Jefferson City in Cole County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Adrian's Island
An Island Not Yet There
Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 24, 2024
1. Adrian's Island Marker
Inscription.
Adrian's Island. An Island Not Yet There. Harry H. Adrian was a "River Rat" for the Army Corps of Engineers on the Missouri River in the 1930s; he knew the river well. When dikes were built to better channel the river and prevent erosion in the 1960s, he predicted that swirls of silt deposits from the dikes would create an island. So, on March 9, 1967, for $500, he and his son Roger purchased from Cole County land that wasn't yet visible. There later was a disagreement between Cole County and the Missouri Pacific Railroad as to whether the land would become an island or accretion (a gradual deposit of land along the riverbank). If it became an island, Cole County had the rights to sell it; if it became an accretion, the railroad would own it. Ultimately, Harry and the county prevailed. As he had predicted, an island of approximately 30 acres appeared. Adrian's Island, the land on which you stand, is now contiguous with the riverbank.
Harry H. Adrian was a "River Rat" for the Army Corps of Engineers on the Missouri River in the 1930s; he knew the river well. When dikes were built to better channel the river and prevent erosion in the 1960s, he predicted that swirls of silt deposits from the dikes would create an island. So, on March 9, 1967, for $500, he and his son Roger purchased from Cole County land that wasn't yet visible. There later was a disagreement between Cole County and the Missouri Pacific Railroad as to whether the land would become an island or accretion (a gradual deposit of land along the riverbank). If it became an island, Cole County had the rights to sell it; if it became an accretion, the railroad would own it. Ultimately, Harry and the county prevailed. As he had predicted, an island of approximately 30 acres appeared. Adrian's Island, the land on which you stand, is now contiguous with the riverbank.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is March 9, 1967.
Location. 38° 34.756′ N, 92° 10.092′ W. Marker is in Jefferson City, Missouri, in Cole County. It
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can be reached from West Capitol Avenue. Marker is at Deborah Cooper Park at Adrian's Island. To access the park, you must take the Missouri Bicentennial Bridge, which starts near the Veterans Memorial area. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 130 W Capitol Ave, Jefferson City MO 65101, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Missouri River Corridor. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, and in the Corn Belt. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 27, 2024. It was originally submitted on June 27, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,227 times since then and 112 times this year. Photos:1, 2. submitted on June 27, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.
