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Certificate Seekers Update

On Valentine’s Day, we’d like to show some love ❤️ to our program participants! We have several who have let us know how many stamps they have received so far. Thanks for continuing to be a part of this program and we hope you get your certificates soon! Feel free to let us know of any updates to your progress.

“Picture Me Here” Contest Extended

Announcement: We’ve extended the deadline of the “Picture Me Here” contest to September 13! The drawing will now be held on Sept 14. A video of the drawing will be posted that day at 5 p.m. We hope this gives those of you who have not yet ventured out this summer an opportunity to win a map.

So, as you visit passport sites this summer, ask someone to use your cellphone to take a picture of you holding up your passport book near something that identifies the site. Then, when you have time, post that picture in the comments section of this post, or just send it to mopassport2021@gmail.com before the deadline, and we will post it for you.

Contest Time!

This map will be awarded to two lucky winners of our “Picture Me Here” contest! The contest runs from May 1-June 30, 2021.

To celebrate the easing up of the Covid 19 restrictions, and to encourage visits to our passport book sites as they reopen, Missouri Civil War Passport Program is launching our “Picture Me Here” contest!

Entry Rules:

  1. Take a picture of yourself holding your passport book at a visit site or stamp site,* and share it in the comments section of our Facebook post with the map picture announcing this contest. There is no limit on number of entries allowed, so every picture you post gives you an additional opportunity to win. Five posts from five different sites will give you five opportunities to win!
  2. The picture must show something in it that identifies the location, and you must be holding up your passport book. The pictures below are good examples of how to identify a location in your picture. The people in the photos have already visited all of the sites and each has received a Certificate of Completion.
  3. The picture can have more than one person, and each person holding a book will get an entry into the contest. Be sure to tag each person holding a book, or write their names in the comment section, so they can be identified.
  4. The sites in the winning pictures will receive ten copies of the passport book for resale, so let them know you appreciate their breathing life into Missouri’s history by entering a picture in the contest.   
  5. The contest runs from May 1 through June 30, 2021, but you have until 11:59 pm CDT on July 1 to post your photos.  Two winners will be picked by random drawings on July 2. A video of the drawing will be posted at 5 PM CDT on the Facebook page. Click here to see how the drawing works.

Since one picture can qualify many for the drawing, why not rent a bus, or van, and make visiting sites a road trip for you and your friends?

Please travel safely while you are enjoying the beauty of Missouri.

Visit our Facebook page to view contest entries.

*For example, in Vernon County, a marker identifies the location of the Battle of Dry Wood Creek; we consider that a visit site. The Bushwhacker Museum, where you go to get your book stamped, we consider a stamp site. You could take your picture at the visit site marker or at the stamp site museum.

Spotlight on Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau

Aerial View of Cape Girardeau, courtesy Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau

This week our spotlight shines on Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau, stamp site for the Battle of Cape Girardeau, April 26, 1863.  They have a lot of events scheduled, so be sure to attend one while you’re there getting your book stamped.

Here is a word from Emily Hagan, office manager:

“We have a lot going on. The Spring Muster at Fort D is happening Saturday, April 24. It will be a great time to see soldiers and civilians preparing for summer campaigns. 

“We have the Muddy River Marathon coming May 1st, big BAM coming June 15th, the Great Race coming June 22nd, the Missouri Bicentennial Mural Reveal Celebration coming July 5th and the 2021 Cross Country Chase Grand Finale in Downtown Cape Girardeau, Missouri coming July 10th. All of these are sure to be exciting!

“We have also hosted three American Duchess Steamboat dockings so far and have 13 more scheduled dockings this season (boats docking include: American Duchess, American Countess, American Queen, American Melody and Queen of the Mississippi).

“We had our first guest with a passport book since the pandemic started come in recently. His book was nearly full and he was thrilled the program was extended.”

Visitor Center hours are Monday – Thursday 8 AM to 5 PM and Friday 8 AM to 4 PM.

Anniversary of the Start of the American Civil War, April 12, 1861

April 12, 2021 marks the 160th anniversary of the start of the American Civil War. Here are a few dispatches from Charleston, SC, published in the Missouri Republican, reporting the unfolding of events. Pictured in this post is a painting by A. Vizitelly, courtesy of Library of Congress, showing part of Ft. Sumter exploding.