Civil War Heritage Day set for Oct. 8th

Dr. Jeremy Neely, Bates County Native, to Present Program at Museum

The 4th Annual Civil War Heritage Day event at the Bates County Museum is scheduled for Saturday, October 8, 2011 at 10:00 am and a program presented by Dr. Jeremy Neely will feature content from his book, The Border Between Them: Violence and Reconciliation on the Kansas-Missouri Line. Jeremy is a native of Bates County and grew-up in the town of Adrian. He received his doctorate in history from the University of Missouri and his book is published by the University of Missouri Press. Jeremy has become one of Missouri’s most highly respected authorities on the Missouri-Kansas conflict. He and his family now make their home in Vernon County.



In recognition of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the Museum’s theme for the 2011 Heritage Day is, “The Civil War Officially Begins.” Jeremy will discuss the years prior to the official start of the war, which laid the groundwork for what happened in Bates County. He will highlight ways in which the fighting here foreshadowed important changes in the way that the war would be fought elsewhere in years to come. The complexities of Missouri’s political persuasions will also be discussed including the issues of slavery, the Island Mound battle and how a kind of ‘total war’ was waged along the border. Jeremy’s research and the publication of his book have brought the wartime history of this region into the light of awareness and many historians have begun to look seriously at the circumstances of the war along this border.

Following the presentation, the Museum will host a free-will-offering Soup & Chili Dinner. All are invited to attend the free program and are encouraged to stay and enjoy dinner. This is the Museum’s final program for the 2011 season. For further information please call the Museum at 660-679-0134.