World War II will echo loudly in historical St. Louis park

Three battle re-enactments will be held during the weekend. 2nd Ranger Battalion of St. Louis photos

Rifles will ring out, tanks will rumble and smoke will billow at the annual World War II Weekend this spring at Jefferson Barracks Park in St. Louis, giving visitors a chance to experience the fury of the battles, the courage of the soldiers and the spectacular drama of war.

In its 32nd year, the weekend commemoration will be held this year on April 24–26 by hundreds of re-enactors, collectors and historians. Hosted by the 2nd Ranger Battalion of St. Louis and co-sponsored by St. Louis County Parks and Recreation, the event includes living history camps, military vehicle displays, three staged battle re-enactments, uniform and gear displays, museums and a canteen dance featuring a swing jazz band.

The primary purpose for World War II Weekend is to honor all veterans who have served in U.S. Armed Forces. The setting for the event is perfect because Jefferson Barracks is one of the nation’s more significant military installations. Founded in 1826 and serving as an army post until 1946, it was one of the largest induction centers during World War II.

Friday’s events are organized for school groups, but on Saturday and Sunday, visitors are welcome throughout the day starting at 9 a.m. to observe re-enactors in camp. Living historians will bring to life World War II-era U.S. infantry and armored forces, as well as forces from Britain, Canada, Russia and Germany.

The battle re-enactments will be presented at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday and at noon on Sunday. Each one will last about a half hour and will be followed by demonstrations of the weapons, vehicles and uniforms used. There will also be a canteen dance on Saturday night, and on Sunday, a military convoy will travel through the park to visit the Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Jefferson Barracks is located two miles north of Interstate 255 on Telegraph Road. The weekend event is free but tickets to the canteen dance are $10 per person. For details, call (314) 960-1611 or click on www.2ndrangers.org. To purchase tickets for the dance, call (314) 544-5714.

Nelson-Atkins celebrating 75 years of exhibiting excellence

The new Bloch Building adjoining the Nelson-Atkins glows at night. Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art photo

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, a cultural beacon for the Midwest, will shine even brighter this year during the Kansas City institution’s 75th anniversary when it looks back at its fascinating history and charges headlong into the future with the unveiling of new galleries and exhibits.

The world-renowned art museum, which has been undergoing a transformation in recent years, was opened in 1933 with just half of its galleries finished. At the time, the west wing was an empty shell, a testament to the foresight of the founders who knew more space would be needed.

Indeed, the museum’s collection has grown to more than 33,500 objects, and the museum was expanded last year with the stunning Bloch Building to accommodate the encyclopedic collection. The multi-year $200 million project also included the renovation of the original building and the expansion of the museum’s sculpture park.

As part of the 75th anniversary celebration, the museum will unveil its new American galleries on April 17. The new galleries are organized around six key moments in American history, from 1776 to the 1940s.

An All-American Weekend celebration over Mother’s Day weekend, May 8–10, will focus on the new galleries and the opening of the exhibit “George Segal: Street Scenes.” An award-winning sculptor, Segal was known for his lifesize cast figures and the everyday environments in which he posed them.

Then in the fall, the museum will unveil its new American Indian galleries, a dramatically expanded installation of more than 200 works that will move the museum to the forefront of top museums in this field.
The museum is located at 45th and Oak streets. Hours are 10 a.m.–5 p.m. on Wednesday and Saturday; 10 a.m.–9 p.m. Thursday–Friday; and noon–5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the permanent collection is free. Call (816) 751-1278, or visit www.nelson-atkins.org.

Historical arts, crafts will spring to life in New Harmony, Ind.

Some activities will take place on the grounds of the Atheneum, which serves as the community’s visitors center. Historic New Harmony photo

History isn’t kept tidy and dormant behind glass in New Harmony, Ind. It’s alive in the wood shavings that fall to the carver’s feet, in the dirty hands of the potter kneading clay and in the clang of the tinsmith’s hammer.

The storied history of this southern Indiana village will come to life once again this spring during the annual Heritage Artisans Week, which will be April 21–25. Designed for school groups, the event is open to adult groups and individuals who are interested in arts, crafts and history.

Visitors will learn about daily life in the utopian community from about 1814 to 1860. New Harmony was first a spiritual sanctuary that later became a haven for scientists, scholars and educators who sought equality in communal living.

The popular event focuses on the town’s rich historical traditions with period-specific demonstrations by regional artisans in costume. Some of the skills on display will likely include spinning, soap making, weaving and woodcarving. Some artisans will be set up around the grounds of the Atheneum, the stunning building that serves as the visitors center and features exhibits on the community’s history.

In addition to the event, which will be held daily from 9 a.m.–4 p.m., visitors can explore the rest of the town’s shops, galleries and historic buildings, and stop for lunch in its restaurants and cafés.

New Harmony is 25 miles west of Evansville and just south of Interstate 64. Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children 7–17, $25 for families and $5 per person for pre-registered groups. School groups can contact Jan Kahle at (812) 682-4488 or jkahle@usi.edu. Adult groups should contact Sara Brown at (812) 781-0022 or ssbrown1@usi.edu.

Nature Fest showcases wondrous wetlands

The Cache River Wetlands area makes up only a small percentage of Illinois’ land area, but its importance to the state’s ecology is huge, and the annual Nature Fest will showcase just how large its environmental footprint is.

The Cache River Nature Fest will be held on April 25 in the wetlands area, located near Cypress in southernmost Illinois, to highlight the area’s rich history, abundant wildlife and natural areas. Guided canoe tours, bike trips and hikes will be scheduled throughout the day to showcase the beauty and environmental wonders of the region.

While the Cache basin makes up less than 2 percent of the state’s land mass, it harbors more than 11 percent of the state’s floodplain forests, 23 percent of its remaining barrens habitat and 91 percent of the state’s swamp/wetland communities. The Cache River and its associated wetlands support some of the oldest living trees east of the Mississippi River and provide a haven for a diversity of migratory birds and other wildlife.

The headquarters for the festival will be the Cache River State Natural Area Wetland Center, located off State Highway 37. For more details, call (618) 657-2064, or visit www.birdingblitz.org.

Golden age of autos will shine on Easter

A 1929 LaSalle convertible coupe is this year’s featured car. Horseless Carriage Club of Missouri photo

Classic cars come in all shapes, sizes and styles, from gleaming 1920s Cadillacs to boxy minivans from the 1980s, and you’ll likely see those and everything in between at the annual Concours d’Elegance in St. Louis Forest Park on Easter.

The show, which has become a St. Louis tradition, brings out an array of unique automobiles from the metropolitan area and beyond. As many as 500 cars will be on display in the Upper Muny parking lot on April 12, including such classic names as Packard, Studebaker, DeSoto and Cadillac, and new cars join the show every year.

“The club has been holding this event since 1962 and we have seen quite an evolution,” said Larry Hassel, president of the Horseless Carriage Club of Missouri, which sponsors the show with AAA. “Believe it or not, it is conceivable that we might see the first Chrysler Minivan at the show this year.”

To qualify for the show, vehicles must be at least 25 years old. All vehicles are original or restored to original and look as if they just rolled off the assembly line. Others are hand-built antiques that are the pinnacle of elegance.

Car enthusiasts can walk among the vehicles from 11 a.m.–4 p.m. For details, visit www.hccmo.com or leave a message at (314) 991-4665.