Places to Go, Things to Do

Black History Month events and more

The Jefferson National Expansion Memorial on the St. Louis riverfront has a series of events all during February to celebrate its Black History Heritage Month. One event is the appearance of the Buffalo Soldiers reenactment team from San Angelo, Tex.

The Missouri Botanical Garden and the Missouri History Museum also have events honoring Black History Month during February.

In addition, the St. Louis City Libraries and the St. Louis County Libraries have various Black History Month programs scheduled. Be sure to check your neighborhood library branch for programs, both locally and at the library headquarters.

Also, despite the winter weather, other organizations have scheduled a number of events for the outdoors. That includes more bird-watching opportunities as well as maple syrup making.

(Each month, Young Saint Louis.com collects information for kids and their families about Places to Go; Things to Do during the current month. YSL.com is on the lookout for events and things where admission is inexpensive or free.)

Jefferson National Expansion Memorial

The Museum of Westward Expansion located under the Gateway Arch will be the scene for the Buffalo Soldiers appearances.

The unit is Company A, 10th Memorial Cavalry Buffalo Soldiers. The all-black unit is from the Fort Concho Historic Site and Museum in Fort Angelo, Tex.

Buffalo Soldiers were a common sight along the western frontier.

The Fort Angelo re-enactors will be in St. Louis Feb. 1-3.

They will show what life was like for African-American soldiers on the frontier.

Admission is free. For information, call (314) 655-1700 or visit www.nps.gov/jeff.

Buffalo Soldier

The Buffalo Soldiers appearances are just a part of the Black History Heritage Month activities at both the Gateway Arch and the Old Courthouse in downtown St. Louis.

Other events include portrayals of historical characters, storytelling, concerts and special films. Also there will be re-enactments of the Dred Scott trial, which was held at the Old Courthouse.

There will be programs on the Underground Railroad, which helped blacks escape northward during the Civil War. St. Louis had a number of stops on that informal, but vital, transportation network.

For information, call (314) 655-1700 or visit www.gatewayarch.com.

Missouri Botanical Garden

George Washington Carver

Famed black scientist George Washington Carver will be the centerpiece of the Missouri Botanical Gardens Black History Month events.

The documentary, "Carver: Man of Vision," is scheduled for showings in the Garden's Shoenberg Auditorium.

There also will be opportunities to learn more about Carver's experiments with peanuts, sweet potatoes and soybeans.

You can follow clues on a "More than Peanuts" activities page.

Hours of the Garden are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $8 for persons 13 and older. Kids 12 and under are admitted free.

For information, call (314) 577-1500 or visit www.mobot.org.

Missouri History Museum

A number of the programs, lectures and movies at the Missouri History Museum during February have African-American themes.

For instance, the Cine 16 vintage film series' offering in February is "Black and Proud in the 70s." This film looks at various facets of Black culture during the 70s.

It will be shown at 7 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 13, in the Southwestern Bell Multi-purpose Education Center. Admission is free.

The 2nd Sunday celebration series event in February will by a concert by members of the Saint Louis Symphony. Its title is "Echoes of History in Music."

The concert will explore folk melodies and African rhythms. It is scheduled for Sunday, Feb. 11 at 2:30 pm. In the MacDermott Grand Hall. Admission is free.

The archaeology series event for February will look at the excavations in the Scott Joplin neighborhood. It goes under the title "Ragtime Archaeology.

It will be held at 7 p.m. in The Southwestern Bell center. Admission is free.

For information, call (314) 746-4599 or visit www.mohistory.org.

St. Louis County Libraries

The St. Louis County Library system has a variety of events scheduled for Black History Month in February. Several events are scheduled for headquarters on Lindbergh. But, others are set for a variety of local branches.

The traveling shows include one on African-American inventors that will appear at five branches. Also, master storyteller Blake Travis will take his Uncle Remus stories to four branches.

Janice Lesane Katambwa will display homemade dolls by children of the Congo at five branches. And master drummer and storyteller Kenya Ajanaku will tell African folktales at five branches.

Headquarters presentations include shows about African-Americans in WWII, black cowboys on the western frontier, George Washington Carver, Martin Luther King and Langston Hughes.

The county library has produced a colorful brochure listing the events. Also, you can check your neighborhood branch for the local appearances.

St. Louis City Libraries

The St. Louis City Libraries also have an extensive list of activities for Black History Month. Also, the libraries have produced a bibliography of books that fit that theme.

The bibliography is divided into age groupings, with extensive listings of fiction and non-fiction books for kids and young adults.

Also, there is a videography listing of films on African-American themes.

Be sure to pick up a copy of the colorful brochure on Black History Month activities and books at one of the city libraries. The brochure is entitled "From Slavery to Freedom: The Story of Africans in the Americas."

As with the county libraries, the city libraries will have programs at branches in addition to those at the downtown main library.

Maple Sugar Festival

A Maple Sugar Festival will be held Saturday, Feb. 17, at the Missouri Department of Conservation's Rockwood Reservation. Hours are 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Admission is free and no reservations are needed.

The festival first includes a trip to the reservation's group of sugar maple trees. That's where the sap is gathered to start the sugar-making process.

Then, you return to the "sugar shack" where the sap is boiled down into mouth-watering syrup. You'll get a chance to sample the syrup there also.

Be sure to dress for the weather.

For more information, call (636) 458-2236.

An evening Owl Prowl

Families are invited to an evening hiking Owl Prowl program at the Busch Memorial Conservation Area in St. Charles County. The prowl will be Thursday, Feb. 22, starting at 7:30 p.m.

You will get a lecture introduction to Missouri's resident owls. Of special attention will be the description of how the owls are specially equipped for night activity.

Then, you take a short hike along the Fallen Oak Trail to both make calls to owls and listen for their answers.

Reservations open Feb. 8. Call (636) 441-4554. Admission is free.

Eagle Adventures

The St. Louis County Parks Department will offer two Eagle Adventures in February. They will be Saturday, Feb. 3, and Saturday, Feb. 17. Hours are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The adventures include a 3-mile hike along the Illinois River and then a ferry ride to observation points overlooking Swan Lake. The events start at the boat ramp across from the Visitors' Center at Pere Marquette State Park.

Be sure to dress for the weather. Call for reservations at (636) 391-0922, ext. 10. The cost is $5 per person.

In addition to eagles, hikers will be looking for snow geese and other wildlife.