Cape Girardeau in Cape Girardeau County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

1909

President Taft's Visit

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012

1. 1909 Marker

Inscription. The first sitting President to visit Cape Girardeau was William Howard Taft, who arrived on the riverfront in the early morning of October 26, 1909. He was part of a 16-boat flotilla carrying cabinet members, Congressmen, governors, river commissioners and a large number of dignitaries who came down the river to publicize the developing effort to stabilize and deepen the river channel. A large welcome arch was constructed over the Themis Street entrance to the city. A crowd estimated at 25,000 gathered to hear the President speak from the steps of the new Academic Hall on the college campus. It was a day of great celebration in Cape, for years remembered as "Taft Day.”

Souvenir Books Available
Port Cape Girardeau Restaurant
• Cape Girardeau Convention & Visitor's Bureau
• Arts Council of Southeast MO * Lang's Jewelers
• Made In Missouri Store * Past-Time Antiques
• The Glenn House * Cape River Heritage
• Shivelbine's Music * The Red House
• Hasting Book Store* Barnes & Noble

Panel Sponsors:
Don and Linda Regenhardt Freeman and Alice Lewis Joe and Mary Regenhardt Bill and Linda Regenhardt

Erected by Mississippi River Tales River Heritage Mural Association Cape Girardeau, Missouri Where the river turns a thousand tales

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Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Events. In addition, it is included in the Former U.S. Presidents: #27 William Howard Taft series list. A significant historical date for this entry is October 26, 1909.

Location. 37° 18.131′ N, 89° 31.087′ W. Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. Marker is on Water Street. Located on Missouri Wall of Fame along the Missouri River Front. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Cape Girardeau MO 63703, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. 2003 (here, next to this marker); Muralist / Broadcasters (here, next to this marker); 1980 (here, next to this marker); Hollywood (a few steps from this marker); George Washington Carver (a few steps from this marker); 1916 (a few steps from this marker); Entertainers (a few steps from this marker); The Civil War / The Boys of Summer / Sports Dazzlers (a few steps from this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Girardeau.

Also see . . . Mississippi River Tales Mural. The Mississippi River Tales is a mural containing 24 panels covering nearly 18,000 square feet (1,700 m2) of the 15-foot (4.6 m)-high downtown floodwall in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. (Submitted on September 2, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA.)

Photographed By Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012

2. 1909 Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on September 5, 2017. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 180 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.