The first of many celebrations of Cole County’s 200th anniversary in 2020 will take place June 5.
Marc Ellinger, who is heading the committee that will oversee the bicentennial events, spoke to Cole County commissioners Tuesday.
The county’s bicentennial kickoff will be at 11 a.m. June 5 at the Missouri River Access in Marion, which was the first county seat, said Ellinger, whose father led the group that helped organize the celebration for Cole County’s 150th anniversary.
They plan to have members of the bicentennial committee — made up of representatives from all communities within Cole County — speak at events such as church picnics and Jefferson City’s Salute to America festival about the county’s history, which will lead up to events marking the founding of Cole County in November and December 1820.
Fourth-grade students from schools across the county were asked to give presentations about county history. Ellinger said the committee chose a large layout done by students at South Elementary School in Jefferson City that shows drawings and information about the county. The other was a slideshow presentation done by Russellville students that focuses on the theme for the bicentennial, “Looking Back/Looking Forward.”
These two will be recognized during an April 16 event featuring Missouri Gov. Mike Parson and first lady Teresa Parson, Ellinger said.
As renovations to the Cole County Courthouse grounds continue, the County Commission is also looking at adding a memorial to mark the county’s bicentennial.
Plans are moving forward to produce a commemorative coin as part of the county’s bicentennial celebration, and the committee commissioned a special numbered small batch of “Cole County 200 Missouri Bourbon Whiskey” from Blacksmith Artisanal Spirits of Lohman, Ellinger said. Prison Brews microbrewery is also creating a special beer made with centennial hops to honor the bicentennial. A reception will be held sometime this spring to sample and purchase these.
Cole, Boone and Callaway counties were formed within a few days of each other, and representatives from all three counties have been working to place a monument honoring the counties and with a ceremony around Nov. 16, 2020, when the monument would be placed in an area near the Katy Trail in North Jefferson City, Ellinger said.