Missouri will celebrate the 200th anniversary of the day it became a state on Aug. 10. To commemorate the occasion, some Poplar Bluff businesses and organizations are participating in a celebration called the Bicentennial Block Bash. There will be games, music, crafts and ice cream.
“I’m very passionate about special holidays,” said event organizer Terena Whitworth.
The unique nature of this holiday makes it a special one.
The land that became Missouri was first explored by Father Jacques Marquette and Louis Joliet during their voyage down the Mississippi River in 1673. At that time, it was a sparsely populated French territory, according to information shared on Missouri2021.org, a website devoted to the bicentennial.
It came to America as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803. The fur trade and fertile farmland drew American settlers to the territory. They spread rapidly from the formerly French city of St. Louis. As the population grew, counties were organized and Congress was petitioned for statehood.
In 1821, President James Monroe admitted Missouri into the union as the 24th state.
Attendees of the Bicentennial Block Bash have a choice of activities to celebrate this event.
The Margaret Harwell Art Museum will be open from noon to 2 p.m. and will give away red, white and blue freezer pops. Attendees — children and adults — will be able to do a craft project making commemorative magnets of the Bicentennial. Chalk will be provided for youngsters to decorate the sidewalk in front of the art museum.
The R. W. Huntington Municipal Swimming Pool will give swimmers red, white and blue freezer pops from 1-5 p.m.
Southern Care and Comfort In Home Agency is having an open house of their facility. They will be giving away hot dogs, chips and water from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Fiddle player and cultural historian Dennis Stroughmatt will be at the Poplar Bluff Municipal Library. He will give a presentation on the music, folktales and French Creole traditions of Ste. Genevieve, the oldest city in Missouri. He will be appearing in the basement theater from 2-3 p.m.
The Historic Rodgers Theatre is offering tours of the 72-year-old building on that day. Anyone interested in viewing the oldest theater in town can contact manager Shanna Bunn via the theater’s Facebook page.
The Poplar Bluff History Museum is celebrating by participating in the Scoops Across Missouri 2021 program. The ice cream cone was first served at the 1904 World’s Fair in St. Louis. It became a staple of state fairs and community events. In 2008, it was adopted as the official state dessert.
The history museum will host a free ice cream social from 4-8 p.m.
Museum Secretary Kati Ray invites everyone to come and participate in the statewide recognition of Missouri’s signature dessert.
The Poplar Bluff Historic Train Depot will sell ice cream floats from 1-5 p.m. The monies raised will be used in the continuing restoration efforts of the 110-year-old railroad depot.
As Aug. 10 draws to an end, attendees can go to First United Methodist Church. The church’s youth group will host games for children on the church parking lot from 5-7 p.m.
The Bicentennial will be celebrated from the smallest Missouri town of Holt, with a population of 501, to Kansas City, the largest city with a population of 501,597. The Bicentennial Block Bash will give Southeast Missouri residents an opportunity to say Happy 200th Birthday to Missouri, according to organizers.
Anyone wishing to add an event to the schedule or needing more information about the day’s activities may contact Whitworth at 573-686-8002.