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Discover
Our Treasures
The
Kingdom of Callaway Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center is a required
first stop for tourists for information.
Kingdom City is home to the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri, sponsored by the Fire Fighters Association of Missouri. The memorialÕs Ultimate Sacrifice Wall features the names of those fire fighters who lost their lives answering the call for help. The Distinguished Service Wall honors fire fighters with 10 or more years of service. The walls are ongoing memorials; names will continue to be added. The Walk of Honor features engraved bricks honoring any fire fighter who has served. The site also features a poignant bronze statue of a grieving fire fighter that is identical to one dedicated by the State of Missouri to the City of New York after the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in 2001. The original statue was created for the Fire Fighters Memorial of Missouri and was in New York waiting to be shipped on September 11. The manufacturer of the statue donated the twin statue to Missouri after the City of New York accepted the original work as a gift. The Winston Churchill Memorial and Library is located on the Westminster College campus in Fulton. Sir Winston Churchill delivered his famous Sinews of Peace (Iron Curtain) speech on the Westminster campus in 1946. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, this is the site of the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury. The church dates from the 12th century and was redesigned by Sir Christopher Wren in 1677 after the Great Fire of London. The church was slated for demolition but saved when it was decided to relocate it to the Westminster campus. The structure was dismantled stone by stone and painstakingly rebuilt on the campus. The beautiful church is built in pale-colored stone with large, arched windows that fill the building with light. Housed below the church is the museum, library and gift shop containing Winston Churchill memorabilia. The documents in the library's archives relate to Sir Winston Churchill; the Cold War; the Church of St. Mary, Aldermanbury; Sir Christopher Wren; and other subjects associated with the memorial. Permanent exhibits at the museum highlight the achievements of Churchill as well as World War I, World War II and the Church of St. Mary. Temporary exhibits have included Watercolor Missouri. Virtual exhibits - such as "The Propaganda War," featuring samples of the museum's collection of posters from World War II, with information and explanations - may be accessed at the memorial's Web site. The Churchill Memorial also features the Franta Belsky statue of Sir Winston Churchill and the Berlin Wall Sculpture "Breakthrough." Following the dismantling of the Berlin Wall, ÒBreak-throughÓ was created by Edwina Sandys, a granddaughter of Churchill, from a 32-foot section of the wall. Sandys chose her sections from an area near the Brandenburg Gate frequented by artists because of the dramatic color of the graffiti. The repeated use of the word unwahr within the sections, which in German means "lies," also appealed to her. Sandys came to Fulton in 1990 to present the sculpture at a dedication attended by Ronald Reagan and German Minister Pleni-potentiary Fritjof von Nordenskjoeld. Continuing the tradition of re-nowned guest speakers at West-minster, The Churchill Memorial has continued over the years to be a site for speeches. Among those who have spoken at Westminster are Harry Truman, J. William Fulbright, Gerald Ford, Ronald Reagan, George H. W. Bush, Mikhail Gorbachev, Margaret Thatcher and Lech Walesa. The Auto World Car Museum was started in 1996. The present collection features over 70 rare and antique cars, including such automobiles as the Wills St. Claire, Scripps-Booth, Stanley Steamer, DeLorean and a 1986 Pulse. A unique gift shop is stocked with military memorabilia, railroad collectibles, fine china and crystal, and just a touch of "flea market" and crafts. In addition to cars, fire trucks and tractors, there are arrowheads, china doll's head vases, ladies' vintage hats, a 100-year-old cherry pump organ and quilts. The museum also houses a collection of books and newspaper articles about the Kennedy family. In nearby Williamsburg, you can take a step back into the past with a visit to Crane's Country Store. What appears to be a General Store untouched by time is a real working establishment. Patrons can enjoy a snack and a cold bottled soda as they squeeze through the aisles of this unique store decorated with antiques and memorabilia. When they open the door to Crane's Museum & Shoppes, visitors know they've entered a one-of-a-kind experience. Unique exhibits line both the west and east walls of this 4,000-square-foot museum. On the west wall are centuries-old Native American artifacts and projectile points. A collection of boys' toys dating back to the late 1800s features rare finds such as a Sonny pressed steel truck, a Murry peddle car and truck, and many other items too numerous to mention. In the girls' toys collection are unusual china head dolls, buggies, furniture and many turn-of-the-century items. Hunting enthusiasts can view the details of cap and ball rifles, black powder guns, and hunting traps. There are also duck and goose decoys as old as 50 years. To the rear of the museum is a recreated White Eagle gas station, complete with two hand pumps. In the middle is a four-room display hosting a Victorian kitchen, bedroom, living room and dining room. Visitors also find displays of handmade heirloom quilts and hand-woven coverlets. On the east wall are "general store" collections of tobacco pieces, primitive hardware and much more. A favorite of the curators is the Perfect Horse and Buggy. Located in Williamsburg off Interstate 70 exit 161, Crane's Museum and Shoppes is a not-for-profit corporation. For more information on this must-see venue, call 573-254-3356 or visit their Web site at www.cranesmuseum.com. Sitting high on the bluff top overlooking the Missouri River in Holt's Summit is the area's premier winery - Summit Lake Winery. The facility offers distinctive Midwest wines and a creative bistro menu. You can sample wines in the year-round tasting room or sit and unwind on the outdoor garden terrace. The deck has an impeccable view and, during cold winter months, you can relax indoors around the snug fireplace. The facility is also available for banquets and conferences. FESTIVALS AND EVENTS Callaway County promotes a sense of community through a year-round schedule of events en-joyed by residents and tourists alike. The Fulton Street Fair features crafts, entertainment (such as jazz and country music in the evenings); children's events, including their own parade; and a larger parade. The May Festival, centered around a traditional May Pole in the downtown area, hosts dozens of artists who fill the sidewalks with displays of their work. The Hatton Craft Festival, the first weekend in October, attracts over 100 crafters. Highlights of this festival include horse-drawn/tractor-drawn shuttles and homemade sandwiches and pies for purchase. Additional events in the area include the Auxvasse Rodeo and Truck and Tractor Pull in June, the Kingdom of Callaway County Fair in early August, and the Mokane World's Fair on Labor Day weekend. In Mid-November, the Kettle Drum Tea and Victorian Christmas Celebration at the Winston Churchill Memorial kicks off the holiday season, followed by several Christmas events in December that include a parade, bazaars and caroling.
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