#DiscoveryGram with Notley Hawkins

A view of Broadway in downtown Columbia Missouri from “The Roof” at the Broadway Hotel.

The Y-Bridge over the James River in Galena in Stone County Missouri. The bridge opened in 1927 but now serves as a pedestrian bridge and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

The Blue Room is a fantastic Jazz venue on 18th and Vine in Kansas City Missouri. Plan a visit to the Blue Room and stop by the American Jazz Museum next door too.

The Missouri State Capitol reflected in the Missouri River at dusk. This is the third Capitol building erected in Jefferson City. The first two buildings burned down in 1837 and 1911. The current capitol was dedicated on October 6, 1924.

The recently renovated Fire Department-City Hall building in Hermann Missouri. The building was christened in 1906. It cost $4700 to build and was described as “elegant” in a 1906 press release.

A sculpture the dog known as Old Drum by artist Reno Gastaldi in front of the Johnson County Courthouse in Warrensburg Missouri. Old Drum was shot dead by a neighbor after some his sheep were killed. The owner of Old Drum sued the shooter and the case went to the Missouri Supreme Court where lawyer and future U.S. Senator George Graham Vest said “The one absolutely unselfish friend that a man can have in this selfish world…is his dog.”

A throwback spread from the June 2011 issue of Missouri Life featuring an article on old Route 66 by Joe McCune

Eric Nichols strikes his best cowboy pose at Hermann Farm in Hermann Missouri. Eric is the Director of Operations at the farm and is also an avid antique dealer and collector. Hermann Farm will be opening for their Spring season so plan on making a visit soon.

Pedestrians walk through Alley A in Columbia Missouri on a March evening. Alley A is a unique location in Columbia and is the brainchild of developer John Ott. Alley A contains a unique mixture of shops and restaurants. Take a stroll through Alley A and experience a slice of CoMo today.

A view of Broadway and Sixth Street on a windy March afternoon in downtown Columbia Missouri.

A Big BAM rider raises her bike in celebration next the Mississippi River in Louisiana Missouri after biking across the Show-Me state during the 2017 Big BAM.

The Chain of Rocks Bridge marks where old Route 66 used to cross the Mississippi River in St. Louis Missouri. The bridge was a private toll bridge that opened in 1929. In 1998 the bridge became a pedestrian bridge and is now managed and operated by TrailLink.

The full moon over St. Mary Church in Glasgow

During Engineer’s Week at the University of Missouri in Columbia the dome at Jesse Hall is lit green in celebration of St. Patrick who is the patron saint of engineers.

Winners of the costume contest at Wizard World comic book convention at America’s Center in St. Louis

Late afternoon at the Swiss Evangelical Reformed Church in Swiss Missouri in Gasconade County.

Get your kicks on Route 66 at the 2018 Big BAM bike tour sponsored by Missouri Life Magazine. Sign up at https://www.bigbamride.com/ and get your team ready to bike across Missouri.

The 2018 Big BAM is fast approaching. Here’s a photo from last year’s ride of Pat Kay of the Kay Brothers performing at Mark Twain lake.

The interior of Union Station in Kansas City Missouri. Union Station opened in 1914 and had it’s peak of passenger traffic in 1945. The station was closed in 1985 after a nationwide railroad decline. Union Station was reopened in 1999 after a campaign by private and public supporters and now serves as a Amtrak Station as well as a museum and cultural center.

A passing fire truck along Broadway in downtown Columbia Missouri. Let’s thank our emergency service providers throughout the state of Missouri for their dedicated service.

An abandoned home near Louisiana Missouri in infrared.

The Hangar Kafe in Miller in Lawrence County Missouri. The Hangar Kafe is an aviation themed restaurant located on a rural airstrip. They are open six days a week (closed on Mondays) and serve a variety of diner fare.

A foggy evening along Hitt Street at the Memorial Union on the campus of the University of Missouri in Columbia. The Memorial Union Tower was dedicated in 1926 as a memorial to the student soldiers who died in the Great War (WWI). It now serves as a Student Union for the University.

The historic Tivoli Theatre on Delmar Blvd in University City Missouri. The Tivoli opened in 1924 and was renovated in 1995. Plan a visit to the Delmar Loop and catch a great film at the Tivoli soon.

The Missouri State Capitol viewed from across the Missouri River in Callaway County during the late afternoon.

The Missouri–Kansas–Texas Bridge over the Missouri River in Boonville Missouri. The bridge is affectionately called “The Katy Bridge” by locals. It was originally a railroad bridge built in 1931-1932. The line was abandoned in 1987. Former Governor Jay Nixon transferred the ownership of the bridge to the Department of Natural Resources after a campaign to save the bridge by dedicated locals, cyclists and trail users.

Jazz ambassador Ronnie Medlock greets people with a big smile at the American Jazz Museum in Kansas City

The “Stranger than Fiction” art show opening at Columbia Art League on Ninth Street in Columbia Missouri

Leon Huse is a self described “Doctor of Divinity,” preacher and owner/operator of a road side tire shop next to his home in rural Barry County Missouri.

Mount Celestial Baptist Church near McBaine in rural Boone County Missouri. The church was founded in the early 19th century on the Warren Estate. The church as since moved to Grand Avenue in Columbia leaving the old church abandoned.

The Joseph M. LaBarge paddle boat at Cooper’s Landing along the Missouri River in Boone County Missouri. The boat is owned by Roger and Barbara Giles of Columbia. They bought the 1930’s era paddleboat in 2011. The boat is named after Joseph M. LaBarge who was a riverboat captain and distant relative of Barbara Giles. Visit the Missouri River soon and stop by Cooper’s Landing as you paddle down the river for a cold beer and sample some Chim’s Thai Kitchen’s 5-star Thai food.

The steel bridge along old Route 66 at Devil’s Elbow in Pulaski County Missouri. Take a ride on your motorcycle and explore what Missouri’s old Route 66 has to offer.

Ozarkland at dusk in Camdenton Missouri. Ozarkland is a unique gift shop and has several locations throughout Missouri. Stop by and try some of their legendary fudge soon.

A view of E. Capitol Drive on a rainy evening in Jefferson City Missouri.

Union Station in Kansas City Missouri. Union Station opened in 1914 and had it’s peak of passenger traffic in 1945. The station was closed in 1985 after a nationwide railroad decline. Union Station was reopened in 1999 after a campaign by private and public supporters and now serves as a Amtrak Station as well as a museum and cultural center.

Jazz at The Blue Room on 18th and Vine in Kansas City Missouri.

Lay’s Motor Lodge opened in 1947 just off old Highway 40 in Kingdom City Missouri. It was advertised as the “Crossroads of the Nation - Gateway to the Scenic Ozarks.” It had 36 units and was open year round.

Shyrocks Callaway Farms along Interstate 70 in Callaway County Missouri. Shyrocks is a unique event location that has hayrides and other activities. During the Fall they have a pumpkin patch and a corn maze too. You can also rent out the barn for banquets and weddings. Bring the kids and check out their 3 story gumball roller coaster.

A throwback picture from last Spring of the champion Oak tree near McBaine in Boone County Missouri. The Burr Oak is about 350-400 years old is owned by Jon Sam Williamson. The tree has seen it all and has survived lightning strikes, wind and the the great flood of 1993.

A family enjoying the view at Dogwood Canyon Nature Park near Branson Missouri.

This is a technique called “light painting” where the photographer takes a long exposure photograph and uses light to paint an accent into the scene. This photograph was taken in rural Chariton County Missouri near Glasgow along the Missouri river bottoms during a full moon. This house was probably abandoned after the floods of 1993 and 1995.