Updated 8/19/02 Please note, the only updates I do are usually to the current events, and checking links. But most of the links are updated regularly , so check them out!

MISSOURI is a state of humansize scenery. Our OZARK MOUNTAINS are the world's oldest.

We are called the CAVE STATE because of numerous caverns carved out of the limestone by underground rivers; some are spectacular, such as MERAMEC CAVERNS and ONONDAGA CAVE.

GIANT SPRINGS, such as BENNETT SPRING in the Southwestern section of the state, pump millions of gallons of water into our rivers daily. (Bennett Spring has 100MGD flow; Big Spring has 275 MGD.)

NUMEROUS small RIVERS, such as the CURRENT, the MERAMEC, the COURTOIS, the OSAGE, the JACKS FORK, the HUZZAH, the NIANGUA and many others, criss cross the Ozarks.

A few years ago an attempt to dam the Meramec was defeated by popular referendum, and the OZARK NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAYS has since been protected by congressional action. The rivers are popular FISHING and FLOATING streams, and TROUT PARKS are situated at some of the springs feeding several of the larger rivers.

Earlier in the century, Bagnell Dam created the Lake of the Ozarks (a popular recreation area), destroying its river, but the southern rivers hold an almost SACRED PLACE in the HEARTS of Missourians, urban and rural alike.

Except for the three major urban areas, Kansas City, St. Louis and Springfield (a smaller city), Missouri is still largely a PASTORAL state, with FARM and PASTURELANDS dotted with small towns. Although I have traveled through much of the world, and admired natural beauty everywhere, I think MISSOURI'S ANCIENT OZARKS HAVE A SPECIAL CONNECTION TO THE HUMAN HEART.

Ozarks Regional Land Trust is a nonprofit conservation organization dedicated to maintaining the unique natural character of the Ozarks. It works to permanently protect land in concert with landowners, communities and individual citizens.

Two small towns where I grew up: Rolla (a university town) and Salem (a rural community, near the Current River)

BEST FREE THINGS TO DO IN ST. LOUIS: Visit the St. Louis ZOO,the St. Louis ART MUSEUM, or walk in TOWER GROVE PARK (a Victorian walking park). Visit the MISSOURI BOTANICAL GARDEN (called Shaw's Garden locally, after its founder, Henry Shaw) on Wednesday mornings. Listen to KDHX radio, 88.1FM, community radio with a wide variety of music and other programming.

GREAT DRIVES: Highway 100, through the Missouri WINE country. (Take Hwy40/64 to Weldon Springs and turn onto HWY 100, towards Augusta. Follow 100, crossing the Missouri River at Hermann. Go on to HWY 50 and Jefferson City, the State Capitol, for a little more scenery and some history.)

GREAT TRAILS: the KATY TRAIL (bike or walk). Also along HWY100. Now the Riverfront Trail extends from the Arch to the old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Trailnet is building a network of trails throughout the St. Louis Metropolitan Area.

Or take the TRAIN from St. Louis (Kirkwood is a better station) to Jeff City, with stopping points along the way. Call AMTRAK for schedule and fare: 1-800-872-7245

INTERSTATE HIGHWAY 44 TAKES YOU TO THE OZARKS NATIONAL SCENIC RIVERWAY.(I-44 also runs parallel to the old Route 66.)