Free Richmond Heights Civil War Bus Tour

On October 14th, 2012, the and the Richmond Heights Historical Society are proud to offer a Civil War Bus Tour of locations in and around our city that were important during the American Civil War.  This tour is developed and presented by Maureen Kavanaugh, a local historian and tour guide who does tours all over the city.

There is no cost for this tour, but there are only 23 seats.  You must RSVP at 314-645-6202; but please only RSVP if you are determined to attend!  The bus leaves promptly at 2pm from the Library parking lot at the east end of The Heights, and will return at approximately 4:30.  I hope to see you there!  We will be visiting many sites, such as Woodside Farm, the Union and Confederate Memorials in Forest Park, the former site of Camp Jackson, many former homes of important figures, and the site of the Confederate raid on the Cheltenham Post Office.

This project has been an unusual one for me.  Normally, when planning the library’s special events, I’m working only with other library staff or working alone as we contact presenters, make signage, publicize, arrange facilities, decorate, prepare snacks, make payments, check and double-check all the details, and other bits and pieces.  This year, for the first time, I get to work with another organization entirely.

Joellen Gamp McDonald of the Richmond Heights Historical Society asked if we wanted to work with the Historical Society to do a series of events for the 100th anniversary of Richmond Heights’ founding as a city, next year.  Local historians will know Joellen, especially from the excellent history book she wrote, Richmond Heights: 1868-1940.  This bus tour, the first of these events, also happens to have particular historical significance right now, on the sesquicentennial (150 years' commemoration) of the Civil War.  I’m looking forward to holding more co-sponsored events over the course of 2013, as this century-old city looks back at our past and forward to our future.