Letter to the Editor by Dave Chuber regarding Battle of Lexington

Recently, I was made aware of the events being planned for the 150 years remembrance of the Battle of Lexington.

With the 150 anniversary of the war to be reenacted across the Nation starting next year, it seems that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources has decided not to support this city by planning most of the events and reenactments outside of the town. The reason given was that in 2000 it was written into the Lexington Park covenant that so called re-enactments would not be allowed after that year.

The concerns from the DNR surrounded archeology, ground erosion, and too many visitors had an effect on the historical site. This seems unfounded because these events have been going on since 1955. I was personally told that the DNR feared that if it ever rained, the park would be destroyed during one of these events. I and others commented back to this, that it has never rained in 45 years at any Lexington reenactment. We told the DNR that if they could explain this to people, we were sure they would comply and stop any event to save the park. We explained that if the DNR would produce a map of endangered areas, event sponsors would insure that no one crossed into these areas. No map was ever produced.

It also seems that Lexington, starting in 2000, was being restricted to Federal Park guidelines while other State Parks do not seem to fall under the same rules. Athens and Pilot Knob both commemorate their history with a reenactment at their sites. Both Pilot Knob and Lexington both have field fortifications that seem to be the concern of the DNR, while Pilot Knob is known to have soldiers buried on the same field as their reenactment. Lexington’s battlefield is not believed to have any soldiers buried at the Lexington park site.

Last weekend, the City of Ironton, Missouri was expecting over 30,000 Missourians to come learn about their history. Why is Lexington segregated from the other parks in the state? All three Missouri parks were once on a three year cycle so that one event would not overshadow the other and the state could mass its resources. Federal guidelines do not prevent living history or large scale tactical formation they only restrict combat scenarios!

The Federal government once did research on what a historical park brings to the surrounding local economy. For every $1 spent at the National Park $3 was spend for food, gas, and lodging in the local area. This was over 10 year ago and I dare say the local economy would receive more today. With harder economic times now, I am sure this influx would be well received by the business men and women of the city. If the "People Effect" is so damaging to the sites then parks will become "glass houses". History is boring and must come alive! I fear and see the downfall of American History in our educational institutions of our young generations. The DNR does not seem to care about education in Missouri. The department supervisor for Missouri ‘s northern historic district’s said in the Kansas City Star "We are not about huge visitation, we’re about preservation". The problem with this reasoning is that if you do not educate, then you will soon not have a base of support. No one will soon care about history and the funding and support will stop in favor of a new parking lot over historical sites!

The DNR has also brought up the fact that the Anderson house can be affected if there are too many visitors. The Supervisor of the Missouri’s northern historic districts said in the same Kansas City article, speaking about the Thomas Hart Benton Home, that "Actually, it would be difficult if we had 100,000 people going through the house". The Abraham Lincoln home is located in Springfield Ill. It had over 500,000 people visit last year but their average is more like 300,000.

I wonder what constraints the DNR sites like the Thomas Hart Benton Home and Studio or the Anderson home are under when they have less than less than 10,000 combined visitors. It should be the charter of all historical sites to Inspire, Educate and Preserve.

I am a military historian and work for the Federal government, but I sympathize with the citizens when governments provide only road blocks and don’t understand the needs of the local people. Lexington is an historical place! History can come alive in the streets if DNR works with the people of the city. The Anderson House and battlefield should be a living history event that people come to see and enjoy the historical surroundings. It should not be shipped out to some farm for generic history for a price paid to the land owner! The city understands how important history is to people and have been supporting state historical events by giving support of these with the city police, fire and rescue. Local historical groups have also coordinated with other cities and the State National Guard to support the Lexington historical event and to assist the DNR in making this a quality and safe event. But it seems that the DNR has turned a deaf

ear to the citizens and local municipality. If the good people of Missouri can

raise $57,000 for General Harris’s sword, to be placed in a state museum, I know they will help support historical events if asked and are informed properly. I believe the people of Missouri want to learn and understand their history on the same ground their forefathers bled and died for their freedom.

Dave Chuber, US Army Historian

Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri