Living on the Fault Line

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Yesterday I mentioned that Reelfoot Lake in Tennessee was created in 1812 after a massive series of earthquakes along the New Madrid fault line. So why not go to “the scene of the crime”? New Madrid, Missouri is in the “boot heel” section of Missouri. It was the first town settled by whites west of the Mississippi. And, on December 16, 1811, it was literally shaken to the core. The first earthquake out of over two thousand (between the “big ones” and the smaller aftershocks) between December 1811 and February 1812 hit near Blytheville, Arkansas. The others followed in various places along the New Madrid fault. While the earthquakes are a sizable part of the history of New Madrid, they aren’t the only thing located in the New Madrid History Museum. The museum is in a building that once housed a “first chance/last chance” saloon in the 19th century, and it’s just behind the levee that keeps the Mississippi away. Other significant things that happened in the town of about 2,900 included the “Battle of Island #10” during the Civil War. It’s fascinating because the island no longer exists! Erosion, floods (particularly the 1927 flood), and the Army Corps of Engineers have taken their toll on the battlefield that was once above the water in the Mississippi. Fortunately, many artifacts have been preserved, including cannons, cannon balls (“don’t touch,” the sign warns, “you’ll throw your back out and we’re not responsible!” ), uniforms from both sides (Missouri was in the Confederacy during the war), and letters to home from soldiers. (One particularly humorous letter had a soldier griping about only having bacon to eat. What was he, a vegetarian???? ) New Madrid was also the site of a ferry landing on the Trail of Tears. A marker on the bank of the river shows the approximate location of the landing spot. Local individuals are also highlighted, including those brave men who died in World Wars I and II from the region. The first sewing machine was created in New Madrid, and it’s on display. Best of all, the building smells like a museum. There’s none of that sweet, aromatic, pristine, climate-controlled air you see in “big museums.” These things are old. The building is old. And your nose will tell you that! Admission was a measly five bucks, which included the self-pace trek through the museum and two films (one on the history of the town, and one solely about the earthquakes). There was also an antiques display on the second floor, which I skipped because it would have involved going up steps (something my back wasn’t all that interested in doing today). A wonderful piece of natural and human history can be found on the fault line right on the picturesque Mississippi!