A LOOK AT THE PAST: CAPE RIVER HERITAGE MUSEUM OPENS 10TH SEASON THIS SATURDAY MARKING A DECADE OF PRESERVING HISTORY

For 10 years, the Cape River Heritage Museum has worked to preserve Cape Girardeau's history with displays, archives, a library and special projects.

Situated at the corner of Lorimier and Independence streets in the former police and fire headquarters, the River Heritage Museum opens for its 10th season Saturday, March 7.

Patty Mulkey, long-time board member for the museum, said special events will be planned throughout the year in celebration of the museum's anniversary.

"We are going to have a little party and invite back some past board members and officers of the museum to ask them for an evaluation of what we're doing," she said. "We are also going to ask them for some ideas to celebrate our 10th anniversary."

One 10th anniversary program is already planned. "We are going to dedicate the 1992-93 season to educating the public about the Missouri flag, which was made in Cape Girardeau," Mulkey said."

The museum features a new display about the flag.

"Our goal is to preserve the past for the future," Mulkey said. "We're the only ones dedicated specifically to that in Cape Girardeau. We are also interested in educating the public about our local history."

From March through December the museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and from 2-4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Mulkey will open the museum at other times by appointment, which can be set by calling her at 335-6333.

"I'll even come down for one person or if someone has family or relatives come in to visit," she said.

Mulkey said the museum has made great strides in 10 years. Formerly known as the Southeast Missouri Museum, the facility was forced to close it's doors at 127 N. Water in 1980 when that building needed repairs.

A museum without a home, the association reorganized and changed its name to the Cape River Heritage Museum. In 1981, the new museum's board of directors negotiated a lease agreement with the city of Cape Girardeau to rent the former fire station for $1 a year.

"I remember how the building looked," she said. "It was a typical fire house, but it was in bad shape for a museum."

A good deal of renovation and remodeling was done to transform the fire station into a museum. The official opening was in 1982 and featured a Civil War display.

But the new museum started with no money and few holdings.

"The first few years we had trouble keeping an exhibit up," Mulkey said. "We had so many things on loan."

Now, thanks to donations by local residents, the museum has extensive holdings, so many that it has even loaned a few things to the Black Forest for display.

Since the museum is not large, exhibits are carefully chosen. Most of the displays now are permanent.

Mulkey said small changes and additions are made continually to keep the museum fresh. The newest room is designed for children and features Cape Girardeau's river history.

Mulkey said the room will be soon be updated to feature a model of the new Cape Girardeau river bridge. Also, a pilot's house will be replaced with a more realistic model.

A group of volunteers, the "Sidewheelers," work as tour guides for the museum. The group also restores vintage clothing, catalogues donations and help with other projects needed at the museum.

The museum always is in need of additional volunteers, Mulkey said. "You do not have to be well versed in the museum or history," she said. "You just have to be interested."

The museum is working with the city's bicentennial celebration committee. Mulkey said the organization will prepare a skit about Marie Oliver, who designed and made the first Missouri flag. Oliver lived in Cape Girardeau.

"My big project has been to get the library in good shape," Mulkey said. With help from other museum volunteers and college students, she is cataloging historical books and documents that have been donated to the museum over the years.

Mulkey said the library can be used by students for research papers.

A computer recently was donated to the museum. The computer will be used to record the museum's holdings. "A lot of things are happening here," Mulkey said. "We're really excited about our plans for the next 10 years."