TuzigootJournal: New Madrid and More

We generally associate U.S. earthquakes with California, so it may not be widely known that one of the largest (lower 48 states) U.S. earthquakes occurred in New Madrid, in the bootheel of what became MO, in 1812. I learned about this earthquake several years ago in conjunction with the issue of estimating the risk of earthquakes to nuclear power plants. After our visit to the KY Bubbleland, we decided to go take a look at New Madrid.

Getting there gave us the opportunity to cross the Mississippi via the Dorena-Hickman Ferry. We had considered taking Tuzigoot across the day before, going East, but decided against it. Glad we did, because we would surely have scraped getting on and off. This picture is from the Ferry website.

We got to the dock just as the ferry was pulling away, so that gave us some time to enjoy the show. Two guys in a pickup, carrying a small boat, soon pulled up. They lived in MO, had been fishing in TN this fine day. They showed us a cooler full of crappie. Also told us that the ferry landing had been under water until just a few days earlier. Then a van pulling a utility trailer pulled up; six guys got out. Sounded like their GPS had just led them there and they weren't sure they were where they wanted to be. They asked, Can you get to Cape Girardeau this way? Susie found out later that they were a band from Jefferson City, MO, returning from playing in Nashville. Last to arrive was a group of 15-20 motorcycles, drivers and riders. Out for a Sunday outing. The ferry filled up. Here's a picture:

An old motorhome, pulling a boat, is about to squeeze on in this picture.

One of the band members took this shot of us:

Not a lot to see in New Madrid, but there is a museum with info about the earthquake and the Civil War battle. One fact that stands out: New Madrid sank about 15 ft. as a result of the earthquake. Also, very large earthquakes occurred repeatedly over a two-month period, as the above sign says.

Saw this in Hickman , KY.

Also came across this county courthouse somewhere along the way:

On the way back to KY from New Madrid, Susie had me stop to take this picture in recognition of one of her friends:

"So that's where she gets them," she said.

Several people (at least two) had told us we should see Columbus-Belmont State Park. This is a site on the KY shore of the Mississippi where the Confederates again tried to prevent the Union Army from moving south on the river. So, once we did the MO-IL-KY hop, skip, and a jump across two bridges on US 60 again, we worked our way down to this state park. From the KY bluffs overlooking the river it looked like a good place for the Confederates to blockade the river, but it didn't work long. Makes for a nice park, though.