American
Presidency Exhibit,
June 12, 2005,-January 8, 2006
The American Presidency exhibit brings together a wide variety
of
artifacts associated with the presidency of the United States.
One exhibit is a dispatch case used by George Washington
when he commanded the American army in the Revolutionary War.
Also, there's a microphone used by Franklin D. Roosevelt while
giving his famous radio "fireside chats" during World War
II.
Special video stations will explain aspects of life in the
White House. These will explain such things as the overall
impact of presidential assassinations or life after a president
leaves office.
This traveling exhibit is from the Smithsonian's National
Museum of American History.
For more on the museum's exhibit, visit www.mohistory.org
Kids who want to expand their knowledge about the St. Louis
connections to the presidency have lots of things with which
to work. You can put together your own tours.
For instance, one of the biggest journalism snafus concerning
the presidency happened right here in St. Louis. That's when
President Harry S. Truman held up the Chicago Tribune that
declared: "Dewey Beats Truman."
The famous picture of Truman with the newspaper's front page
was taken when his train car was parked in St. Louis Union
Station on Nov. 3, 1948. The error occurred when the Tribune
projected the win based on early voting results.
Other president-connected places in St Louis:
~
Jefferson Barracks in south St. Louis
In 1826, a federal army post was opened in St.
Louis as the nation's first "Infantry School of Practice."
The school was important in training men who led the westward
expansion.
In addition, two future presidents served at
Jefferson Barracks before becoming president. They were the
12th president, Zachary Scott, and the 18th, Ulysses S. Grant.
Today, Jefferson Barracks is an ideal visit
with a national cemetery and military museum.
~ Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
General Grant lived in St. Louis, having married
the daughter of his West Point classmate. He even built by
hand a log cabin where he and his wife, Julia, lived.
The Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site
is located 15 minutes south of downtown and is open free of
charge. The Grant-built log cabin, called Hardscrabble, is
open from April to October next door at the Grant's Farm animal
park run by Anheuser-Busch, Inc.
~
The Gateway Arch in downtown St. Louis
This 630-foot stainless steel sculpture commemorates St.
Louis as the nation's Gateway to the West. The Arch grounds
include the Museum of Westward Expansion, St. Louis's Old
Courthouse and the Luther Ely Smith Square.
All of these locations are good places to find connections
between St. Louis and the office of the President in Washington,
D.C.
Circus
Coming to Town
The
Science Center's Circus Exhibition will run from June 4 through
Sept. 5.
A big part of this exhibit is that it seeks to answer the
question, "How do they do that?"
For instance, "Circus Sideshow" will show how the sword
swallower did his deed. You'll be able to experience the aerial
artists in "Elastic Acrobats." There's even a demonstration
of the smallest performers in "Flea Circus."
Then, after learning the "how to" of circus performers, you
can experience an OMNIMAX film of the famed "Cirque du Soleil"
circus.
For information, visit www.slsc.org.
Caving
and other outdoor activities
The Rockwoods Reservoir in western St. Louis County will
sponsor an introduction to caving on Friday, June 3. It is
for kids 7 to 13 and will involve getting on your hands and
knees to explore a cave.
If you want to stay above ground and get ready for fishing
season, there are plenty of other opportunities.
On Saturday, June 18, the Busch Memorial Conservation Area
in St. Charles County will provide an introduction to fishing
for catfish.
Or, on Saturday, June 11, there's another fishing workshop
called Hook, Line and Sinker. That will be at the Columbia
Bottom Conservation area in northeast St. Louis County.
Columbia Bottom also will have a series of three classes
for learning various outdoor skills. There's a pellet rifle
session on Monday, June 13; an archery lesson on Wednesday,
June 15, and fishing on Friday, June 17.
For a rundown of these and other activities, visit www.mdc.mo.gov/areas/stlouis.
Fun Rides for Kids on bicycles
Trailnet has two Fun Rides for Kids among its
June bicycling 
opportunities
in the St. Louis area.
One is the Route 66 Bicycle Ride and Festival
on Saturday, June 18. There are routes from 15 to 66 miles
and the routes are on flat to rolling routes and NO big hills.
This is in conjunction with the Route 66 Festival at Edwardsville,
Ill.
The other June ride that's especially for kids
will be on Sunday, June 26. That's the Bridge Birthday Bash
and Bicycle Ride at the Old Chain of Rocks Ridge over the
Mississippi River.
For details of these or other bicycle rides
in June, visit www.trailnet.org.
Lots of Youth Fishing Lessons
The
St. Louis County Parks Department has six different Youth
Fishing Lesson sessions during June.
Five of the sessions are one-day affairs at
Suson Park in south St. Louis County.
The other is a week-long Youth Fishing Day Camp
from Monday-Friday, June 13-17. Kids participating here will
fish at a different location each day.
For information, visit www.stlouisco.com/parks.
