Historic Sites

teacher’s guide

missouri
town 1855

fort osage
national
historic
landmark

Jackson County
Parks and Recreation
REVISED FALL 2008
TEACHER’S GUIDE
FOR

FORT OSAGE NATIONAL

HISTORIC LANDMARK
AND

MISSOURI TOWN 1855

Jackson County
Parks and Recreation
 INTRODUCTION

“Society has many built-in time

spanners that help to link the
present generation with the past.
Our sense of the past is developed
by contact with the older generation,
by our knowledge of history, by the
accumulated heritage of art, music,
literature and science passed down
to us through the years. It is
enhanced by immediate contact with
the objects that surround us, each
of which has a point of origin in
the past, each of which provides us
with a trace of identification with
the past.”

-Alvin Toffler, Future Shock

Jackson County Parks and Recreation hopes this Teacher’s Guide is useful to
educators planning to visit Missouri Town 1855 or Fort Osage National Historic
Landmark. This guide has been designed as a basis from which to direct class
studies and prepare the students for their site activity. Please feel free to du-
plicate or rearrange this format to one which best benefits the students.

The following people and texts were consulted during the compilation of this
Teacher’s Guide:

The Timetables of History. Bernard Grunn.

Simon and Schuster Inc. New York: 1982.

A People and a Nation. Mary Beth Norton et al.

Houghton Mifflin Company. Boston: 1986.

The Timetables of American History. Laurence Urdang

Simon and Schuster Inc. New York: 1981.

Fort Osage Staff and Volunteers

Missouri Town 1855 Staff and Volunteers
 CONTENTS

Planning Your Visit .................................................................................................................. 1

Group Programs ..................................................................................................................... 2-3

Historic Cemetery Courtesy ..................................................................................................... 4

Historic Site Courtesy............................................................................................................... 5

Guidelines for Teachers and Chaperones ................................................................................ 6

Glossary of Preservation Terms ............................................................................................... 7

Chronology of United States History ................................................................................... 8-9

Chronology of Missouri History ........................................................................................ 10-13

Fort Osage Fact Sheet ....................................................................................................... 16-17

Fort Osage History............................................................................................................. 18-19

Lewis & Clark in the Greater Kansas City Area .................................................................. 20

Fort Osage School Tour Teacher Materials ...................................................................... 21-23

List of Books and Videos Relating to Early 1800s History and Fort Osage ........................ 24

Map to Fort Osage .................................................................................................................. 25

Missouri Town 1855 Fact Sheet ........................................................................................ 28-29

Synopsis of Missouri Town 1855 ....................................................................................... 30-32

Missouri Town 1855 School Tour Teacher Materials ...................................................... 33-35

Missouri Town 1855 Animal Guide .................................................................................. 36-37

Sample Mercantile Items and Prices ..................................................................................... 38

List of Books and Videos Relating to 1850s Missouri History ........................................ 39-40

Pioneer Penmanship .......................................................................................................... 41-42

Map to Missouri Town 1855 ................................................................................................... 43

Other Educational Opportunities .......................................................................................... 44

Program Evaluation Form................................................................................................. 46-47

Additional Educational Materials .......................................................................................... 48

 PLANNING YOUR VISIT TO FORT OSAGE
AND MISSOURI TOWN 1855

Jackson County Parks and Recreation is excited to bring historical tours and programs to
students studying Missouri History. We believe “To Live History…Is to Learn History!”

Our historic tours and programs can be enjoyed by all grade levels but are targeted for 4th
grade classes who are studying Missouri History.

To schedule your group tour program call our office at (816) 503-4864, Monday through Fri-
day from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tour dates are limited and must be arranged in advance.
Bookings for the Fall tours begin July 1. Bookings for the Spring tours begin on December 1.
When scheduling, please note that you will be expected to begin your tour/program at your
designated time. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes earlier in order to check in at the Gift Shop
at Missouri Town 1855 or the Education Center at Fort Osage National Historic Landmark to
receive further instructions, if necessary, unload the bus and organize your group.

Payment is required two weeks prior to the tour date. Groups with more than 75 students
are strongly encouraged to divide their groups into smaller numbers and visit the site in two
groups. When a group is larger than 75 students it makes it difficult for the site, interpret-
ers, and the group itself.

A confirmation will be sent after booking your date. Important information on the sites and
behavior expected from the group is contained in the Teacher’s Guide. Your group will be
expected to follow the historic site courtesy information located in the Teacher’s Guide when
you visit Missouri Town 1855 or Fort Osage National Historic Landmark.

There are exhibits and a gift shop in the Fort Osage Education Center, as well as, a Trade
Room located in the Fort itself. The gift shop at Missouri Town 1855 is located near the park-
ing lot, the Mercantile is located in the village. Gift shop items include souvenirs and books,
some costing less than $5.00. The site administrators ask that teachers or adult leaders ac-
company students into the gift shop areas.

The minimum requirement for chaperones is one adult per ten students. The people fulfilling
this requirement will be allowed into the site free of charge. Teachers and adult chaperones
are responsible for keeping order during student programs.

Picnicking is allowed at the picnic tables south of the Missouri Town 1855 parking lot. The
Gift Shop attendant will provide you directions. Picnicking at Fort Osage National Historic
Landmark is no longer feasible for large groups due to the noise level disturbing other groups
at Fort Osage National Historic Landmark. Please plan to picnic at Hayes Park in Sibley,
Missouri, where a covered shelter is located.

1
 FORT OSAGE FIELD TRIPS
Choose one of the three programs below for your Frontier Adventure!

Beginning in 2008 your field trip to Fort Osage NHL will include a tour of the new Fort Osage Education Cen-
ter. This Center is a state of the art facility where students will fully experience the historical significance
of Fort Osage. Also included is emphasis on the importance the Missouri River played in establishing the
Fort at this location. It creates a sensory transition to the Fort’s history and prehistory of the immediate
area. This will enable the students to develop a better comprehension of the vital role the river has on hu-
man activities. Exhibits begin with Geology, Flora and Fauna, Missouri River, Transportation on the River
and finishes with Sustainability.

SELF-GUIDED TOUR – Approximately 1 hour

Your class will tour both the Education Center and Fort
Osage. Large groups may be divided to rotate through the
facilities. Interpreters dressed in period attire are in the
facilities to answer your questions. No specialized activities
are offered with this component.

Cost: $3.00 per student.

Group size: Minimum 20/Maximum 120

FRONTIER PROGRAM – Approximately 1.5 hours

Designed for elementary and middle school, students will
begin with a visit to the Education Center. At the historic
site a brief orientation precedes the self-guided tour
of the Fort. The final 20 minutes will incorporate a
learning time with one or two of the interpreters and
the students. This program is available Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday.

Cost: $4.00 per student.

Group size: Minimum 10/Maximum 40

LIVING HISTORY PROGRAM – Approximately 2.5 hours

This program is oriented for 3rd grade and up. Be-
ginning at the Education Center, please allow 50
minutes for your visit here. Proceeding to the Fort
your group will be divided into smaller groups and
may rotate through multiple stations. Stations may
include programs in the Trade House, Military garri-
son, and relevant hands-on activities. Specialized programs, such as Lewis & Clark, flora and fauna, or military life, may
be scheduled. This program is available Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.

Cost: $5.00 per student.

Group size: Minimum 40/Maximum 75
Inclement weather may affect program activities.

Fort Osage National Historic Landmark Hours of Operation:

January – December • 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. • Tuesday through Sunday

Space is limited, so sign up for your Fort Osage Field Trip TODAY!
1 adult/10 students is required and will receive complimentary admission. Add’l adults are $3.00 each.
To schedule a program or for more information call 816-503-4864 or visit www.jacksongov.org

2
 Missouri Town 1855 Field Trips
Choose one of the four programs below for your Heritage Adventure!

Bring Missouri Heritage to life for preschoolers and up at Missouri Town 1855. An 1800s Antebellum town is
represented with authentic period buildings across 22 sloping acres and interpreters demonstrating every-
day lifestyles of the times. Choose from one of the programs below for your school group.

PRESCHOOL PROGRAM – Approximately 1 hour

Preschoolers 5 years or younger participate in a 15-20 minute presentation on what clothing from the 1850s was like,
seeing and touching actual lye soap or petting one of the Missouri Town 1855 oxen. This is followed by a self guided
tour with interpreters located in the village to answer any
questions.

Cost: $1.00 per student

Group size: Minimum 10/Maximum 40

SELF-GUIDED TOUR - Approximately 1 hour

Your class will tour the open and gated buildings. Inter-
preters dressed in period attire are in the village to answer
your questions. An activity sheet is provided with your con-
firmation.

Cost: $3.00 per student

Group size: Minimum 20/Maximum 120

PIONEER PROGRAM – Approximately 1.5 hours

This program is designed for elementary and mid-
dle school students. The students will take part in
a 30-minute presentation and a self-guided tour.
The presentation might be on the lifestyles of the
1850s or a visit to a schoolteacher, ox drover or
blacksmith. This program is available Wednesday,
Thursday or Friday.

Cost: $4.00 per student

Group size: Minimum 10/Maximum 40

LIVING HISTORY PROGRAM – Approximately 2 hours

This program is designed for 3rd grade and up. Your teachers and students will be divided into smaller groups that
rotate through several stations. Some of the stations could include visits with some of the residents such as the black-
smith, the merchant, the woodworker, the tavern keeper, and the ox drover. You might also take a tour of the herb
garden. This program is available Wednesday, Thursday or Friday.

Cost: $5.00 per student

Group size: Minimum 40/Maximum 80

Missouri Town 1855 Hours of Operation:

March 1 – November 15 • 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. • Tuesday through Sunday
November 16 – February 28 • 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. • Saturday and Sunday

Space is limited, so sign up for your Missouri Town 1855 Field Trip TODAY!
1 adult/10 students is required and will receive complimentary admission. Add’l adults are $3.00 each.
To schedule a program or for more information call 816-503-4864 or visit www.jacksongov.org

3
 HISTORIC CEMETERY COURTESY

A historic cemetery is located near Fort Osage and contains the graves of soldiers and civilians.
A granite marker and bronze plaque, furnished by the Veterans Administration, recognizes
the contribution of 49 soldiers who lost their lives, while serving their country at Fort Osage
and Fort Atkinson. Their deaths are symbolic of the hardships and dedication which typify
the character of a new nation, as it opened its doors to the western frontier. The earliest
known interment in this cemetery is of Private John King on November 15, 1810. The oldest
marker is dated 1819.

The gravestones resting at Missouri Town 1855 were moved to the site for safekeeping. New
markers replaced these stones at the original burial sites. Even though the cemetery at Mis-
souri Town 1855 is not authentic, one must still act with dignity and respect in any cemetery
they may visit.

The following are some guidelines to share with your students and adult
leaders when you visit the Jackson County historic sites:

* Please do not run, jump or play around the gravestones.

* Students must be accompanied by an adult leader in the cemetery.

* Making gravestone rubbings is strongly discouraged as it deteriorates the

older grave markers.

* Please do not beat or chip at the markers with any object.

* Please walk between the graves and not over them.

Thank you for your consideration.

4
 HISTORIC SITE COURTESY

Before arriving at the historical sites, it is helpful to discuss the appropriate behavior
expected during the visit. The following are some points which should be covered
prior to your tour:

* Students need to be reminded that the site is a museum, even though they are
outdoors. They need to show appropriate museum behavior at all times.

* Students need to listen and pay attention to the guide and the interpreters
at the individual stations.

* Horseplay, roughhousing and running will not be tolerated by the staff or

site administrators.

* The buildings and sites are of historic value and should be treated with
the utmost respect. Visitors are asked not to touch artifacts unless given
permission by the guide or interpreter.

* Barriers on doors are designed to protect the artifacts. Please respect these
and do not remove them.

* Questions about daily life at Fort Osage or Missouri Town 1855 are encour-
aged and welcomed.

* Food and drink are not permitted within the sites. Picnic areas are available
outside the historic site area, other picnic facilities are available at Fleming
Park and Hayes Park. The site administrator or gift shop employees will
be glad to provide directions.

* Please do not touch, chase or feed the livestock and poultry, or any wildlife
at the sites.

* Please do not climb fences, trees or buildings.

* During the use of hiking trails, follow the instructions of staff interpreter.

Thank you for your consideration.

5
 GUIDELINES FOR TEACHERS
AND CHAPERONES

1. Upon arrival, the group leader should exit the bus and enter the Museum Gift Shop or
Visitor’s Center. The group leader should have an exact count of children and adults and
any unpaid admission fees for the group. It is suggested to have one check, made out to
Jackson County Parks and Recreation, for the amount. The students may then unload
and the bus driver should park the bus in the parking lot at the entrance to the historic
site. An interpreter will meet your group to give an orientation to the site and any further
instructions as needed. Please remember that you were assigned a specific time slot, if
your group is late for whatever reason, it will cut into your touring time at the site. Please
arrive in plenty of time to check in at the Museum Gift Shop or Education Cen-
ter.

2. As an adult supervisor you are responsible for keeping your group of ten children together
at all times including restroom stops. Please remind students that they are in a museum
and that appropriate museum behavior will be expected.

3. Depending on the type of program you have booked, you need to plan on spending at least
one hour in the site itself. If your group comes to a building that is full, please wait outside
or stop by the building later.

4. Please do not combine your groups as it could disrupt the entire program.

5. There is no smoking permitted in or around the buildings as most of them are historic
structures and contain many irreplaceable artifacts.

6. The museum is an outdoor living history site. Please be sure and dress appropriately
for the weather.

7. Plan to enjoy yourself. Our interpreters and volunteers are located at our interpretive
stations and will be more than happy to tell your group about the buildings, their history
and answer any questions they may have. If circumstances prompt you to cancel a visit,
please courtesy call (816) 503-4864 with cancellation information.

6
Fort Osage and Missouri Town 1855 are sites where historic preservation is prac-
ticed. Historic Preservation is a means by which an older building of significant
architectural construction or a site of historical importance is preserved for public
viewing and study. The historic preservation movement got its start in 1816, when
citizens of Philadelphia united together and saved the historic Independence Hall
where the Declaration of Independence was signed and a new country was formed.
The historic preservation movement continues today by restoring structures and sites
important in the evolution of our country’s history. No facet of history is too small
or insignificant not to be preserved in some way, shape or form.

GLOSSARY OF PRESERVATION TERMS

Historical Archeology
The study of the cultural remains of literate societies, including excavated material as well
as above-ground resources such as buildings, pottery, weapons, tools, glassware, cutlery and
textiles.

Material Culture
Tangible objects used by people to cope with the physical world, such as utensils, structures
and furnishings, all of which provide evidence of culturally determined behavior.

Outdoor Museum
A restored, re-created or replica village site in which several or many structures have been
restored, rebuilt or moved and whose purpose is to interpret a historical or cultural setting,
period or activity.

Preservation
Saving from destruction or deterioration old and historic buildings, sites, structures and ob-
jects and providing for their continued use by means of restoration, rehabilitation or adaptive
use.

Reconstruction
“The act of process of reproducing by new construction the exact form and detail of a vanished
building, structure or object, or a part thereof, as it appeared at a specific period of time.”
— Secretary of the Interior’s Standards

Glossary information taken from, Landmark Yellow Pages. Diane Maddex, Editor. The Preservation
Press. Washington D.C.: 1990.

7
 CHRONOLOGY OF UNITED STATES HISTORY

1775-1783 American Revolution

1776 Declaration of Independence

1789-1797 George Washington is elected the 1st President.

1797-1801 John Adams is the 2nd President of U.S.

1801-1809 Thomas Jefferson is the 3rd President of U.S.

1803 Louisiana Territory purchased from France.

1804-1806 Lewis and Clark explore the Louisiana Purchase.

1808 Fort Osage established by Gen. Clark

on the bank of the Missouri River.

1809-1817 James Madison is the 4th President of U.S.

1812-1814 War of 1812 (2nd War for Independence).

1815 Battle of New Orleans establishes Andrew Jackson

as a national hero.

1817-1825 James Monroe is the 5th President of U.S.

1819 Florida purchased from Spain.

1820 Missouri Compromise.

1821 Missouri becomes the 24th state.

1823 The Monroe Doctrine is established which

calls for noncolonization and nonintervention
in the Western Hemisphere by European nations.

1825-1829 John Quincy Adams is the 6th President of U.S.

1829-1837 Andrew Jackson is the 7th President of U.S.

1836 Battle of the Alamo fought in Texas.

1837-1841 Martin VanBuren is the 8th President of U.S.

1841 William Henry Harrison is the 9th President of

U.S. - dies after one month in office.

1841-1845 John Tyler is the 10th President of U.S.

8
1841 First wagon train leaves Missouri for California.

1845-1849 James Knox Polk is the 11th President of U.S.

1846 Oregon Treaty extends the northern border of

the U.S. to the Pacific Coast and ends the joint
occupation of Oregon Territory with the British.

1846 The Mormons move to Utah.

1846-1848 Mexican War - U.S. gains Arizona, California, Nevada,

New Mexico, Texas, Utah and part of Colorado.

1848-1849 The California gold rush begins.

1849-1850 Zachary Taylor is the 12th President of U.S.

1850-1853 Millard Fillmore is the 13th President of U.S.

1850 Compromise of 1850 admits California as a free state,

outlaws the slave trade in Washington D.C. and
enacts the fugitive slave act.

1853-1857 Franklin Pierce is the 14th President of U.S.

1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act gives the question of slavery

to the individual states to decide by popular vote.

1854-1861 Border War fought in the Western U.S.

1861 Kansas becomes the 34th state.

1857-1861 James Buchanan is the 15th President of U.S.

1861-1865 Abraham Lincoln is the 16th President of U.S.

1861-1865 The Civil War splits the U.S. into North and South.

9
 CHRONOLOGY OF MISSOURI HISTORY

1673 Father Marquette gives the first European

description of the “river pekistanoui” (Missouri).

1713 Etienne de Bourgmout surveys the Missouri

to the Kansas City area to the Platte River.

1723 de Bourgmont supervises the construction of

Fort Orleans, the first European settlement
on the Missouri River in Carroll County.

1744 Baron de Cavagnial supervises the construction

of Fort de la Trinite’ (later Fort de Cavagnial)
near present day Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas.

1763 St. Louis surveyed and founded by Auguste

Chouteau and Pierre Leclede.

1764 French give up all military posts in North

America due to Treaty of Paris.

1803 Louisiana Purchase bought from France for

$15,000,000. Includes the present state of
Missouri and allowed the U.S. to control the
Mississippi River.

1804 Formal transfer of the Louisiana Purchase

between the U.S. and France made in St. Louis.
Lewis and Clark expedition leaves St. Louis.

1805 Territory of Louisiana established St. Louis

as the capital.

1806 Fort Bellefontaine established. Pike expedition

leaves for Southwest.

1808 Fort Osage established as a military post including

a government trade house.

1811 New Madrid earthquakes begin.

1812 Territory of Louisiana becomes Territory of Missouri

with a Governor, Legislative Council and a House Of
Representatives. The first Territorial General Assembly
meets in St. Louis.

1813 Due to isolation and re-supply, garrison is transferred

to Lake Erie region.

10
1816 Formal end of the War of 1812.

1818 Petitions presented in Congress asking

statehood for Missouri Territory.

1819 U.S. House and Senate fail to agree on

Missouri Bill.

1820 Congress passes the Missouri Enabling Act

approving statehood. Constitutional Convention
meets in St. Louis. First state election.
* Missouri Compromise evades the issue of
“popular sovereignty” by admitting Missouri
as a slave state and Maine as a free state
and forbidding slavery in new territories
above 36° 30’ except Missouri.

1821 Missouri admitted to the Union.

1822 Factory system shut down by Congress.

1825 Big and Little Osage, Kansas and Shawnee

Indians cede rights to all remaining land
in Missouri.

1826 Jackson County organized. Legislature holds

first session in Jefferson City.

1827 Fort Osage abandoned by government.

Fort Leavenworth opens. Site for the county
seat of Jackson County and Independence chosen.
County judges, sheriff and Circuit Court judge chosen.
Town lots are platted and sold.

1829 Gottfried Duden’s Bericht uber eine Reise,

is published in Germany and influences
German immigration to Missouri.

1831 Joseph Smith reveals Jackson County as the site

of Zion.

1833 First heavy German immigration begins.

Mormons are driven from Jackson County into
Clay County.

1836 The Platte purchase adds six northwest counties

to Missouri.

11
1838 Mormon War. Governor Boggs declares Mormons
are enemies and must be exterminated or driven
from Missouri.
* Cherokee Indian Trail of Tears passes through southern
Missouri on their way to the reservation in Oklahoma.

1839 Honey War with Iowa over border dispute.

Plat filed for the Town of Kansas.

1840 Missouri State capitol completed.

1841 First emigrant wagon train leaves Independence.

The Bidwell-Bartleson Party arrives in the
Sacramento Valley via the Oregon Trail.
* Classes begin at Missouri University.

1842 Prigg v. Penn upholds the Fugitive Slave Act

of 1793, which allows the owner of a fugitive
slave to recover the slave despite conflicting
state laws. State authorities are not required
to help the owner.

1843 “The Great Emigration”, a party of more than

120 wagons, leaves Elm Grove in western Missouri
for Oregon. One thousand emigrants leave Independence
for Oregon in May.

1845 The phrase “Manifest Destiny” comes into use.

1846 Regiment for Mexican War raised in Missouri

under the command of Colonels A.W. Doniphan
and Sterling Price. Military unit begins
historic overland march.

1847 Telegraph communication between St. Louis

and the East Coast established.
* Hannibal - St. Joseph Railroad Company incorporated.

1849 Cholera epidemic in Mississippi Valley,

especially in emigrant trade towns, claims
4557 lives in St. Louis.

1850 First government mail route leaves Independence

for the West under the ownership of Waldo, Hill
and Company.
* The Town of Kansas founded.

1852 Pacific Railroad begins first railroad services

in the state from St. Louis to Cheltenham.

12
1853 City of Kansas incorporated.
* First high school in the state opened in St. Louis.

1854 Kansas-Nebraska Act repeals the Missouri

Compromise by giving territorial settlers the
right to decide the slave question for their state and
also affirms legality of slave holding in the United States.
* The Republican Party is organized in Jackson,
Michigan as a reaction to the Kansas-Nebraska Act.
* Massachusetts Emigrant Aid Society encourages
anti-slavery emigration to Kansas.

1855 Pro-slavery Missourians voting in Kansas

Territorial election seat a pro-slavery legislature.
* Border War between pro-slavery and
anti-slavery supporters on the Missouri and
Kansas border areas begin as a result of the
Kansas-Nebraska Act. The Civil War begins
in this area several years before the firing
begins at Fort Sumter April 12, 1861.

13
FORT OSAGE
NATIONAL HISTORIC
LANDMARK
INFORMATION

...a Jackson County Historic Site

 FORT OSAGE FACT SHEET

DESCRIPTION: Reconstructed on its original site, Fort Osage is a

complex of hewn log structures located on a high
bluff overlooking the Missouri River. Living history
interpretation is featured, as staff and volunteers
portray the work and livelihood of Fort Osage resi-
dents. The Fort Osage Education Center has actual
artifacts which date back to the time the Fort was
in operation. A gift shop is located in the Education
Center.

HISTORICAL
SIGNIFICANCE: Under the direction of William Clark, joint com-
mander of the Lewis and Clark expedition, soldiers
began construction of the Fort in 1808 to serve
several purposes. It functioned as one of the first
Federal outposts in the newly acquired Louisiana
Territory, housing soldiers to guard the new terri-
tory and to protect the trading post located there.
Fort Osage also aided the American government in
establishing alliances with neighboring Nations.
Finally, the Fort offered western Missouri’s first set-
tlers a sanctuary from which to venture west. Fort
Osage was the nation’s largest factory outpost, as
well as the most expensive to build and maintain.
Fort Osage was also one of the few financially suc-
cessful trading post of the U.S. Factory System.

YEAR FOUNDED: Fort Osage was built in 1808 and occupied until
1827. Trading post functions were discontinued in
1822. Reconstruction of the historic site began in
1948.

ANNUAL EVENTS: Annual events include Coalition of Historic Trek-

kers National Gathering, Honoring the American
Soldier, Independence Day, Grand Festival of Chez
les Canses and the Territorial Militia Muster.

SIZE: Including the walk to the Education Center, Fort

Osage is approximately the size of five city blocks.

TOURS: Tours are self-guided and take about one hour.

Group rates are available to organized groups of
20 or more people with PRE-REGISTRATION and

16
 PRE-PAYMENT.

SEASON: Year-round: Tuesday thru Sunday

9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

LOCATION: Fort Osage is located in Sibley, Missouri, on the

Missouri River 14 miles northeast of Independence.
From I-70, exit at BB Highway/Grain Valley exit.
Proceed north on BB through Buckner, Missouri.
Follow brown directional signs to Fort Osage Na-
tional Historic Landmark. From Kansas City, take
24 Highway east to Buckner, Missouri. Turn north
at Sibley Street (BB Hwy) and travel 3 miles to the
town of Sibley, watching carefully for signs. Drive
north through Sibley and follow the signs one mile
farther to the Fort. Fort Osage’s physical address
is 107 Osage Street, Sibley, MO, 64088

17
 FORT OSAGE HISTORY

Fort Osage was established in 1808 as a military outpost in the newly acquired Louisiana
Territory by General William Clark. The Fort’s purpose was to provide a military presence in
the territory in order to assure Spain, France and Great Britain that the United States meant
to protect its territory by military strength and to establish healthy relations with the Native
American population in the territory.

Fort Osage was built on a strategic bluff overlooking the Missouri River. The height and
location of the bluff provided a clear view of the river for many miles and the river current
around the bluff caused the boats to slow down considerably in order to safely navigate. These
conditions provided a natural defense for the Fort.

At the time of establishment, the Fort had a company of 81 officers and enlisted men under
the command of Captain Eli B. Clemson. The soldiers enlisted for a minimum of five years
service and were paid five dollars a month depending on service and rank. The soldiers per-
formed military drills and duty for most of the day. Extra duty was also required of each
soldier at the Fort. This extra duty was performed during their free time and they were paid
ten cents a day for common labor and sixteen cents a day for skilled labor. A soldier’s daily
rations included: one and a quarter pounds of beef or three quarters pound of pork, eighteen
ounces of bread and one gill of rum, whiskey or brandy. They were issued salt for their food,
candles and vinegar.

The factory system in the United States was established in 1796 under President George
Washington and expanded by President Thomas Jefferson into the Louisiana Territory. The
factory system derives its meaning from the English common law definition of a factor as a
person who buys and sells on behalf of his employer. The purpose of the factory was to trade
quality goods at a low price with the Indian tribes in order to establish good relations with
them. The system practiced by private European and American fur traders seemed to be a
constant contributor to unrest in the territory. It was Jefferson’s hope to undermine the pri-
vate traders and gain Indian alliances for the United States.

George Sibley was the factor at Fort Osage from 1808 until 1822. His duties included book-
keeping, supervising the trade room, processing furs, stocking the trade room and attending to
Indian affairs. Sibley was paid an annual salary of $800 until 1811, when he received a raise
of $300. This salary can compare in today’s economy of around $90,000 dollars a year.

The United States factory system was discontinued by Congress in 1822, due to pressures
from the rival fur trade interests. The decline of the United States factory system was due to
a number of reasons. The lack of factors familiar with Indian trade, government regulations
and budget restrictions which hampered any effort to increase the trade, lack of incentives
for the factor, successful competition of private traders who could go to the Indian villages
instead of the Indians coming to them and the influences of European traders in the remote
regions of the country.

18
The military left Fort Osage in 1813 due to the War of 1812. It then returned in 1815 to
re-establish the military garrison. The military left Fort Osage again in 1827 when Fort
Leavenworth was established.

19
 LEWIS & CLARK
IN THE GREATER KANSAS CITY AREA

In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson ordered Meriwether Lewis, a young army captain, to
organize an expedition to explore the newly acquired Louisiana Territory. Lewis was charged
with noting the plants and animals he encountered, in addition to carefully recording his
efforts to form friendships with the Indians. Believing there might be a water route to the
Pacific Ocean, Lewis was also required to keep accurate maps of his travels. Lewis asked a
friend and fellow army officer, William Clark to serve as a co-leader. A boat well equipped
for river navigation, known as a keelboat, was built for the trip. The winter of 1803-1804 saw
the expedition making final preparations at Camp Dubois, opposite St. Louis.

What was now known as the Corps of Volunteers for Northwestern Discovery departed in
May of 1803, with the keelboat and two smaller boats known as pirogues, on an epic journey
into a largely unknown territory. The members of the Expedition had to become expert boat
handlers and strained as they were challenged by numerous sand bars, islands and tricky
currents as they proceeded upriver. The men had to hunt for their food and depend on each
other and their leaders in order to proceed.

The Expedition entered what would later be known as the Kansas City area on June 23,
1803. On this date, with the boat crews struggling against strong winds, Lewis had the boats
take shelter on a small island. William Clark, scouting ahead of the main group, had to seek
shelter by himself on the river bank after sinking into the mud. He stripped bark from a tree
to provide more protection for a night away from the main party. He would remember this
location and the high bluff on the south side of the small island and return in 1808 to build
what would be known as Fort Osage. For the next two days, they proceeded upriver and noted
large amounts of wild plums, raspberries and wild apples. They also recorded seeing seams
of coal in large limestone outcroppings.

A camp was established on June 26th where the Kaw (Kansas) River flowed into the Missouri.
It was noted that the Kaw River was very muddy and its water tasted bad. It was decided
they would stay at this camp for three days in order for one of the pirogues to be repaired. A
small temporary fort was made for protection by using logs and brush. It is here that Clark
noted that he had seen large flocks of Carolina Parakeets. These birds are now extinct.

On June 29th they camped just north of what is now Parkville. One of the soldiers got into
trouble for drinking whiskey while on duty. He was court-martialed and sentenced to receive
100 lashes from a whip, a common form of punishment at the time. The men continued up-
river for several more days with the leaders writing about the heat and large quantities of
animals. The Expedition celebrated the Fourth of July just outside of what now is Atchison,
Kansas. Each man received an extra “gill of whiskey.” They would name the small creek by
which they camped “Independence Creek.”

The Expedition did eventually reach the Pacific Ocean and return safely to St. Louis. The
Lewis and Clark Expedition is still regarded as one of the greatest adventures in American
history.

20
 FORT OSAGE SCHOOL TOUR TEACHER MATERIALS

SUGGESTED TEACHING STRATEGIES

What if you bring students ages 5-8? Relate today’s life to what you see on the tour.

Compare the student’s clothing to those of the interpreters’.

Visit the Trade Room in the Factory building and compare it to stores that the
students are familiar with.

In the Factory Kitchen, compare and contrast what you see with the amenities
in the student’s kitchen at home.

Talk with the interpreters to see what the differences are between their occupa-
tions and those of the student’s parents.

What if you bring students age 9 and older? Put the past into perspective.

Have the students ask the residents of the Fort about their experiences of living
at a frontier outpost. What are their hopes and dreams for the future in the
area?

While touring the facility, remind the students to think of the changes that
have occurred since the early 1800s (i.e. the automobile, electric light bulb and
telephones).

PRE-VISIT ACTIVITIES

Plan a day at your school set in the early 1800s. Do not use electricity or modern conveniences.
Do work using slates and chalk. Have the students bring non-refrigerated lunches and play
games from the period at recess. Challenge them to continue the activity at home.

Prepare a trip back in time to the early 1800s. Have the students pick five items that they
would need to take with them for a journey up river. As you visit the Fort, ask the residents
what they would have brought with them on the journey.

Have the students pretend that they will be establishing a settlement near the Fort. Consider
location, where you will get food and water, what supplies will be needed, how labor will be
divided, etc.

Have the students make a list of the foods that they eat for two days. They should keep track
of the packaging, preparation and tastes. Compare these lists with foods from the 1800s.
Make a few recipes from the early 1800s.
21
POST-VISIT ACTIVITIES

Have the students write an article for the school newspaper or publish a newsletter about
their field trip experiences. Encourage the students to interview each other.

Imagine that you are a traveler coming up the river and you have stayed at the Fort for a few
days. Write a letter to your family back east about your experiences.

For each of the five senses, list a memory of the trip to Fort Osage.

Create a bulletin board with pictures or words associated with your trip for every letter of
the alphabet.

Have students choose five objects from their lives that they would include in a museum to
represent life today.

VOCABULARY

Apprentice - A person that works for a skilled craftsman in order to learn the trade.

Bellows - A tool made of wood and leather having a metal nozzle that is used by a blacksmith
to force air into a forge. The increased air flow created by this device makes the fire hotter
and allows metals to be heated for shaping or even melted for casting into intricate shapes.

Butter Churn - A container used to turn cream into butter. The wooden tool used to beat or
“dash” the cream is called a DASHER.

Blockhouse - A basic military defensive structure used in the construction of fortifications.

These two storied structures were thick walled wooden buildings with gun and cannon ports,
internal benches for shooting and floorboards on the second story overhangs that could be
removed to allow defense of the structures base area. See Blockhouse #1 on site.

Cypher - To do arithmetic.

Daycap - A head covering used by young girls and ladies to keep their hair clean and out of
the way while working.

Factor - An 18th century term referring to an agent such as George C. Sibley, the “Trade
Factor” at Fort Osage.

Factory - An 18th century term referring to the building where an agent or “Factor” did busi-
ness. Fort Osage has a “Trade Factory” in the civilian compound.

Fleshing Beam - A wooden tool used to remove the flesh and membrane from animal hides
during processing. It is constructed from a half-round long with two legs on one end.

22
Hearth - The brick or stone area in front of the fireplace. The floor of the fireplace.

Interpreter - A staff person that teaches history through historic roles.

1st Person Interpretation - A type of communication that involves the interpreter’s complete
character portrayal of a historic person.

3rd Person Interpretation - A type of communication that requires the interpreter to dress
in historic attire and allows him/her to react to guests in present day terms. A costumed tour
guide.

Pelt - The undressed (tanned or treated) skin and fur of an animal.

Pioneer - A person who first settles in an area.

Poke - A bag used to carry things in, just as a backpack or purse is used today.

Settler - A person who comes to live in an area.

Shako - The tall, black, felt hat worn by soldiers at Fort Osage.

Spider Pan - A metal cooking pan that rests on legs. The legs give the pan its name and
raise it up from the hearth.

Stockade - The enclosing wall of a fort that is made of wooden posts driven into the
ground.

Tick - The mattress of a bed. Usually filled with feathers or straw. Can be placed on a bed
frame or on the floor.

23
 LIST OF BOOKS AND VIDEOS RELATING TO
EARLY 1800s HISTORY AND FORT OSAGE

DVDs
There is a DVD, created by Jackson County Parks and Recreation, available for
purchase a the Fort Osage Gift Shop.

The Mid-Continent Library has a video available for a one-week checkout period that
would make an excellent prelude to a visit to Fort Osage.

“We Proceeded On...” The Expedition of Lewis and Clark, Kaw Valley Films and Video
VC 973.4 EX71

BOOKS
All books listed are available at Mid-Continent Libraries.

The War of 1812, by Peter Bosco

The War of 1812, by Alden R. Carter

Osage Indian Customs and Myths, by Louis F. Burns

Fort Life, Historic Communities Series, by Bobbi Kalman and David Schimpky

1812, The War Nobody Won, by Albert Marrin

A Nation is Born, Rebellion and Independence in America (1700-1820), by Richard Steins

Indians of North America: The Osage, by Terry P. Wilson

24
 MAP TO FORT OSAGE
NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK
25
 MISSOURI
TOWN 1855
INFORMATION

...a Jackson County Historic Site

 MISSOURI TOWN 1855 FACT SHEET

DESCRIPTION: Missouri Town 1855 is a collection of original mid-

19th century structures carefully relocated from
seven western Missouri counties to one site. Over
twenty-five period buildings including houses with
barns and outbuildings, a one-room schoolhouse,
church, tavern, lawyer’s office, blacksmith shop and
a livery stable depict a typical antebellum farming
community. Living history interpreters, in 19th
century attire, bring the site to life by portraying
the daily routines of village residents.

HISTORICAL
SIGNIFICANCE: The buildings at Missouri Town 1855 present a
variety of architectural styles popular in the mid-
19th century and, as an assembled unit, portray a
typical 1855 Missouri farming community.

YEAR FOUNDED: The first building was erected in 1963. Principal

buildings and features were in place by 1970. Ad-
ditions in the village continue based on a Master
Plan and as funding becomes available.

ANNUAL EVENTS: Annual events include Sheep Shearing, Children’s

Day, Independence Day, Missouri Town 1855 Fall
Festival, Spirits From The Past and A Christmas
Celebration.

SIZE: Approximately the size of six city blocks.

TOURS: A self-guided tour takes about one hour. Group

rates are available to organized groups of 20 or
more people with PRE-REGISTRATION and PRE-
PAYMENT.

SEASON: March 1 to November 15: Tuesday through Sun-

day
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
November 15 to March 1: Weekends only,
9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

28
LOCATION: Missouri Town 1855 is located on the east side of
Lake Jacomo in Fleming Park, Blue Springs, Mis-
souri. Missouri Town 1855’s physical address is
8010 E. Park Road, Lee’s Summit, MO, 64064.

29
 SYNOPSIS OF MISSOURI TOWN 1855

Missouri Town 1855 was never a real village in which real people lived and worked. Instead
it is a reconstruction of what a person may have found at a Missouri crossroads during the
mid-nineteenth century. The buildings in the village were moved to Missouri Town 1855
from other locations in seven different western Missouri counties. These are actual buildings
from the mid-nineteenth century. The year 1855 was chosen as the year to interpret because
it was the last year before the Kansas border fighting began to disrupt the area. By 1856,
shootings, lynchings and violence had polarized pro-slavery and anti-slavery adherents into
open conflict.

A typical village in western Missouri would look much like Missouri Town 1855. There
would be a school house, blacksmith’s shop, tavern, church and mercantile store. The houses
represent the many social classes living in the village. The Colonel’s House, Squire’s House
and their various outbuildings represent the upper class. The middle and lower classes are
represented by the Tradesman’s House, Blacksmith’s House and the Settler’s House. Social
activities in the town would probably have taken place at the non-denominational church or
in private homes.

The animals at Missouri Town 1855 represent the various breeds and animal types that were
common in the mid-nineteenth century. Whenever possible, breeds typical to 1855 are bought
and raised for interpretive purposes at Missouri Town 1855.

Life in 1855 seems very hard to people who live in the modern world --- there was no electricity,
running water, cars, television or microwaves. People at this time, however, spoke proudly of
recent inventions such as the telegraph and the sewing machine, as well as improvements in
transportation represented by steamboats and the expanding railroad network.

The average family in western Missouri lived on a farm which was mostly self-sufficient and
provided the family with an income. The following is a list of items grown on a farm and what
they provided for a family:

Garden...................... Fresh vegetables for seasonal

consumption and preservation.
Poultry...................... Eggs, meat and feathers.
Sheep ........................ Meat, wool for clothing.
Hogs.......................... Meat and lard.
Cattle........................ Dairy products, meat and leather.
Mules and Horses .... Riding and driving.
Grains....................... Wheat for flour and income; corn
provided income and cornmeal for
the family plus feed for animals; whiskey.

30
Rural families often bartered the goods they produced with their neighbors. Also, as Missouri
Town would have been only one day’s ride from a riverboat landing, a wide variety of consumer
goods was available at the mercantile store. These goods would have included small luxury
items such as Chinese tea, in addition to necessities such as cloth from the textile mills in
the East.

During the summer the whole family worked hard in order to insure a good harvest. The men
and boys of the family would work in the fields and tend to the animals, while the women
and girls would work in the garden and house and continue with the usual chores of cooking,
cleaning, sewing and milking. Throughout the growing season, community work projects
such as corn shuckings, barn raisings and quilting bees formed a major part of the social life
of a small rural town.

During the summer and harvest seasons there was very little free time left to children because
everyone had chores to do. When they had free time, a trip to the mercantile or to the city
might result in stick candy, a bag of marbles or a doll. Games such as “buz”, “blind man’s
buff”, “hide and go seek” and “French and English” (which we know as “tug of war”) were also
popular.

Agriculture is not the only trade represented at Missouri Town 1855--the blacksmith, mer-
chant, lawyer and tavern owner were an important part of community life. The blacksmith
repaired tools and other implements needed by consumers in the village or by farmers in the
area. The merchant owned the store, or mercantile, in the village. Some items found in the
mercantile include cloth, books, salt, sugar, hardware, candy and coffee. The lawyer, who
stopped on his “circuit” once or twice a month, would have taken care of any legal problems
such as deeds, wills and property boundaries. The tavern was probably the busiest place in
the village since it was the stop for travelers and the village mail was delivered here. The
tavern was also the location for news and information in the village.

The school at Missouri Town 1855 is typical of most rural schools in the region during this
time period. The school would have been held in a one room school house built by the Colonel,
who also hired the school marm or master to instruct his children. Children of other families
would be allowed to attend the school if their parents could pay the eight dollars per school
year per child. Attendance at the school was not regular; if a child was needed at home or the
parents could not afford to send them to school that term, then they did not attend. Usually
the class varied from one student to twelve students at one time. Students went to school
from sunup to sundown during the winter. School did not start until after harvest in October
and lasted until spring planting in April. School was held everyday but Sunday during the
school term.

The church at Missouri Town 1855 represents a non-denominational church found in most
rural areas in the mid-nineteenth century. Different denominations had traveling preachers
who went to different towns each Sunday to deliver a sermon. The Baptists may have had
a preacher on one Sunday while the Methodists or Presbyterians might have a preacher on
the next Sunday. Sermons were long, some lasting as much as three hours and no one was
allowed to nap during the service. Small children, however, were allowed to go outside for
brief periods.

31
Politics was becoming a heated topic in western Missouri in 1855. The United States was
divided by sectional interests in the Northern industrial states and the Southern agricultural
states. Slavery was a topic of heated debate in western Missouri, where many people came
from a southern background. In 1854, the Kansas-Nebraska Act introduced slavery in the
new territories to the west of Missouri. “Bleeding Kansas”, abolitionists and states’ rights
were topics of discussion. The relative contentment of rural life was soon to give way to the
hardships of war, and another chapter in American history was begun.

32
 MISSOURI TOWN 1855
SCHOOL TOUR TEACHER MATERIALS

SUGGESTED TEACHING STRATEGIES

What if you bring students ages 5-8? Relate today’s life to what you see on the tour.

Compare the student’s clothing to those of the interpreters’.

Visit J. T. Blackwell’s Mercantile Store and compare it to stores that the students
are familiar with.

At the Tavern, compare and contrast what you see with the amenities of a hotel.

Stop in at the Blacksmith’s Shop for a look at his daily activities. Find out
the differences between this person’s occupation and those of the student’s
parents.

Talk with the interpreters working with the livestock. Discuss the similarities
and differences between 1850s agriculture and today’s practices.

What if you bring students age 9 and older? Put the past into perspective.

Have the students ask the townspeople about their experiences in moving to
the Missouri region (or have they always lived here) and what are their hopes
and dreams for the future?

While touring the facility, remind the students to think of the changes that
have occurred since the 1850s (i.e. the automobile, electric light bulb and tele-
phone)

PRE-VISIT ACTIVITIES

Plan a day at your school set in the early 1850s. Do not use electricity or modern conveniences.
Do work using slates and chalk. Have the students bring non-refrigerated lunches and play
games from the period at recess. Challenge them to continue the activity at home.

Prepare a trip back in time to the 1850s. Have the students pick five items that they would
need to take with them. As you visit the village, ask the residents what they would have
brought with them to Missouri Town 1855.

33
Organize a settlement in 1850s Missouri. Consider location, where you will get food and water,
what supplies are needed, how labor will be divided, etc.

Plan exercises utilizing the Missouri Town 1855 map. Note where different social and eco-
nomic boundaries are in the village. Circle the buildings where residents would find food,
lodging, animals, etc.

Have the students make a list of the foods that they eat for two days. They should keep track
of the packaging, preparation and tastes. Compare these lists with foods from the 1850s.
Make a few recipes from the 1850s.

POST-VISIT ACTIVITIES

Have the students write an article for the school newspaper or publish a newsletter about
their field trip experiences. Encourage the students to interview each other.

Imagine that you are a traveler going through Missouri in the 1850s and stayed at Missouri
Town 1855 for a few days. Write a letter to your family back east about your experiences.

For each of the five senses, list a memory of the trip to Missouri Town 1855.

Create a bulletin board with pictures or words associated with your trip for every letter of
the alphabet.

Have students choose five objects from their lives that they would include in a museum to
represent life today.

VOCABULARY

Apprentice - A person that works for a skilled craftsman in order to learn the trade.

Butter Churn - A container used to turn cream into butter. The wooden tool used to beat or
“dash” the cream is called a DASHER.

Cypher - To do arithmetic.

Conestoga Wagon - A covered wagon drawn by horses or oxen used to move freight or house-
hold goods.

Copybook - A notebook in which school lessons are written.

Daycap - A head covering used by young girls and ladies to keep their hair clean and out of
the way while working.

34
Hearth - The brick or stone area in front of the fireplace. The floor of the fireplace.

Interpreter - A staff person that teaches history through historic roles.

1st Person Interpretation - A type of communication that involves the interpreter’s complete
character portrayal of a historic person.

3rd Person Interpretation - A type of communication that requires the interpreter to dress
in historic attire and allows him/her to react to guests in present day terms. A costumed tour
guide.

Mechanic - A craftsperson such as the blacksmith who makes goods.

Pioneer - A person who first settles in an area.

Plow - An implement used to cut, lift and turn the soil so that seed can be planted.

Poke - A bag used to carry things in, just as a backpack or purse is used today.

Scholar - A student.

Settler - A person who comes to live in an area.

Spider Pan - A metal cooking pan that rests on legs.

The legs give the pan its name and raise it up from
the hearth.

Tick - The mattress of a bed. Usually filled with

feathers or straw. Can be placed on a bed frame or
on the floor.

Trundle Bed - A bed built low enough to slide under

a regular bed frame.

Yoke - A wooden frame worn over the shoulders of a

person to carry two water buckets. The term “yoke”
also refers to the wooden frame placed on the necks
or oxen when these animals are pulling loads such as
a plow or wagon.

35
 MISSOURI TOWN 1855 ANIMAL GUIDE

Missouri Town’s programming offers the visitor a glimpse at rural life and animal breeds that
would have been found in Western Missouri in the 1850s. Horses, mules and oxen provided
the power necessary to do the heavy farm work. Oxen can be any breed of cattle that has
been trained to work. They are typically steers and are worked in pairs. They were favored
by many over horses because of their lower cost and less demanding dietary needs. Horses
and mules were used for farm work as well. Horses were used for pulling wagons, carriages
and for riding. Missouri Town’s livestock, as was often the case, includes both pure breeds
and crosses. Among those represented are:

OXEN

SHORTHORN STEERS:
-developed in England about 1600
-first imported to Virginia in 1783
-popular with early settlers. A valued breed for meat and milk
-found to be willing power for the wagon and plow
-Abe and Moses were brought to Missouri Town 1855 in 1999 and are being
trained as an oxen team

HORSES

STANDARD BRED:
-the breeds’ origin dates from a Thoroughbred imported from England in 1788

MORGAN:
-a truly American horse breed with roots dating back to the late 1700s
-Morgans are known for their speed, stamina, willingness to work and intelligence

SHEEP

BORDER LEICESTER CROSS SHEEP:

-a popular breed in the U.S. in the mid-nineteenth century
-known for its fine fleece and good temperament
-Missouri Town 1855 has Border Leicester crosses

36
 POULTRY

Missouri Town 1855 has a wide variety of poultry that would have been commonly seen on
most farms in rural Western Missouri in the 1850s.

CHICKENS

Missouri Town 1855 has a variety of Chicken breeds represented in the village:

COCHIN:
-buff and partridge colored
-their feathered legs are their most distinguishable feature

POLISH:
-there are several varieties
-their unique top-knot on their head is their most distinguishable feature

DOMINIQUE:
-good all-around chicken breed
-were known to be good layers, setters and care givers to their young

GAME FOWL:
-the “Arabian horses” of poultry
-very colorful, not as domesticated as many other breeds

37
 SAMPLE MERCANTILE ITEMS AND PRICES

Soap - 6 1/2¢ per pound

Salt - 2¢ per pound

Coffee - 12¢ per pound

Sugar - 6 1/2¢ per pound

Bottle ink - 15¢

Domestic cloth - 10¢ per yard

Needles - 10¢ a pack

Ribbon - 7 1/2¢ a yard

Singing book - $1.00

Blank book - 15¢

Slate - 30¢

Slate pencil - 5¢

Candy - 30¢ per pound

Pocket knife - 75¢

Fine comb - 65¢

Tea - 80¢ per pound

Primer - 5¢

Ax - $1.40

Ream of Letter Paper - $2.50

Information is taken from:

Garrison-Childe’s Ledger.
Sibley, MO
November 1854 - February 1855

38
 LIST OF BOOKS AND VIDEOS RELATING TO
1850s MISSOURI HISTORY

VIDEOS
These videos were filmed at Missouri Town 1855 and are available at Mid-Continent
Libraries for a one week checkout. The call numbers are listed after the producers
of the videos.

An 1850s Village, (educational film), RMI Medica Productions, Inc.

VC 977.841 EI44

Across Five Aprils, (movie based on novel of the same name) AME, Inc.
VC 813.3 AC77

BOOKS (Non-Fiction)
All books listed are available at Mid-Continent Libraries.

Famous Pioneers, by Franklin Folsom

Geography of Missouri; a Story of the People and the Regions of the “Show Me” State,
by Robert N. Saveland

Missouri Stories for Young People, by Ernestine Bennett Briggs

Missouri, from its Glorious Past to the Present, by John Allan Carpenter

Missouri; Its People and Its Progress, by Earl A. Collins

Missouri; Its Geography, History and Government, by C.H. McClure

Picture Book of Missouri, by Bernadine Freeman Bailey

The Trail to Santa Fe, by S.D. Lavender

BOOKS (Fiction)
All books listed are available at Mid-Continent Libraries.

Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt

Children’s Stories of the 1850s, by American Review

Coon Holler, by Olive Rambo Cook

Farmer Boy, by Laura Ingalls Wilder

39
The First Four Years, by Rose Wilder Lane

Huckleberry Hill, by Elizabeth Gemming

Little House on the Prairie, (complete series) by Laura Ingals Wilder

Missouri River Boy, by William Henman

On The Way Home, by Rose Wilder Lane

Overland Stage, by Glen Dines

The Prairie Schooners, by Glen Rounds

Ridge Willoughby, by Cena Christopher Draper

40
 PIONEER PENMANSHIP

Thanks to a barnyard chicken, goose or turkey Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Hancock
and the other fifty-three forefathers could sign the Declaration of Independence.

Unlike the ball point pens and felt tip markers we use today, pens of the eighteenth century
were made by dipping quills from chicken and other birds into homemade ink. If a quill was
not available, one end of a small twig would be whittled to a point and then dipped into ink
as a substitute.

The inks were made from natural ingredients, such as the juices of fruits, flowers and barks.
Blueberries and gooseberries produced purple inks. Chimney soot, nutshells and teas created
inks in shades of brown and black.

In Early America, kids had to bring their own ink to school, usually made from berries they
found in the woods or from cracked nutshells. The style of writing was called calligraphy.
Try your had at writing with the pens of long ago.

41
42
43
 OTHER EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES

Other programs and services available to schools and

educators:

Speaker Services

Trunk Shows

Workshops

Please contact our office at

(816) 503-4864

Jackson County
Parks and Recreation

44
 PROGRAM EVALUATION FORM
Jackson County Parks and Recreation would like to know your impression of the program
in which your group participated. We are interested in your comments and suggestions
in order to improve our sites and programs. Please take a few minutes to complete this
evaluation and return it to our office at the address listed at the end of this form.

Name of your group: Date of visit:

Site your group visited: Missouri Town 1855 Fort Osage Nat’l Historic Landmark

Overall Impression

Was the length of the visit appropriate for your group? Yes Too Short Too Long

Comments

Was the tour fee reasonable? Yes No

Comments

Was the staff professional and courteous to your group? Yes No

Comments

Describe the cleanliness of the site:

Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor

Comments

Program

Describe the organization of the program:

Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor

Comments

Would you recommend this program to another group/teacher? Yes No

Comments

What areas of the program did your group like best?

46
Do you have any suggestions for alternative activities, if so what would they be?

What was the level of interest your students had for the information presented?

Very High High Average Low Very Low

Comments

Was the information presented appropriate for the age level of your students? Yes No

Comments

Interpreters

Did the interpreters present information that your students did not know before? Yes No

Comments

How would you describe the knowledge and presentation of the interpreters?

Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor

Comments

Teacher’s Guide

Was the Teacher’s Guide helpful in preparing the students prior to their visit? Yes No

Comments

What additional information, if any, would you suggest be included in the Teacher’s Guide?

What would be your overall rating of our School Tour Program?

Excellent Very Good Good Fair Poor

Comments

Thank you for taking part in our programs and providing us with this important information.
JACKSON COUNTY PARKS AND RECREATION
Historic Sites Division
22807 Woods Chapel Road
Blue Springs, MO 64015
(816) 503-4860
47
 ADDITIONAL EDUCATION MATERIALS

The following publications relating to Missouri Town 1855 and Fort Osage National Historic
Landmark history are available for order:

Educational Guide to Missouri Town 1855

by Darlene Robinson & Jackson County Parks and Recreation
$5.00 + shipping and handling.

Missouri Town 1855 DVD

by Jackson County Parks and Recreation
$10.00 includes shipping.

Fort Osage National Historic Landmark 1808-1827 DVD

by Jackson County Parks and Recreation
$10.00 includes shipping.

Additional Educational Materials Order Form

Enclosed is a check payable to Jackson County Parks and Recreation for #_____
copies of the following item:

Name of item

Please send to:

Name

Address

City State Zip Code

48