Your Invitation To NSS 2015 Convention!

Greetings! The staff of 2015 NSS Convention invites you and your family to The Cave State for an action packed week of daily symposia, guided cave trips, vendors, and major events each evening. Conventions are a great way to learn about caves in other regions, share new techniques, meet old friends, and make new ones. We are thrilled to present “The Hitchhikers Guide To Missouri Caving” to the 74th annual gathering of National Speleological Society members. Waynesville is the heart of cave country in Missouri and is centrally located in the ageless Ozark Mountains with rugged scenic beauty as far as the eye can see. Over 200 caves will be offered during #NSS2015 including Carroll Cave, Skaggs Cave, world renowned diving cave Roubidoux Spring, caves that once housed onyx mining operations, caves with spectacular speleothems, caves rich with legend and lore of bushwhackers and moonshiners, caves for the family and JSS members, caves that you can canoe or kayak to, and of course caves with Pulaski County mud! Pit caves will be available at Post Convention in Southeast Missouri at Perryville. Convention Central will be located at Waynesville High School (200 GW Lane)- a state of the art, multimillion dollar facility. This facility is spacious, comfortable, air-conditioned and has Wi-Fi! Campground will be at Pulaski County-Ft. Leonard Wood Shrine Club (26920 Shrines Road), only ten minutes away from Convention Central. Surrounded by Mark Twain National Forest, the campground is 88 acres with plenty of shaded camping areas. Moderate sized campfires are permitted. Shower houses are available on site. Wi-Fi is available at the main Clubhouse. Nearby Saint Robert has many lodging choices for those who decide not to camp. Activities abound for those who would like to explore above ground. Our staff has teamed up with the 1903 Route 66 Courthouse Museum, the Old Stagecoach Stop, Crocker’s Frisco Depot, and Paranormal Investigations of the Historic Talbot House to offer mid-week evening activities for you and your family. Additionally, you can trout fish in the Roubidoux, road trip on Route 66, discover the Frisco line, antique in charming railroad boom towns, honor those who marched on the Trail of Tears, follow in the footsteps of Civil War soldiers, “blaze” a trail in the National Forest, kayak the winding Gasconade River, or drift down the Big Piney in a raft. No matter how you customize your 2015 NSS Convention experience you will be telling tales of your adventures at #NSS2015 for many years to come! Onsite registration opens at Noon July 11th! Don’t forget your towel! Joe & Kris Nicolussi, Co-Chairs & the 2015 NSS Convention Staff

This Week Around Pulaski County USA!

Events for the week of May 26, 2015-May 31, 2015

May 29- CXMMA International MMA Fights
What: Mixed martial arts bouts
Where: Area 151 Nightclub, 819 Z Highway, Saint Robert
When: Doors open at 6 pm
Cost: Tickets start at $25
Contact: Combate XTreme MMA Academy- 573.451.2116

Mixed martial arts bouts in Saint Robert may 29th!

May 30- Pulaski County Farmer’s Market
What: Year- round Farmer’s Market
Where: Downtown Waynesville
When: 8 am until Noon
Cost: FREE admission
Contact: Bruce Main- 573.842.9079

May 30- 1903 Route 66 Courthouse Museum
What: One of only two remaining Route 66 period courthouses in Missouri. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Where: On The Square, Waynesville
When: 10 am until 4 pm
Cost: FREE admission, donations accepted
Contact: Pulaski County Museum & Historical Society (Denise Seevers)-573.855.3644

May 30- Old Stagecoach Stop Museum
What: Pulaski County’s oldest building has served as a private residence, a stagecoach stop, a Civil War hospital, and a hotel on Historic Route 66. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Where: On The Square, Waynesville
When: 10 am until 4 pm
Cost: FREE admission, donations accepted
Contact: Old Stagecoach Stop Foundation (Jan Primas)- 573.435.6766

May 30- Route 66 Summer Jam
What: Music festival
Where: On The Square, Downtown Waynesville
When: 11 am until 7 pm
Cost: FREE admission
Contact: Lisa Valverde- 573.296.0102

Music festival on Route 66 in downtown Waynesville May 30th!

Looking Ahead:

June 6- Paranormal Investigations of the Historic Talbot House
June 17 through June 20- Pulaski County Regional Fair
June 19- Trail of Tears Wayside Exhibits Unveiling
June 20- Volkslauf
June 20- USO Military Support Motorcycle Ride
June 20- Route 66 Freedom Fest
June 20- Rockapalooza
June 23 through June 27- Tri County Fair
June 27 & June 28- Cave State Cruisers 28th Annual Car Show

Home to the 2015 National Speleological Society Convention
#NSS2015
July 13-17, 2015
Waynesville, MO
nss2015.caves.org
http://www.facebook.com/NSSConvention2015
twitter.com/NSS2015
Discounted Registration before June 1st
http://nss2015.caves.org/registration.shtml

A Featured Destination in FIREBALL RUN: America’s Frontier
Premiering Summer 2015

FIREBALL RUN: America’s Frontier premiers in its entirety Summer 2015.

Discover A Hidden History- Cherokee Trail of Tears Encampment Waynesville, Missouri

In 1830 Congress passed the Indian Removal Act, providing “for an exchange of lands with Indians residing in any states or territories, and for their removal west of the river Mississippi.” This act changed the Cherokee Nation forever. Their leaders fought against this act but by 1832 they were running out of options.

Trail of Tears Wayside Exhibit in Waynesville, MO

One by one, sometimes in chains, tribes were removed. The Choctaw, the Muscogee Creeks, the Chickasaw, the Seminoles were all forced from their homelands and moved to Indian Territory-now known as Oklahoma.

“A Trail of Tragedy”- Trail of Tears Wayside Exhibit in Waynesville, MO

In 1835, acting outside the authority of the Cherokee government, 20 tribal members, led by Major Ridge, signed the Treaty of New Echota. The conditions for removal were set: In exchange for $5 million the tribe would relocate to Indian Territory. Though the majority of Cherokee protested the agreement it was enacted into law by Congress in 1836. The treaty gave the Cherokee two years to voluntarily move.

“A Resting Place for the Weary”- Trail of Tears Wayside Exhibit in Waynesville, MO

Not surprisingly, most Cherokee refused to recognize the Treaty of New Echota. Few had moved at the end of the two year period. In 1838 General Winfield Scott and 7,000 soldiers, began a removal effort in Georgia. Cherokee families were uprooted and driven-sometimes at bayonet point to removal camps. In June of that year Cherokee were loaded by the Army onto flatboats and moved to Indian Territory. The first boat completed the journey in 13 days. Desertions and fatalities plagued the next two groups and the poorly supplied boats were ravaged by disease.

“Discover A Hidden History”- Trail of Tears Wayside Exhibit in Waynesville, MO

To save his people, Principal Chief John Ross petitioned General Scott to let the Cherokee control their own removal. Ross organized detachments of about 1,000 each and the Cherokee traveled by foot, horse, and wagon for 800 miles, taking up to eight months to reach Indian Territory. Two of these detachments camped at Roubidoux Spring in Waynesville- in December 1837 and March 1839. Details of these camps were recorded by Dr. W.I. Morrow, Reverend Daniel S. Butrick, and B.B. Cannon in their journals and diaries.

“Why Did The Cherokee Stop Here?”-Trail of Tears Wayside Exhibit in Waynesville, MO

The Cherokee suffered terribly during the hard winters. 15,000 Cherokee were forced from their homes and many hundreds died on the journey. Seventeen detachments of Cherokee arrived in Indian Territory in 1838 and 1839 and the tribe members began rebuilding their lives. Today the Cherokee and other removed tribes endure as vigorous Indian nations.

“A Road Through History”- Trail of Tears Wayside Exhibit in Waynesville, MO

The City of Waynesville and the Downtown Beautification Committee applied for, and received, certification as a site on the Trail of Tears National Historic Trail and in October of 2006, a Certification Ceremony was held in Laughlin Park, on the banks of the Roubidoux Creek. The National Park Service was represented by Aaron Mahr, who presented the certificate, and the Missouri Trail of Tears Association was represented by Deloris Wood. Laughlin Park is one of only seven certified sites in Missouri. Two others- Maramec Spring Park and Snelson-Brinker Cabin are only 45 miles from Laughlin Park. Certified sites can also be found in Pilot Knob, Springfield, Cassville, and Jackson.

“A Frigid Crossing”- Trail of Tears Wayside Exhibit in Waynesville, MO

On June 19th, 2015 The City of Waynesville, in conjunction with National Park Service, Trail of Tears Association, and Pulaski County Tourism Bureau will unveil seven Trail of Tears Wayside Exhibits. The exhibits begin at Roubidoux Spring and are located along the mile long walking path that follows the Roubidoux River. The event will begin at 9:00 a.m., rain or shine. The public is cordially invited and encouraged to attend. A reception, provided by Vidie’s Catering will follow. Honored guests will include the Cherokee Remember The Removal Riders.

“We traveled about 12 miles to a settlement… on the banks of a beautiful stream, named Rubedoo. Here we had a delightful place, on the bank of the river, convenient to wood and water.”- Rev. Daniel S. Butrick March 12, 1839

Information in this article is via National Park Service Trail of Tears brochure. To learn more visit: http://www.nps.gov/trte/index.htm

Ten Reasons To Attend 2015 NSS Convention In Waynesville, Missouri!

1. NSS Convention 2015 is centrally located in the Mississippi Valley-Ozark Region (MVOR). Whether you normally cave in ARA, MAR, NRO, NCA, SERA, SWR, TSA, VAR, Western Region, or the Rocky Mountain Region- #NSS2015 is within reach! Convention Central and Campground are both easily accessed via Interstate 44!

#NSS2015 Convention Hall and Campground are both easily accessed via Interstate 44!

2. #MuddyCaveMonday! And Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, & Friday! With 200 caves offered during Convention, most oozing with Pulaski County mud, you will have plenty of photo ops to submit to National Speleological Society (@Nsscaves) for the Muddy Cave Monday feature!

3. Affordability! From the gas pump, to lodging, to a night on the town- your dollar will have more bang for the buck in Pulaski County! Stretch it even further by asking for your free discount card at the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau booth at Convention Central. This is your passport to savings in town.

4. Campfires are welcome at Campground. Bring S’more fixings!

Campfires are allowed at 2015 National Speleological Society Convention in Waynesville, MO.!

5. Two of the best BBQ towns in the United States are in Missouri- St. Louis and Kansas City. Missouri’s BBQ isn’t confined to the big cities though. You will find lip smacking barbecue all across in the state- and at Campground and restaurants in Waynesville.

Sweetwater BBQ in Saint Robert

6. Concierge decontamination service will be offered at Campground. More time for you to relax and catch up with fellow cavers!

7. Fishing! You can fish several Red & White Ribbon trout areas of the Roubidoux River, even in the heart of Downtown Waynesville. Bennett Spring and Montauk trout parks are also an easy drive from Waynesville. The Gasconade & Big Piney Rivers are well known for smallmouth bass fishing.

Rainbow trout caught at Roubidoux Spring in Laughlin Park. Courtesy of Alan Clark.

8. You can explore Route 66, tour the 1903 Courthouse Museum by head lamp, visit an Old Stagecoach Stop, try your hand at ghost hunting, raft a lazy river, go antiquing, shop for the perfect Ozarks keepsake, honor the Cherokee at the Trail of Tears Memorial, drink a local craft beer, splash in a spring- all within 20 minutes of Convention Central! 9. Enjoy the show! Discover show caves & Civil War battlefields, take a Missouri State Penitentiary tour in Jefferson City, explore a state park, follow in Lewis & Clark’s footsteps, bike or hike the KATY trail, view St. Louis from the top of the Arch, wish upon a fountain in the City of Fountains, or head to the live music show capital of the world in Branson. There is a lot to see and do in The Show Me State for the whole family!

Image via Wikimedia Commons

10. Caving! 200 caves will be offered during #NSS2015!

Cave diving will be available during #NSS2015! Photo by Jennifer Idol, Ozark Cave Diving Alliance http://www.ocda.org

Register for 2015 NSS Convention today! Online registration available through June 13, 2015!!! Save $20 by registering today!

Order your FREE Waynesville/Pulaski County Visitors Guide!

Order your FREE Missouri Visitors Guide!

This Week Around Pulaski County USA!

Events for the week of May 18, 2015-May 24, 2015

May 22-25- Mid America Freedom Rally XXVII
What: Largest motorcycle rally in Mid Missouri
Where: Pulaski County-Ft. Leonard Wood Shrine Club
When: Gates open the 22nd at Noon, events runs through the morning of May 26th.
Cost: MRO members $25 per person, Non-members $30
Contact: Freedom of the Road Riders (Anita Servos)- 573.821.6766

May 23- Pulaski County Farmer’s Market
What: Year- round Farmer’s Market
Where: Downtown Waynesville
When: 8 am until Noon
Cost: FREE admission
Contact: Bruce Main- 573.842.9079

May 23- 1903 Route 66 Courthouse Museum
What: One of only two remaining Route 66 period courthouses in Missouri. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Where: On The Square, Waynesville
When: 10 am until 4 pm
Cost: FREE admission, donations accepted
Contact: Pulaski County Museum & Historical Society (Denise Seevers)-573.855.3644

 May 23- Old Stagecoach Stop Museum
What: Pulaski County’s oldest building has served as a private residence, a stagecoach stop, a Civil War hospital, and a hotel on Historic Route 66. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Where: On The Square, Waynesville
When: 10 am until 4 pm
Cost: FREE admission, donations accepted
Contact: Old Stagecoach Stop Foundation (Jan Primas)- 573.435.6766

Looking Ahead:
May 29: CXMMA International MMA Fights
May 30: Route 66 Summer Jam

This Week Around Pulaski County USA!

Events for the week of May 11, 2015-May 17, 2015

May 16- Pulaski County Farmer’s Market
What: Year- round Farmer’s Market
Where: Downtown Waynesville
When: 8 am until Noon
Cost: FREE admission
Contact: Bruce Main- 573.842.9079

May 16- 1903 Route 66 Courthouse Museum
What: One of only two remaining Route 66 period courthouses in Missouri. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Where: On The Square, Waynesville
When: 10 am until 4 pm
Cost: FREE admission, donations accepted
Contact: Pulaski County Museum & Historical Society (Denise Seevers)-573.855.3644

May 16- Old Stagecoach Stop Museum
What: Pulaski County’s oldest building has served as a private residence, a stagecoach stop, a Civil War hospital, and a hotel on Historic Route 66. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Where: On The Square, Waynesville
When: 10 am until 4 pm
Cost: FREE admission, donations accepted
Contact: Old Stagecoach Stop Foundation (Jan Primas)- 573.435.6766

Looking Ahead:
May 22-25: Mid America Freedom Rally
May 29-31: Route 66 In The Ozarks Square Dance Weekend
May 29: CXMMA International MMA Fights
May 30: Route 66 Summer Jam

Home to the 2015 National Speleological Society Convention
#NSS2015
July 13-17, 2015
Waynesville, MO
nss2015.caves.org
http://www.facebook.com/NSSConvention2015
twitter.com/NSS2015
Discounted Registration before June 1st
http://nss2015.caves.org/registration.shtml

A Featured Destination in FIREBALL RUN: America’s Frontier
Premiering Summer 2015

FIREBALL RUN: America’s Frontier premiers in its entirety Summer 2015.

This Week Around Pulaski County USA!

Events for the week of May 4, 2015-May 10, 2015

Welcome To The Following Groups:
May 4- Czech Route 66 Association

Czech Route 66 Association logo

May 9- Pulaski County Farmer’s Market
What: Year- round Farmer’s Market
Where: Downtown Waynesville
When: 8 am until Noon
Cost: FREE admission
Contact: Bruce Main- 573.842.9079

May 9- 1903 Route 66 Courthouse Museum
What: One of only two remaining Route 66 period courthouses in Missouri. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Where: On The Square, Waynesville
When: 10 am until 4 pm
Cost: FREE admission, donations accepted
Contact: Pulaski County Museum & Historical Society (Denise Seevers)-573.855.3644

May 9- Old Stagecoach Stop Museum
What: Pulaski County’s oldest building has served as a private residence, a stagecoach stop, a Civil War hospital, and a hotel on Historic Route 66. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places.
Where: On The Square, Waynesville
When: 10 am until 4 pm
Cost: FREE admission, donations accepted
Contact: Old Stagecoach Stop Foundation (Jan Primas)- 573.435.6766

Looking Ahead:
May 22-25: Mid America Freedom Rally
May 29-31: Route 66 In The Ozarks Square Dance Weekend

Home to the 2015 National Speleological Society Convention
#NSS2015
July 13-17, 2015
Waynesville, MO
nss2015.caves.org
http://www.facebook.com/NSSConvention2015
twitter.com/NSS2015
Discounted Registration before June 1st
http://nss2015.caves.org/registration.shtml

A Featured Destination in FIREBALL RUN: America’s Frontier
Premiering Summer 2015

FIREBALL RUN: America’s Frontier premiers in its entirety Summer 2015.