Places To Go, Things to Do

Historic enactments in St. Charles Aug. 10

August is a good time for kids to get the flavor of pioneer days in Missouri. The 2002 Missouri Statehood Day celebration will be in St. Charles on Saturday, Aug. 10.

The event is from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the First Missouri State Capitol Historic Site. That's in the heart of the historic St. Charles riverfront on South Main St.

This year marks the 181st anniversary of the founding of the state of Missouri. It was 1821 when the Missouri Legislature passed the statehood legislation.

The action was taken in St. Charles, which served as the state capitol from 1821-1826. The original statehouse has been fully restored and tours are available.

The Aug. 10 celebration will include many special events. There will be demonstrations of 19th Century crafts, special exhibits and historical re-enactments. Kids will enjoy the volunteers who dress is pioneer costumes during the shows.

The St. Charles capitol site is part of the Missouri park system. For information about state parks and historical sites, check www.mostateparks.com. You also can read special news releases at www.dnr.state.mo.us/newsrel

 

Learn about snakes; snakes are everywhere

Kids who like snakes and want to know more about them have chances in August. The Rockwoods Reservation in west St. Louis County will have two special snake programs.

The Snakes of Missouri program is for families on Wednesday, Aug. 14. It will be given twice, at 10-11:30 a.m. and again at 3-4:30 p.m.

The second program is called Snakes in Your Backyard. This is for kids 8 and up and will be at 1-2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 18.

Reservations for the Aug. 14 sessions begin on Aug. 1. Reservations for the Aug. 18 event begin Aug. 5. To make reservations, call (636) 458-2236.

As Missourians move their homes further into suburban and rural areas, they encroach on snake habitat. Learn how to identify different types of snakes and to live in harmony with them.

There are 50 species and subspecies of snakes in Missouri. Only five of them are venomous: copperhead and cottonmouth and three types of rattlesnakes--timber, pygmy and massasaga. Only the copperhead and timber rattler are found in the St. Louis area.