EVENT/ATTRACTION: Discovery Playhouse: A Children’s Museum

DATE: December

CITY/COUNTY: Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau County

DESCRIPTION: The Discovery Playhouse, 502 Broadway, located at the corner of Broadway and Middle Streets, inspires the child in everyone and provides an entertaining family experience. 

Through the love of play, the 7,000 square foot museum offers a world of opportunities to learn through hands-on exhibits, play stations and interactive models. 

Permanent exhibits include:  a kid-sized village complete with grocery store, bank, and fire station.  Also a health and fitness trail, water exhibits, art stations, toddler play area, and large-scale musical pipes will thrill your kids. 

Existing exhibits from museums or science centers are regularly rotated so that every visit is a chance for a new discovery. 

The Discovery Playhouse also offers workshops and programs incorporating science, history and other topics. Birthday parties in the fun and spacious party room and special events can be arranged by contacting the museum at (573) 335-7529 or their website.

Science Sundays at Discovery Playhouse

It is all about Science on Sundays at Discovery Playhouse Children's Museum! Join the museum each Sunday at 2 as they explore a different science topic each week. Activities are included in admission, and adults must accompany their children

EVENT/ATTRACTION: The Conservation Nature Center

DATE: December

CITY/COUNTY: Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau County

DESCRIPTION:  The Conservation Nature Center is located within Cape Girardeau's North County Park and showcases the rich cultural history and diverse natural resources of Southeast Missouri.  Open Tuesday through Saturday 8am - 5pm.

Campus Features

• The nature center features a 160-seat auditorium, three classrooms, hands-on exhibits for all ages, a scientific research laboratory, freshwater aquariums, and an indoor wildlife viewing area.
• The “White Oak Trace” features two miles of nature trails allowing visitors to traverse rolling river hills with sinkholes, deep hollows, and ravines covered with prominent stands of poplar and oak.
• Native plants featured in the nature center’s landscape provide habitat for hummingbirds, butterflies, and other wildlife species.
• The nature center’s gift shop features a wide variety of educational books, videos, and nature-related items.

For schedule of events visit website or call 573-290-5218. 

EVENT/ATTRACTION:  Red House Interpretive Center

DATE:  December

CITY/COUNTY: Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau County

DESCRIPTION:   Located - 128 South Main Street (in historic downtown). The Interpretive Center welcomes visitors of all ages from all over the country and abroad.  Trained, well informed docents in period dress welcome guests to the Red House and tell the stories of the Red House construction, furnishings, historical gardens, and 250’ mural of the Mississippi as it appeared to Lewis and Clark in 1803!  The nationally recognized Red House Interpretive Center, part of the Cape Girardeau Parks and Recreation Department, was a project of the Cape Girardeau Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commission in 2003.  The Red House Interpretive Center commemorates the visit of Meriwether Lewis and William Clark in November 1803. Louis Lorimier, Cape Girardeau's founder, welcomed Meriwether Lewis at his home - the Red House.  The Interpretive Center houses an early 1800's exhibit which reflects the lives of the early settlers of the "Old Cape Girardeau District."   In addition, a re-production of the Louis Lorimier Trading Post displays authentic items which would have been sold during the early 1800's.   Open April - November on Saturdays from 10am - 4pm.  Off-season group tours can be scheduled by calling the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-777-0068.  For more information visit website.

EVENT/ATTRACTION:  Old St. Vincent's Church

DATE: December

CITY/COUNTY: Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau County

DESCRIPTION:  Location - 131 South Main Street (in historic downtown).  Built in 1853, Old St. Vincent’s Church, is right across the street from the Red House Interpretive Center.  Simply stated Old St. Vincent’s is beautiful.  The architecture, English Gothic Revival, is breathtaking and rare.  Very few churches of this style exist in America. One unusual feature is the over 100 medieval design plaster masks portraying characters from the Miracle and Mystery plays.  The pews are original as are the altars.  The communion rail with its unusual wrought iron design, windows, frames and casings all date back to the 1850’s.  The massive 3 ¼ inch thick doors are hand-carved. Open May-December, Saturdays, 12 noon - 4:00pm.  Off season group tours can be scheduled by calling the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-777-0068.  For more information, visit website.

EVENT/ATTRACTION:  The Glenn House

DATE: December

CITY/COUNTY: Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau County

DESCRIPTION:  Location - 325 South Spanish Street (in historic downtown). The Glenn House is on the National Register of Historic Places and provides visitors with a wonderful walk back in time. Restored rooms depict life in the late 1800's, reflecting life in an earlier society.  In 1883, Edwin Branch Deane designed the Glenn House for his daughter, Lulu, and her husband, David Glenn.  Mr. and Mrs. Glenn occupied the home with their family until 1915.  The Holiday Tour season is - November 26, 27, 28 and December 4, 5, 11, 12, 18, and 19. The hours will be 1:00 to 4:00 PM.  The Candle light tour event will be December 18, and will be from 5:00 to 7:00 PM.

Off season group tours can be scheduled by calling the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-777-0068.  For more information visit website.

EVENT/ATTRACTION:  Cape River Heritage Museum

DATE: December

CITY/COUNTY: Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau County

DESCRIPTION:  Location - 538 Independence Street.  Cape River Heritage Museum is located in an old police and fire station, dating back to 1908. This museum features a number of fascinating permanent exhibits, including a display on the Missouri State Flag, which was designed and created in Cape Girardeau, a "hands on" area regarding life on the Mississippi River, popular with children, and an exhibit focusing on police and fire history which includes a full size working fire engine.  There are also two special exhibits.  One features the work of inspirational author Jean Bell Mosley. Over the course of fifty plus years, Mrs. Mosley wrote 5 books and was published in 81 magazines and 17 newspapers. The other special exhibit, "The Great Depression", is a collection of depression era memorabilia.    Open mid March to mid December on Thursday and Friday from 1:00pm - 5:00pm and Saturday from 11:00am - 3:00pm.   Off season group tours can be scheduled by calling the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau at 800-777-0068.  For more information, call 800-777-0068 or www.visitcape.com.

EVENT/ATTRACTION:  Historic Fort D

DATE: December

CITY/COUNTY: Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau County

DESCRIPTION:  In the summer of 1861 at the beginning of the Civil War, four forts were built around the strategic city of Cape Girardeau on the orders of General John Frèmont. Designed by German-American engineers from St. Louis, the forts were built by soldiers of the 20th Illinois Infantry, Bissell's Engineers of the West and local militia under the direction of Illinois Lt. John Wesley Powell, who would later gain fame as the explorer of the Grand Canyon, was detached from his regiment by the new general, Ulysses S. Grant, in order to raise a local company to man the forts.  This Powell did, and his new Battery F served the forts until leaving for the Battle of Shiloh.  Fort D featured as many as five cannons, the largest of which could fire a 32-pound cannon ball.  The fort was manned throughout the Civil War. Of the four earthen forts only Fort D still exists, an intact survivor thanks to civic action in the 1930's.  Today owned by the city, Fort D is located 4 blocks south of the intersection of Missouri Rte. 74 and Sprigg Street in Cape Girardeau, just west of the Mississippi River Bridge.  The fort grounds, featuring interpretive signage are open free to the public dawn to dusk. For more information or to schedule group tours call the Convention and Visitors Bureau 1-800-777-0068. 

EVENT/ATTRACTION:  Trail of Tears State Park

DATE: December

CITY/COUNTY: Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau County

DESCRIPTION:  The tragic history that gives Trail of Tears State Park its name provides a sharp contrast to the peaceful, serene setting and the abundance of recreational opportunities enjoyed by visitors today. The 3,415-acre park is a memorial to the Cherokee Indians that lost their lives in a forced relocation, as well as a place for visitors to participate in a variety of outdoor adventures.

Today, numerous picnic sites are scattered throughout the park and campsites are available in a wooded area and near the river. Anglers can cast their lines in either the Mississippi River or the 20-acre Lake Boutin, stocked with bass, bluegill and catfish. The park’s numerous trails offer opportunities for hiking, backpacking, primitive camping and equestrian pursuits. In winter, the bluffs and cliffs along the river are noted as roosting sites for bald eagles.  For more information visit www.mostateparks.com/trailoftears

EVENT/ATTRACTION:  Bollinger County Museum of Natural History

DATE: December

CITY/COUNTY: Marble Hill, MO - Bollinger County

DESCRIPTION:  Our museum features natural history exhibits from all over the world and showcases the bones from the Missouri dinosaur being dug at the Chronister site in Glen Allen. See  
the life-sized replica of the only dinosaur found in Missouri.  Civil War items, Native American artifacts, crystal radios and Lewis and clark memorabilia will tempt the history buffs.  The expanded children's room teaches in a fun way and lots of other exhibits make your visit a wonderful way to spend the afternoon.  Regular hours are Thurs - Sat. noon to 4:30 p.m. or by appointment.  Admission is $2 over 18 and $1 under 18.  For more information call 573-238-1174 or 2713. 

EVENT/ATTRACTION:  River Campus Museum

DATE: December

CITY/COUNTY:  Cape Girardeau, MO - Cape Girardeau County

DESCRIPTION:  In the Crossroads Gallery, you'll find exhibits and interactive kiosks highlighting the history of southeast Missouri including;  The Land and Waters, First Voices, First Peoples, Frontiers and Empires, River and Rail, North and South, Subsistence to Agribusiness, Expressions of Faith, Change through Education.  The Art Gallery features works by local, regional, national and international artists.  The museum collects in three thematic areas:  archaeology, history and fine art.  Many Mississippian ceramics from the Beckwith Collection are on permanent display.   For more information or schedule of events visit website.