#254: Columbia Bottom Conservation Area

It's a sad feeling, and a happy one at the same time. As I write this post on October 25th, today was the celebration of the final stl250 cake placement. About 100 people showed up for the unveiling of the Columbia Bottom cake, not far from the Visitors Center. Several cake-hunters and enthusiasts, the media, Erin B., and the artist (Rich Brooks) attended the event. I didn't get to go, so it was quite a bummer (video may come on here soon! stay tuned...). After getting off work, I did arrive about 3 hours late from when it started. Still, it's the first (and last) time that I visited a cake the day it was placed. But from what I hear, it was a very cool gathering for everyone.

I thought it was even cooler that they put it in at least one of the confluence parks in the northern part of the St. Louis area. To me it would either have been between Columbia Bottom and the Edward & Pat Jones Confluence Park. (I actually visited the latter two days ago and I must say, it was very nice and peaceful) It's great to pay tribute to one of the things that made St. Louis what it is, and that's the meeting of two major rivers in the United States.

Alright, now...here are the facts about Columbia Bottom:

• The land was purchased in 1997 to create an urban conservation area. It is 4,256 acres.
• The land includes a 110-acre island, and about 800 acres of bottomless forest.
• A village/town once existed on the land, called Columbia, which later became St. Vrain. Probably due to obvious reasons (that it was on a flood plain), the town was no more by 1870.
• One of the missions of the Missouri Department of Conservation (which manages the area) is to help restore the habitat and scenery which matched the voyage of Lewis & Clark.
• Several activities can be done by the visitors. Hiking, fishing, horseback riding (seasonal) and bird watching are just a few to name. 
• Many trails can be accessed in this area, and several markers contain information about either history and/or the habitats that venture on the land.

The sign off the road

Visitors center

Just a look inside the Visitors Center

A map of the place (and the cake in the background!)

And did I mention you can access the confluence point between the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers?! It is about a few miles from the Visitors Center, but the seemingly long drive to the point is worth looking into. After all, it is one of the very few places in the US where two major rivers meet. I took several pictures of the place, and I wish I can post them all. But here's 3 you may enjoy:

Across from the viewing area is the Edward & Pat Jones Confluence Point State Park

This is an amazing pic of where the Missouri River visibly flows into the Mississippi. If you look very closely you can see the Confluence Tower (on the other side of the river(s)).

The cake sides, which fittingly, feature a Fall theme:

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Top of the cake (that is Nancy Raymond in the background, in case you're wondering!)

Columbia Bottom Conservation Area on FB
Wikipedia link
Official website (through the Missouri Department of Conservation website)

NOW: Auctioned off for $505 from biddingforgood.com. On private property.

801 Strodtman Rd, ST. LOUIS, MO, 63138  (it is close to Spanish Lake)
Cake artist: Rich Brooks

#208: Lewis and Clark Boat House and Nature Center

Moving on into the old-town, downtown (whatever you want to call it....) part of St. Charles. First State Capitol. Lewis & Clark. Better not get ahead of myself here...

The Boat House and Nature Center is just right off the Missouri River at Bishop's Landing. Situated alongside the long Frontier Park in St. Charles, this museum houses full-size replicas of the boats used by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark. Several items related to their expedition are in here as well. In addition, plenty of factual information about the Missouri River too! There is something for everybody of all ages. Class field trips are often taken here.

Here's another cake that's got a map. If you've read my previous posts or know me, you know I'm obsessed with maps and geography! This one details Lewis & Clark's travels and what their current incarnations are.

Top of the cake

Right side of the cake

Left side of the cake

Official website

1050 S. Riverside Drive, ST. CHARLES, MO, 63301
Cake artist: Ashli England  (she also decorated the Heritage House cake)

#202: Washington Historical Society

The second stop on my 'Missouri River'-side tour happened to be just on the other side of my intended destination. Only reason I stopped was because it was only a few miles out of the way from MO Hwy. 94.

Northbound MO Hwy. 47 about to cross the Missouri River

Washington, Missouri is a Missouri River town. And believe me, they'll let you know! They also have the distinction of being the 'corncob pipe capital of the world'. Sounds crazy, right? A lot of things in Missouri (especially in St. Louis) are named after Thomas Jefferson, the country's third President. Washington is, of course, named after our First Prez.

A George Washington bust that sits outside the county's courthouse

It was first settled under Spanish control, but then Americans took control of it eventually. In 1799, Daniel Boone and his followers settled there. The town is very rich in history of its development, as well as its production and economy. It was at one time, a center for railroad and transportation industry. Washington has an amazing 445 buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is also the hometown of prominent soap actor Jack Wagner, who has had a long career in that television genre. Wagner also scored a hit single, 'All I Need', which hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1985.

The sign

Inside part of the museum. Gotta love the honesty: 'The river is why we're here'

The cake looks like it focuses on grapes, which lead to wine! Washington sits on the other side of Missouri wine country. For more details, see cake #203.

Left side of the cake

Right side of the cake

As always the case, I randomly strolled into the museum. And boy, I'm glad I did! I learned a lot more than I did before I went in. I didn't know Harry Truman and Dwight Eisenhower campaigned for President in Washington. It has a lot of great artifacts, plus plenty of history lessons spanning from different time periods. The Washington Historical Society was established in 1859. It houses the Four Rivers Genealogical Society.

Washington Historical Society on FB
Official website

113 East 4th St., WASHINGTON, MO, 63090
Cake artist: Gina Harmon

#132: Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing

A view of the Mississippi River from the crossing and cake

Of all the cakes that I've so far hunted, this one may take the cake (pun intended!) of being the one most difficult to find, but not to get. I think as of now the Edward Jones Dome cake is the one hardest to get! The first time I attempted to get this cake was on a Sunday afternoon, before I was to get the North City cakes. Well, as I was driving on the battered roads, looking for the right road (East Prairie Avenue), I finally came across the entrance. I wasn't aware that it was at the time, since there were no signs that read anything about 'Mary Meachum'. On the map, it looked confusing too.

A view of the trail (facing north) from the cake

So who was Mary Meachum? She led a small group of slaves (women and children) who crossed the Mississippi River to the free-state of Illinois. Meachum was a widow of John Berry Meachum, who ministered at the First African Baptist Church of St. Louis. She had already been free, but she wanted to help others. Around the time this happened, there were homes that they fled from that existed. They are long gone, but an 1855 newspaper article documented that the place was not far from the Merchant's Bridge, which is three miles north of St. Louis.

The Freedom Crossing consists of nine acres. It was Missouri's first official Underground Railroad site. Since the marking's dedication in 2001, the site has hosted celebrations every year since. It typically has historic re-enactments. For example, there is an Abraham Lincoln impersonator. Speakers who specialize in African-American and Civil War history often speak at the event. At the 2013 event, there were many speakers and choirs that day, as well as a 19th century medicine show. In 2014, a woman dressed up as a slave named 'Lila' gave a moving talk.

The entrance in order to get to the cake and the MM Freedom Crossing. The colorful part was decorated by students of Logos School.

The cake, in which Rich Brooks focuses on 'walking'. Since this is literally off the trail, close to the mid-point, this kind of gives the person utilizing this trail a feel of it. Notice the lines "I'm Walking", "Walking a Thin Line", "Walking in a Winter Wonderland" and "Walking in the Rain". You'll also see a lot of feet-related material too.

Top of the cake

Right side of the cake

Back side of the cake

Left side of the cake

There is no official website or anything related from government websites, but here is the VisitMo page for MMFC.
Mary Meachum Freedom Crossing (Celebration) on FB

28 East Prairie Ave., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63147
Cake artist: Rich Brooks

#119: Mississippi River Greenway - Trailhead in Jefferson Barracks Park

One of three cakes found in the Jefferson Barracks area, this one is located at one of the newest trails in the St. Louis area. The Mississippi River Greenway extension opened in 2012. The north end is at the confluence of the Des Peres and Mississippi rivers, while it terminates close to the Jefferson Barracks Visitors Center. There are talks into extending this trail to nearby Cliff Cave County Park.

The trail is 1.6 miles long and is easily accessible for all people. Whether you bike, jog, run, OR if you're like me, you just walk and enjoy your surroundings of nature, this is sure to provide plenty to enjoy. As noted above, this connects to two rivers (close to River City Casino) and Jefferson Barracks. By the way, Jefferson Barracks has a couple of its own trails that connect.

Katherine Nelson painted the 'raven cake', which according to her website, is inspired by the behavioral antics of ravens and textures found in the city of St. Louis.

Official website

498 Bagby St., ST. LOUIS, MO, 63125
Cake artist: Katherine Nelson

#101: Lewis & Clark State Historic Site

here

On the back of this marking, it notes that this was dedicated on May 10, 2014 by the Lewis & Clark Society of America

I got to take a look inside the free museum, which was very cool. If you haven't been here yet, I strongly encourage you to do so. Especially if you live nearby here. Sadly I have driven by there so many times and it wasn't until I got the cake that I took the time to do it. You will learn a lot. Guaranteed.

Official website

1 Lewis and Clark Trail, HARTFORD, IL, 62048
Cake artist: Mike Ochonicky  (he also decorated the cake at Manchester City Hall)