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
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.
Erected by Mississippi River Tales River Heritage Mural Association Cape Girardeau, Missouri Where the river turns a thousand tales.
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. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 37° 18.271′ N, 89° 31.068′ W.
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Regionally, this marker was in Southeast Missouri. It was also in the American Ozarks, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it was in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it found itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named 1909 (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named 1916 (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named 1880 (a few steps from this marker); Filburn & Sloan Commission House (a few steps from this marker); 1918 (a few steps from this marker); The Mississippi River (within
Photographed by Sandra Hughes, August 12, 2012
2. 1909 Marker
Other markers no longer nearby. 1916 (was here, next to this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1880 (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1918 - 1919 (was a few steps from this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1924 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); 1925 (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it).
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. This marker has been replaced with the linked marker.
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.)
Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 2, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. This page has been viewed 403 times since then and 13 times this year. Last updated on November 22, 2024, by Edward Troxel of Creal Springs, Illinois. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 2, 2017, by Sandra Hughes Tidwell of Killen, Alabama, USA. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
