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

1909

President Taft's Visit

Photographed by Edward Troxel, November 16, 2024

1. 1909 Marker

Inscription.
The first sitting president to visit Cape Girardeau was WILLIAM HOWARD TAFT. He arrived early in the morning on October 26, 1909. Part of a 16-boat FLOTILLA, or small fleet, carrying dignitaries, Taft traveled down the river with cabinet members, congressmen, governors, judges and river commissioners to publicize the need to establish a NINE-FOOT CHANNEL the entire length of the river. MORE THAN HALF of the vessels traveling to New Orleans ran aground at some point. Maintaining a safe and secure channel was essential to RIVER COMMERCE.

To greet Taft, a large welcome arch was constructed over the entrance to the city at Themis St. located to the left of this panel. It was the MOST CELEBRATED EVENT in the city's history to that point and was always recalled as TAFT DAY.

ACADEMIC HALL
President Taft's Visit A crowd of nearly 25,000 people gathered to hear President Talt speak from the steps of Academic Hall on the college campus.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Government & Politics • Notable Events. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.

Location. 37° 18.271′ N, 89° 31.068′ W. Marker is in Cape Girardeau, Missouri, in Cape Girardeau County. It is on North Water Street south of Themis Street, on the

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left when traveling south. Located on Missouri Wall of Fame along the Missouri River Front. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 36 N Water St, Cape Girardeau MO 63701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southeast Missouri. It is also in the American Ozarks,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

in the Corn Belt,

and in the Great River Road Region.

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.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of 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 shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 1924 (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named 1925 (within shouting distance of this marker); Justice for the Common Man (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Cape Girardeau.

Other markers no longer nearby. 1909 (has been replaced with this marker); 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

Photographed by Edward Troxel, November 16, 2024

2. 1909 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).

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2024, by Edward Troxel of Creal Springs, Illinois. This page has been viewed 153 times since then and 12 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 20, 2024, by Edward Troxel of Creal Springs, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.