Adult Display Highlight: Missouri’s Bicentennial

August 1, 2021 – Alli Boyer, Adult Services

On August 10, 2021, Missouri celebrates its 200th year as a state of the United States of America. Two hundred years ago, Missouri entered the U.S. as the 24th state, in conjunction with Maine, as part of the Missouri Compromise. Since then, Missouri has seen two different capital cities (St. Charles and Jefferson City), a World’s Fair that introduced many different foods (waffle cones, iced tea, and cotton candy), and several famous names and faces (Mark Twain, Paul Rudd, and Josephine Baker).

According to Missouri’s Secretary of State, Missouri has 29 state symbols! These include, but are certainly not limited to:
• MO State Bird: Eastern Bluebird
• MO State Insect: Honey Bee
• MO Musical Instrument: Fiddle
• MO State Amphibian: American Bullfrog

The State Historical Society of Missouri lists several ways you can be involved in Missouri’s Bicentennial celebrations! Check out their websites for all the events and programs!

If you’re interested in learning more about Missouri, we have HUNDREDS of titles about our state. Here are some I found most interesting:
• The Osage in Missouri by Kristie C. Wolferman
• Missouri Hauntings by Harold Lee Prosser
• Hiking Missouri by Kevin M. Lohraff
• Wild Edibles of Missouri by Jan Phillips
• Missouri’s Black Heritage by Lorenzo J. Greene
• Called to Courage: Four Women in Missouri History by Margot Ford McMillen
• Tastes and Tales from Southeast Missouri by Bonnie Stepenoff

Or some movies set in Missouri:
• Gone Girl
• Sharp Objects
• Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri
• Meet Me in St. Louis!
• Winter’s Bone

We also have many titles about and by Missouri’s most famous author: Mark Twain.