Exploring St. Charles County and beyond

Exploring the land of Gottfried Duden and his expoits in St. Charles County. In 1829, he published at his own expense 1500 copies of a small book titled Report on a Journey to the Western States of North America in Elberfeld Germany. In 1909, eighty years after Duden’s Report was published, A.B. Faust described Duden with, “His skillful pen mingled fact and fiction, interwove experience and imagination, pictured the freedom of the forest and of democratic institutions in contrast with the social restrictions and political embarrassments of Europe. Many thousands of Germans pondered over this book and enthused over its sympathetic glow. Innumerable resolutions were made to cross the ocean and build for the present and succeeding generations happy homes on the far-famed Missouri. See more of my photos of rural Missouri: https://greatrivers.smugmug.com/Galleries/Rural-Missouri

Early morning in Marthasville

I spent the weekend tracking down Daniel Boone. Boone came to Missouri at age 65 with his wife and several children. He acquired 850 acres not far from Defiance Missouri but lived mostly with his son at what is now known as the Daniel Boone Home. This photo is a place near Marthasville, Missouri adjacent to Boone’s burial site.

The area boasts of Boone lore, German Heritage and great wineries. Augusta is nearby with a number of wineries, antique shops and interesting general stores. A fun area to visit.

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Pagoda Cricle

Forest Park

Interesting clouds circle the Nathan Frank Bandstand in Forest Park. This lake and bandstand sit in front of the Forest Park’s Municipal (Muni) Opera. This is an amphitheatre located in St. Louis, Missouri with that seats 11,000 people with about 1,500 free seats in the last nine rows that are available on a first come, first served basis. The Muny seasons run every year from mid-June to mid-August.

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Stunning light display at Missouri Botanical Garden

Garden Glow 2022

One of the Missouri Botanical Garden’s more interesting events is its winter Garden Glow. Bright displays are setup and visitors can walk the grounds to view them and in some cases become part of them for group photos. People can also stop at kiosks for hot chocolate on a cold winter’s night or a bit stronger refreshment.

Recently they have been projecting light shows on the side of Henry Shaw’s home with Christmas and seasonal scenes. The grounds of the Garden include Henry Shaw’s research facility and his home. The photo above is from this year’s event and shows a laser projection where you can see the windows of the home showing through.

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Fall at the St. Louis Art Museum

Forest Park

The St. Louis Art Museum with fall trees on the right and St. Louis’ namesake, King Louis IX of France, on the left. This is at the top of the iconic Art Hill, whose spectacular view is the site of picnickers during the summer and sleigh riding during the winter. These trees always are the highlight of fall color during the season and are worth the drive to see them.

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Fall color in Forest Park

Every fall these trees turn a stunning color of red acting as a fall backdrop to Forest Park’s Nathan Frank Bandstand. This is in front of the Municipal Opera in the park.

An early morning vist to the park can be rewarded with scenes like this with lakes like glass and a normally busy central area in the park very quiet.

The Nathan Frank Bandstand, which is surrounded by a moat across from The Muny in Forest Park, was built in 1925 and underwent a major renovation in 1993 by Forest Park Forever.

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The Hardy Gallery on Anderson Dock

Anderson Dock

A rare example where graffiti is an accepted part of an attraction is at Anderson Dock in Door County. A posted sign notes that boaters have “signed” the dockside warehouse walls for years with the’r boats’ names and the year that they docked. “We encourage boaters and visitors to continue the tradition by being creative but tasteful.”  There is an Anderson Historic District within the village that includes Anderson Dock, the Anderson Gas Station Gallery, the Anderson Ice House, and the Anderson Family Homestead.

Inside of the building on Anderson Dock is tthe Hardy Gallery. An art gallery with interesting displays. The whole area is impressive and a “must visit” when you are in the town of Ephriam, Wisconsin.

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Anderson Dock

Fall in Missouri

Fall is a nice time to explore rural areas. This is in an area in Missouri called Defiance, an interesting area that includes Daniel Boone’s home, wineries, the Katy Trail and much more.

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Wineries in Ste. Genevieve County

Chaumette Getaway-12.jpg

Missouri wine refers to wine made from grapes grown in Missouri. German immigrants in the early-to-mid-19th century founded the wine industry in Missouri, resulting in its wine corridor being called the Missouri “Rhineland”. Later Italian immigrants also entered wine production. In the mid-1880s, more wine was produced by volume in Missouri than in any other state.

Ste. Genevieve, Missouri is now developing its wineries with great wines, food and views. One of my favorites is Chaumette, with a first rate reastarant, a nice wine selection and a spectacular view of the ozark rolling hills. Lunch out on their deck cannot be beat. The above photo is from my table on the deck.

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Moonrise over Lake Michigan

The moon always looks larger on horizon and when you have a clear view of the horizon, like looking out over Lake Michigan, it is spectacular. Looking up the time of moonrise, you know when to expect it. Watching, a narrow white sliver appear and then it’s large body overwhelms the horizon.

This is a view over Lake Michigan near Baleys Harbor, Wisconsin.

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