A sixteen mile canoe and kayak race on the historic Missouri River! The race will start at LaBenite Park, in Sugar Creek, Missouri and it will finish at Fort Osage National Historic Landmark.
CLICK HERE for more information and to register for the race!
A keelboat and two pirogues at Fort Osage in 2004.
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.
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.
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
