Historic Depot offers events Tuesday, Thursday

Enjoy dessert Tuesday and an art show Thursday at the Poplar Bluff Historic Depot.

On Bicentennial Day, from 1-5 p.m. Tuesday, the nonprofit Poplar Bluff Historic Depot Restoration Corporation board will provide free ice cream floats, but donations will be accepted and greatly appreciated, said Depot Restoration Corporation President Stephanie Knoppe.

Knoppe is inviting everyone to visit the historical depot to mark the 200th anniversary of Missouri being the 24th state to enter the United States.

Along with the Bicentennial event, the depot board is joining in the art shows. The Historic Train Depot will have an exhibit of local artists while the Margaret Harwell Museum will have the 34th Annual Pictures by the People Photo Contest with Best Missouri Bicentennial Photo Category. The Historic Train Depot’s artists exhibit is being sponsored by the Bank of Missouri.

Presently, six artists have signed up, and all booths are inside. Two of the artists will receive gifts cards.

Knoppe said, “I can still add more artists without any problem. I will accept all forms of art. Most are paintings or sketches.”

She will accept sculptors, whose work is not overly large, as well as wood workers and carvers. Anyone interested in exhibiting may call Knoppe at 573-429-8441.

Knoppe considers artists local as long as they live in a county which touches Butler County or in the southeast region.

“Make sure you swing by and see us, our artists and check out the Short and Sweet Dessert food truck that will be on site,” Knoppe said. “We will have hors d’oeurves and drinks. Donations are much appreciated.”

“The purpose is to get people down to see the progress being done at the depot and to help support our local artists,” Knoppe said.

The local depot is the third largest depot in the state. Larger ones are in St. Louis and Kansas City,

Any money raised goes to pay two major expenses — insurance and parking lot rent — which is paid to Union Pacific. The group’s wish list includes a better security system.

Anyone may view the group’s Facebook page Poplar Bluff Historic Train Depot and look for the post about the art show. It has an interactive link for artists to sign up for the show.

The organization also has a website designed and linked to its Facebook page. There will be a place to make either a one-time or monthly donations.

The 501(c)(3) organization is changing its meeting time to 1 p.m. the third Wednesday of the month at the depot.