Students learn while having fun!
When about 22 geography grads, undergrads, and faculty went to Arrow Rock for a camping trip Sept. 24-25, they learned a lot about the historical geography of the community, while making new friends and having a great time.
Of special interest was the community’s historical ferry landing, the reason Arrow Rock exists. Migrants first traveled across the Missouri River there in 1816, and by 1821, the landing site, listed on the National Register of Historic Places, was heavily used by Santa-Fe-bound trading caravans.
Grad student Michael Terhune led the tour at the landing, which is just outside of Arrow Rock and down a hill, says Soren Larsen, full professor of geography.
“The Missouri River flooded in 1927 and moved about a mile away from the ferry landing site,” Larsen adds. “It won’t go back to its original site, but you can see a remanent of the original ‘arrow rock’ on the river where the ferry landing was put in originally.”
The adventurers also went to Arrow Rock Museum where they viewed exhibits and watched an interpretive film on the history of the area. They also explored the architecture of the town, complete with federal-style buildings. They even got ice cream at a local sweet shop: The Badger’s Hideaway.
