Today marks the start of The Great Callaway 200 Scavenger Hunt.
Callawegians have until Nov. 13 to race to 20 historical locations across the county. From early settlement and Civil War battles to religious communities and commerce, these places represent two centuries of county history.
The Fulton Sun will be visiting each site. Today, the newspaper is featuring two of the locations highlighted in the scavenger hunt - the George Washington Carver School and the Callaway County Courthouse.
The George Washington Carver School at 909 Westminster Ave. educated Fulton's African American children for 31 years. The school was dedicated in 1937 at an event visited by George Washington Carver. The school was a pillar of the community for decades and many Fulton residents still treasure and remember it.
The Callaway County Courthouse sits in the center of Fulton. On the front walkway, a monument honors Capt. James Callaway, grandson of Daniel Boone and the namesake of the county.
In the coming weeks, the Fulton Sun will continue to visit other sites across the county.
Scavenger hunt organizer Kelly Borman virtually visited the Rotary Club of Fulton on Wednesday to discuss the event.
The Kingdom of Callaway Historical Society came up with the idea for the scavenger hunt after a celebration honoring Callaway County's 200th anniversary had to be postponed due to the pandemic.
Borman said a couple of years ago when the historical society first began thinking of how to commemorate the anniversary, the idea of a scavenger hunt was brought up. But it didn't become a serious plan until social distancing took root.
"I'm really proud to live in Callaway County, and we have a lot of great history," Borman said.
Participants are invited to take a selfie at each site and submit the photos to the historical society - on the scavenger hunt's Facebook page, over email or in person. All ages can participate.
"Some of my friends are homeschooling for the first time because of the pandemic, and this is such a great activity for those who are homeschooling," Borman said.
A drawing for a $200 cash prize will be held Nov. 25. All those who submit all 20 selfies by the end of Nov. 13 will be eligible to be entered in the drawing.
The scavenger hunt will take participants all across the county.
"I'm from the north of the county," Borman said, "But I'd never been to Hams Prairie or Portland or Tebbetts. This is a great way to learn about the county - to get out and enjoy the autumn weather and learn about the county with your family."
Learn more about the hunt at https://www.callawaymohistory.org/scavenger-hunt.
Locations include:
Hatton Store
Concord Presbyterian Church
City of Auxvasse historical panels
Little Dixie Lake Conservation Area
White Cloud Presbyterian Church
Carrington Pits Recreation Area
Callaway County Courthouse
George Washington Carver School
Hillcrest Cemetery
The Old Jail in Mokane
St. Mark's Episcopal Church
Oakley Chapel
Gray Ghost Trail
Battle of Moore's Mill site
Crane's Country Store and Marlene's Restaurant and Museum
Callaway Nuclear Plant
Cote Sans Dessein
Cumberland Presbyterian Church
New Bloomfield Cemetery
Missouri River Bridge