A celebration of a day, 80 years in the making this weekend in Diamond, MO. KRPS’s Fred Fletcher-Fierro has more.
In 1943, then Missouri Senator Harry Truman supported a grassroots effort to name a national park in honor of George Washington Carver.
The site in Diamond, Missouri would be the first national park to honor an African American. Just one of many ‘firsts’ for Carver who, though born to an enslaved mother, would go on to become a world-renowned scientist, artist, and educator.
George Washington Carver National Monument Park Ranger Curtis Gregory recently appeared on KGCS’s Newsmakers and spoke about the importance of Christianity in Carver’s life.
“Faith is very important in his life. Very, very important in his life, throughout his entire life. He was guided by it, he was guided by faith. And we believe it started on the Carver farm and got stronger when he got to Neosho with a lady by the name of Mariah Watkins, who he lived with when he went to Neosho.”
There are numerous events planned for this weekend including live music, speakers, guides tours, and peanut milk demonstrations.
Carver Day will be held this Saturday, July 8, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The event is open to the public.
For 89 9 KRPS News, I’m Fred Fletcher-Fierro
