ON TAPE: VIDEO ON CAPE HISTORY COMPLETE, READY FOR SALE

A new video on the history of Cape Girardeau shows the city developing from a wilderness trading post to a modern city.

The video, created by Robert McNeely and written and researched by Gregory Dullum, took a year and a half to complete.

Told through old photographs, artwork and current video footage, the story is a diary of events leading up to the present day.

The video's creator, McNeely, hopes it will be used to promote tourism but also to teach children in classrooms and through the public library.

"We didn't discover anything the historians don't know," McNeely said. "But as we did the research and filming, we found that the average person is unaware of much of the history of Cape Girardeau," McNeely said. "We hope this video helps to educate everyone and gives a picture of how the city developed."

The story begins with early mound-building Indians and ends with a look to the future all in an hour's time.

McNeely said portions of the history have been depicted by local re-enactors.

"The Battle of Cape Girardeau was done with live re-enactors," he said.

The history includes development of transportation in the area riverboats, automobiles, trains and even the Mississippi River bridge.

"We talk about how Cape Girardeau got its name and why it's called `The City of Roses,'" McNeely said. "We talk about development of schools, hospitals, fire department and police department, paving of streets, and introductions of utilities to the city."

A portion of the video is devoted to tourism in the entire region.

"We talk about what there is to see here in Cape and in Southeast Missouri and the River Heritage region from Ste. Genevieve to New Madrid.

"It's a jam-packed video," McNeely said. "It's very educational, especially for those interested in the history of the area."

He said several orders already have been placed by individuals who plan to give the video as a gift for friends or relatives who have moved away from the area.

"I'm in the video business and interested in the history of Cape," McNeely said. "The project dovetailed with the bicentennial of Cape Girardeau. This seemed like a natural."

He said many groups and individuals have been helpful in putting together the video.

The video sells for $19.95 and is available by calling McNeely at 334-5448. McNeely, who will receive profits from the video, said it will be sold at local businesses in the near future.