A celebration of the rich natural and cultural heritage of the riverways will be held on May 14 at several locations along the upper Current River.
From 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. the lawn around the Akers Visitor Center will host information booths and exhibits about historic communities that once flourished along the river. Those with a connection to the area will share their memories and stories about life in the surrounding hills. Meet descendants of the families that first opened Devils Well as a tourist attraction, built the Mt. Zion Church, and constructed the first ferry at Akers. Guided programs will continue throughout the day.
Programs are scheduled as follows:
• 7 a.m. Rick Mansfield from Ozark Heritage Project will lead a birding hike at Devils Well followed by a brief overview of natural and cultural history of the Devils Well area.
• 9 a.m. Rick Mansfield will continue his tour of the area with a guided walk through the Akers Cemetery, located on State Highway KK just east of Akers Ferry.
• 10 a.m. Gathering of community members and organizations from the upper Current River located at the Akers Visitor Center.
• 11 a.m. Tour of Mt. Zion Church north of Akers. Hear stories from descendants of the families that built and worshipped within the unique stone structure. Jo Schaper will discuss local geology, the stone construction of Mt. Zion Church and the mysteries of Devils Well, as well as leading a hands-on activity for kids that will teach how stones were used to construct many local buildings.
• 12 p.m. Bring a picnic lunch and visit with friends and neighbors while overlooking the river at Akers.
• 12:30 p.m. Bus departs for Welch Spring. Take a guided hike to view Welch Spring and Hospital with a descendent of the Welch family, or enjoy a float from Welch to Akers, stopping along the way for a guided walk to the Howell-Maggard Cabin.
• 5:30 p.m. Gather at the Derryberry Cemetery near Cedar Grove for a history of the town with Ben Timson.
The celebration will highlight recreational activities and historical programs that can be enjoyed at Ozark National Scenic Riverways and along the upper Current River.
Partners for this event include the Shannon County Museum, Ozark Riverways Foundation, Friends of Mt. Zion, Dent County Historical Society, Ozark Trail Association, US Coast Guard Auxiliary, and Ozark Heritage Project.
Akers Visitor Center is located at the junction of State Routes K and KK in northern Shannon County. For more information, please contact Ranger Skyler Bockman at 573-323-4905 or skyler_bockman@nps.gov.
