16 Miles on the Historic Missouri River!
Start at: LaBenite Park, MO-291 HWY, Sugar Creek, Missouri
Finish at: Fort Osage River Access, Atherton-Sibley Rd., Sibley, Missouri
The Missouri River below Fort Osage.
The U.S. government controlled the Native American trade on the Lower Missouri River by establishing Fort Osage (1808-1827). Both civilians and soldiers resided in the fort, and a common activity was sending letters, both personal and business, to St. Louis and points beyond. Couriers in dugout canoes and keelboats would deliver the mail, or dispatches, downriver. In St. Louis, these couriers would then collect the mail for the fort occupants and deliver them back upstream to Fort Osage.
Fort Osage National Historic Landmark
In the spirit of delivering Dispatches to Fort Osage, racers will be handed copies of actual Fort Osage dispatches, which were written during the fort’s occupation in the early 1800’s, by a soldier re-enactor. The racer will be given the task to deliver the Dispatch to another Fort Osage soldier re-enactor at the Fort Osage boat ramp, 16 miles away. The soldier will give every person who delivers their Dispatch a finisher’s coin, which will be the size of a silver dollar and will be a replica of the Jefferson Peace Medal. Racer’s may also keep their Dispatches.
“Morning clear and cool. About 12 O’Clock we met the Chiefs and Warriors of the Big & Little Osages and the Kansas in Council and all Smoked the Pipe of Peace together…”
“After the council Mr. Prince with the Boat Started for St. Louis, by him I dispatched the Letters I wrote yesterday.”
-George C. Sibley, Fort Osage, September 27th, 1808
Race Information
Saturday, August 6, 2016 Start Times
9:00 am - Build your own boat Class and Fishing Kayak Class (with a River Bank Start)
9:30 am - Family Fun Class
10:00 am - All Other boat Classes
Entry Fee
Early Registration - $35/adults
Children - $10
Day of Event Registration - $40/adults
REGISTRATION FORM
REGISTRATION CLOSED
