Sunday, September 2, 2007

De Smet And Jesuit History Is Worthwhile

Museum supporters get zoning change, but rift remains
By Brian Flinchpaugh , 08/21/07

The feud over displaying artifacts from the closed Museum of Western Jesuit Missions at the former St. Stanislaus Seminary may continue even as a plan for a new museum to display them got a boost earlier this month."The story is not over yet," said Robert Gronemeyer, vice president and treasurer for the St. Stanislaus Historical Museum Society Inc.

Museum could feature artifacts, re-enactments, an 19th century kitchen and bedroom, 3,000 tools, Indian memorabilia and living history re-enactments are among the possibilities for a new museum along Charbonier Road in Florissant, Missouri. Lynn Cox, a leader of a faction of the St. Stanislaus Historical Museum Society, said plans are to show artifacts that represent the history of western expansion in the United States and North County.The 1.6-acre site at 3300 Charbonier Road also allows room for living history re-enactments of American fur traders that may become an annual event.Cox said organizers plan a private "silent opening" in mid-September that will be possibly feature as many as four descendents of Father Pierre-Jean De Smet's family. De Smet, a famous Jesuit missionary, traveled much of the 19th century American West.


Original article (here)

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