Lake of the Ozarks Eagle Days 2016

The act of viewing a bald eagle in flight is a memorable moment that brings excitement and joy to adults and children alike. One of the best times of year to spot these majestic birds is during the winter season as they migrate from Alaska and Canada to warmer climates. Visitors to the Lake of the Ozarks will have the opportunity to view these awesome feathered creatures and learn more about them and other birds of prey at Lake of the Ozarks Eagle Days, January 9-10. According to the Missouri Department of Conservation, more than 2,000 bald eagles are reported around the state's large rivers and reservoirs in the wintertime, making Missouri one of the leaders in bald eagle viewing in the lower 48 states. The bluffs and large wooded areas surrounding the Lake of the Ozarks make this area a popular stop during their annual exodus from the frigid temperatures of the north.  Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks Eagle Days activities allow attendees to see the birds in a natural setting, perched in the trees or in flight, as well as offering opportunities for up-close viewing at programs offered by the World Bird Sanctuary from St. Louis. Events on Saturday, Jan. 9, begin at 9 am and continue until 5:30 pm.  On Sunday, Jan. 10, events begin at 10 am and end at 4:30 pm. All Eagle Days activities are free and open to the public and take place in Lake Ozark, all within a short drive of one another. When Sue Westenhaver, chairman of the board of the Lake of the Ozarks Tri-County Lodging Association, owner and operator of Inn at Harbour Ridge Bed and Breakfast and one of the original organizers of the Eagle Days event at the Lake, first moved to Missouri from northern Illinois, she had no idea bald eagles inhabited the Lake area, much less that they were so plentiful. After attending her first eagle viewing event in Warsaw, Mo. at the Truman Dam in 1983, she wanted to establish a similar event at the Lake of the Ozarks. Westenhaver recruited some good friends and together they orchestrated the first program at the Lake, which was initially a one-day event held at the School of the Osage Heritage Elementary School and the Bagnell Dam Access. Over the last 30 years, this celebration of America's national bird has continued to grow in scale and popularity from a couple hundred spectators that first year to nearly 4,000 expected over the course of the weekend for the 2016 event. "My favorite part about Eagle Days is watching the beautiful birds flying, swooping, dipping and dancing right above everyone's head," Westenhaver says. "That, and seeing the children's eyes light up when they get to see a bald eagle up close during the naturalist programs. The little kids get so excited and just start to squeal in delight. It's just wonderful." Wild eagle-viewing activities are hosted by the Camden County Astronomy Club and will take place at Willmore Lodge, 1 Willmore Lane, and the Bagnell Dam Access, located off of Highway 54 on Osage River Bridge Road. Eagle-watchers are encouraged to dress for the weather and bring cameras and binoculars. Interactive exhibits and crafts will be on display at Willmore Lodge each day, and eagle nest-building and rope-making exhibitions will be held at the Bagnell Dam Access. Free hot chocolate will also be available at the Bagnell Dam Access to help birders of all sizes stay warm and enjoy their time outdoors.  At Osage National Golf Resort, 400 Osage Hills Road, live eagle programs presented by the World Bird Sanctuary begin on the hour at 9 a.m. with the last of the day starting at 3 pm on Saturday. And, on Sunday, the first program begins at 10 a.m. and the last begins at 2 pm. Naturalists from the World Bird Sanctuary will be on hand to interact with attendees as they show off live birds, explain about what makes these birds unique and answer questions from the audience. School of the Osage Heritage Elementary, 1571 Bagnell Dam Boulevard, will feature two programs by Springfield's Dickerson Park Zoo. The "Day Shift, Night Shift and Garbage Gal" program provides information about hawks ("Day Shift"), owls ("Night Shift") and turkey vultures ("Garbage Gals"). The second program, "Live Owls of Missouri," features information about the species of owls indigenous to Missouri. These shows will be held every hour on the half-hour beginning at 9:30 a.m. and the last program of the day beginning at 4:30 pm on Saturday. On Sunday, programs begin at 10:30 am with the last occurring at 3:30 pm. There will also be photo contests, coloring contests and other activities for kids, as well as nature-related exhibitors including the Missouri Department of Natural Resources and the Missouri Department of Conservation. Lake of the Ozark Eagle Days is made possible by the Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau, Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, Osage National Golf Resort, FaceLift Marketing, School of the Osage, Camden County Astronomy Club, Missouri Master Naturalist - Lake of the Ozarks Chapter and Boy Scouts of America. More details on Eagle Days, including a complete schedule of events, listing of 2016 vendors as well as photos from past events, can be found at www.LakeoftheOzarksEagleDays.com. Many visitors build a winter weekend getaway around Eagle Days to take advantage of the off-season lodging rates and smaller crowds at the various year-around attractions and activities at the Lake. For other fun events, or for more information on all attractions and lodging and dining options at the "Best Recreational Lake" in the Nation, visit the the Lake of the Ozarks Convention and Visitor Bureau's award-winning website, www.FunLake.com,

Battle of Monday's Hollow, A Civil War Reenactment Weekend

Experience history as it comes to life May 30-31 with two reenactments of the Battle of Monday's Hollow at a Living History and Civil War Reenactment Weekend, held at the Missouri Trapshooters Association Grounds located at 51 Trapshooters Road off of State Road A near Linn Creek.

This event, sponsored by the Camden County Historical Society & Museum, will feature a full-scale, historically accurate reenactment of the battle on both Saturday and Sunday to commemorate the sesquicentennial of the American Civil War, 1861-1865. 

Although Missouri was the third bloodiest state during the war, its role in the conflict is often overshadowed by the major battles of Virginia and Tennessee. Missouri was home to several large scale engagements, but much of the bloodshed resulted from ambushes and skirmishes. 

"The Battle of Monday's Hollow is a perfect example of what happened in Missouri throughout the Civil War because it was a skirmish," says Valerie Thomas, event coordinator and Camden County Historical Society & Museum archivist. "In October 1861, a wagon train left Rolla, Mo. for Linn Creek loaded with wintertime supplies for the troops stationed in the area. As the wagons entered Camden County, 40 Union infantry men accompanying the wagons were ambushed by rebel soldiers. As the Union troops gave chase, they quickly realized they were riding into a trap as they found themselves surrounded by hundreds of Confederate soldiers. Word spread to the nearby Union calvary, who came to their rescue and in the end, 62 Confederates were killed in the fight with only one Union casualty."

The event runs from 9 am to 5 pm Saturday and 8 am to 3 pm Sunday and will feature many period-specific activities throughout the weekend. The reenactment of the Battle of Monday's Hollow will start at 1 p.m. each day. Afterwards, according to Thomas, "the 'dead will rise' and we will reenact a more 'generic' Civil War battle with cannons, calvaries, and the whole works."

Battle reenactments of this scale generally attract an average of about 400-600 reenactors and spectators can often number in the thousands. Thomas is expecting around 6,000 attendees this year.

"It's the only reenactment of its kind in the central portion of Missouri," Thomas continues. "It's like having a front row seat to a live-action Civil War battle movie. It's quite a spectacle - Union and Confederate soldiers with sabers drawn, cannons firing, infantries shooting and the cavalry charging. Adults are absolutely fascinated by it, and kids love it, too. It's really a spectacular two-day event."

Each day visitors to the grounds can walk through Confederate and Union military camps and interact with the soldiers on both sides. Throughout the weekend, strolling minstrels will be on the grounds entertaining visitors with Civil War-period music and songs and there will be interpretative reenactment speakers talking about the effects of the war and the life of slaves. On Saturday, from 7-9 p.m., there will be a Civil War dance where soldiers in full regalia and women in period dresses will join arms and step and swing to the authentic sounds of the Gum Springs Serenaders. The dance is free and open to the public, and anyone wishing to join in the fun is welcome. Following the dance, 11 cannons will make an "announcement" using multi-colored powdered flares to close out the evening. A Civil War-era worship service is also scheduled at 8 a.m. Sunday.

Attendees can complete the historical experience by visiting the "sutler village," consisting of period vendors, craftsmen, laundresses, woodworkers and soap makers peddling their wares, all of which will be for sale to the public. There also will be traveling museums and a Civil War-era medical tent. Inside the medical tent, visitors can learn how surgery was performed and how illnesses were treated in the 1860s, as well as observe a demonstration of how wounded soldiers would have been treated in the heat of battle.

A variety of food vendors are scheduled to be at the site, featuring pulled pork, chicken and ribeye sandwiches, hamburgers, hot dogs, french fries, nachos, funnel cakes, kettle corn, ice cream and more.

Admission is free to this maximum-effort reenactment of the only Civil War battle fought in Camden County. Parking is available for suggested donations of $10 per car and $5 per motorcycle. Handicap parking is available and shuttles to and from the battle field will be free of charge.

For more information, including an event schedule or for details on how to get involved with the reenactment, call the museum at 573-346-7191 or visit CamdenCountyMuseum.com. The Camden County Historical Society & Museum is located at the corner of U.S. 54 and Route V in Linn Creek and is open from 10 am to 4 pm five days a week (when volunteers are available).