be available. Sunday, October 2, 1 - 3 p.m., tours of the Flag House at 740 North Street.
Old Lorimier Cemetery
Set aside by Louis Lorimier as the community's first graveyard, Old Lorimier Cemetery has 1,446 marked burials as well as a number of unmarked graves. Grave markers represent a wide variety of styles.
500 N Fountain St. ~ Website
Open for tours Saturday, October 1, 1:30 - 4 p.m.
Old St. Vincent's Church
Built in 1853 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Old St. Vincent’s Church is a beautifully restored Gothic Catholic Church. Over one hundred medieval design plaster masks portraying characters from the Miracle and Mystery plays, distinctive wrought-iron designs, meticulously hand-carved doors and exquisite Italian Renaissance architecture all contribute to the breathtaking atmosphere inside and out Old St. Vincent’s Church.
131 S Main St. ~ Website ~ Facebook
Open for tours: Saturday October 1, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday October 2, 11 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Red House Interpretive Center
The Red House Interpretive Center commemorates the life of Cape Girardeau’s founder Louis Lorimier as well as Lewis and Clark’s visit to the community on November 23, 1803. The Red House includes a number of exhibits and interpretive panels highlighting Lewis and Clark’s visit, French Colonial architecture, settlers of the Old Cape Girardeau District and the roads, river and transportation of the day.
The Red House is a recreation of Lorimier’s trading post and home and displays authentic items that would have been sold at the turn of the 19th century. Historically accurate gardens surround the house, and the Sunrise Over a New Land Mural depicts what the Mississippi River looked like during Lorimier’s lifetime.
128 South Main St. ~ Website ~ Facebook
Open for tours: Saturday October 1, 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. and Sunday October 2, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Special events during Cape Girardeau Heritage Days: Ongoing throughout the weekend you can sample rifle flint shooting, an arrowhead display, costume photos, stock photos, a Tommy Hawk throw, start a fire with flint and steel competition and a children's activity tent. Dennis Stroughmatt & Creole Stomp perform at 3 p.m. on Saturday, October 1 at the Red House Interpretive Center. Dr. Debra Lee-Distefano and Southeast Missouri State University Students speak on ¡Adelante! The Spanish History of the Region on Saturday and Sunday, October 1 and 2 at 12 p.m.
Fairmont Cemetery
Fairmont Cemetery was established in or about 1882, by the City of Cape Girardeau and was known as City or New City Cemetery prior to around 1917. It is often mistaken as a catholic cemetery due to its proximity to its location by the former Notre Dame High School. There are approximately 9,508 grave spaces in the cemetery.
Intersection of Caruthers and Dunklin.
Special events during Cape Girardeau Heritage Days: Sunday, October 2, 2 - 4 p.m., community volunteers read the life stories of U.S. Colored Veterans of the Civil War at Fairmont Cemetery, Section C (SW corner of Caruthers and Dunklin). Full military honors (2:30 p.m.) for two US Colored Troops at Fairmont Cemetery unveiling the new headstones for the previously unmarked graves and a presentation of historical record regarding each of the USCT buried at Fairmont Cemetery. *The Cape Library will serve as the alternate location in the event of rain.