April 20, 2024-Traditional Music Night from 7-9 p.m.

April 12, 2024-a wonderful opportunity to experience and preserve regional French History.

We are excited to share this opportunity to celebrate and preserve the French culture of the region with this free musical event at the Alumni Center on the SEMO campus. Please share!

Join us in Kem Hall at Wehking Alumni Center on April 12 for a concert by Dennis Stroughmatt et l’Esprit Creole

Fingers and bow flying, Dennis Stroughmatt takes listeners on a musical odyssey. This is the story of the French Creoles who founded the Illinois-Missouri Country near the Ozark foothills more than 300 years ago. Their songs, stories, and language remain largely intact and true to the traditions that have been passed down for generations. L’Esprit Creole’s music bridges the gap between contemporary Canadian and Louisiana Cajun styles.

Date / April 12, 2024
Time / 7:30 – 9:00 p.m.
Location / Kem Hall @Wehking Alumni Center (926 Broadway St)

Dennis Stroughmatt et l’Esprit Creole are passionate ambassadors of Creole music and traditions, expanding interest and excitement in a region that has been long ignored by the history books. As they say in the hills, “On est toujours icitte: We are still here!”

April 20 from 7-9 p.m.-Traditional Music Night at the History Center.

March 16 from 9 a.m. to Noon-Putz House Class. Please give us a call if you wish to attend 573-204-4240.

March 16 from 7-9 p.m.-Traditional Music Night. Free and Open to the Public.

March 17, 2:00 p.m.-Easter Cantata written by regional composers David Giles and Dr. Steve Jordan. Performed by “Barefoot on Sunday”. Free and Open to the public.

Mon. March 18-Save this special date! Renowned and award winning singer songwriter, Joe Newberry, will be performing a concert at the History Center on Monday, March 18, from 6:30 p.m.-8:00 p.m. There will be a suggested $20 donation at the door. Joe was a frequent guest on “Prairie Home Companion,” and is known for clawhammer banjo playing and guitar. Joe lives in North Carolina but has roots in Cape Girardeau.

February Annual at the History Center: The theme this year is printmaking.
The History Center will feature an extraordinary exhibit by Hatch Show Print of Nashville, TN (a working letterpress print shop since 1879.) They are renowned for music show promotional posters. The show was hand selected for the Feb. Annual from their archives. There will be a second feature exhibition of print and textile arts by Orange Barrel Industries, featuring the artistry of Blake & Hannah Sanders, both art faculty at SEMO. And the final TREAT, Docs & Friends will be performing live music by some of the musicians featured on the Hatch posters. Free and Open to the public! The event is 11-4 and Docs & Friends will perform from 12-3.

Feb. 17-Traditional Music Night, 7-9 p.m. Free and Open to the Public

Fri. Feb. 9 at 4 p.m. Join us for a Historical Society Membership meeting. At the Montgomery Bank Conference Center, 526 W. Main St., Jackson. We will be reviewing and voting on Constitutional revisions and will have History Center & Research Annex updates.

Jan. 20, 2024, from 7-9 p.m. Traditional Music Night

ANNOUNCEMENT: The Historical Society meeting scheduled for Jan. 5 has been postponed to Fri., Feb. 9, from 4-5:30 p.m. at the Montgomery Bank Center, 526 W. Main St., Jackson. Join us!

November 15-Jan. 15 Christmas Exhibit, “Indoor Nativity Walk, M-Sat. 10-4. Open during the Jackson Christmas Parade, Sun., Dec. 3 at 5 p.m. The Research Annex will host Santa immediately following the parade at the Research Annex, 110 S. High St.-Jackson, MO.

Sunday, Dec. 17, at 2:00 p.m. Live Christmas Cantata: There Will Be Dreams performed by “Barefoot on Sunday,” composed by Dr. Steve Jordan & David Giles. Free Admission-Open to the Public. At the History Center, 102 S. High St.-Jackson, MO.

Sat., December 16 from 7-9 p.m. Traditional Music Night! Join us!

November 18, Sat. from 7-9 p.m. Traditional Music Night

October 21 from 7-9 p.m. Traditional Music Night

Autumn Banquet 2023: Sunday, Nov. 5, 6:00 p.m. at the Jackson Civic Center, 381 E. Deerwood Dr,-Jackson. “Celebrate Santa Clause” is our theme this year featuring a keynote address by renowned Santa expert, Dr. Henry Wolf, a special concert by Docsology, “Grandmas Christmas Feast” by Tractor’s Catering, and a Santa-themed silent auction. Reservations by ticket purchase are required-$60/seat. Please stop in the History Center to purchase tickets, 102 S. High St., Jackson, or mail purchase price to this address, in c/o the Cape Girardeau County Historical Society, memo: banquet tickets. For more information call: 573-204-4240.

October 15, Sunday: 2-4 p.m. Southeast Missouri Beekeeping History by Carmen McNeely of Indian Creek Hives.

August 19, The established Putz House Wreath Class will resume from 9 a.m.-Noon, and a new group will begin in the afternoon. The new class would follow the established class from 1-4 p.m. and there would be a $10 class fee. For more info and reservations call: 573-204-4240.

August 19: Traditional Music Night, 7-9 p.m. Join us!

July 25-29: We will open each day of Jackson Uptown Homecomers from 4-8 p.m. We are featuring the art of the late Elwanda Seabaugh. Join us!

July 23, 2923: Carole Shelton will be presenting, “Portraits of African American Women: Before, During, and After the Civil War.” 2:00 p.m. at the History Center, 102 S. High St., Jackson. The presentation is part of the Missouri Humanities and State of Missouri Historical Society’s Speakers Bureau. Admission is free-Open to the public. Join us!

July 8, 2023: Enroll for a Pysanky Ukrainian egg decorating class from 9 a.m.-noon. Please call the History Center to enroll:573-204-4240-class size is limited. There will be a $5 class fee.

July 15, 2023: Traditional Music Night 7-9 p.m. (see the description on June 17, 2023)

June 17, 2023: 1-4 p.m., at the History Center, 102 S. High St., Jackson. Join Us for a Tea Party to welcome the c.1840’s doll, Sallie Ann Criddle, back to Jackson. She was given to a little girl, with the same name, in Jackson and has traveled the country with descendants of the Criddle Family since the 1840’s. The last Sally Ann who owned the doll will be visiting from Delaware for the party, and is helping us welcome her doll to her permanent home at the Historical Society. Refreshments will be served. Antebellum textile expert, Hope Eddleman will give a talk on the incredible period-representative clothing she created for the doll. Enjoy a fun biscuit buffet! Admission is free, and wear a fun tea party hat!

June 17, 2023: 7-9 p.m. at 102 S. High, Jackson, MO for Traditional Music Night. Acoustic only musicians sit in a circle and take turns selecting a musical piece that everyone joins in on-including audience sing-a-long. Some folks bring in lawn chairs for more comfort. This monthly programming is an educational goal of the Historical Society with the purpose of preserving the “porch singing” culture of SE Missouri.