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After our stay in Hot Springs and Eureka Springs it was like entering another world when we reached Branson, Missouri. Here there was traffic, noise, neon signs, with restaurants, motels and theaters advertising their offerings. We attended 4 shows and lectures on the history of the area but did not take any pictures while in Branson . We enjoyed all 4 shows.

 

 
The Ladies Bathroom at the Shoji Tabuchi Show was so elegant that it was the "talk of the town". I did not take a picture there but purchased a postcard and scanned it.

 

 

Our last destination, the Ozark Folk Center, at Mountainview Arkansas,  was one of the highlights of the trip. It is dedicated to preserving the history of the settlers of the Ozark Mountain Region. We visited the craft center where various craftspersons were actually working in period costumes throughout the day. Some of our lectures were given by people involved with the “Living History” program at the center.  Dressed in the costumes of the 1800’s citizens of the area researched the life of a particular person of that era and pretending to be that person told us, the audience, his or her life story. A special highlight of our stay at the Ozark Folk Center was our visit to the Blanchard Caverns run by the National Park Service. The walk through the spectacular caverns was exciting and provided an excellent opportunity for picture taking.

 

 
Pictured here are two of the local residents who gave "living history" presentations. The revolutionary war soldier from Arkansas told of his experiences and the "long walk" home from Virginia at the end of the war. The "Widder Wilcox" told us her life story.

 

Pictured here are the woman who did the spinning and weaving, the basket maker, the blacksmith, the printer, and the wood carver. There were many, many other craftspersons working at the Center - all in the costumes of the era and using the tools of the 18th and 19th centuries.

 

 

The picture above and the one below were taken at the Blanchard Cave which is administered by the National Park Service.

 

 

 

 

The waterfall and stream are caused by the water coming out of the Blanchard Cave.
 

 

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