Carthage Off The Beaten Path

Carthage was the sight of a minor battle of the Civil War. The battle was a fought in several places. You can visit the historical Civil War battle sites around Carthage.

Down town about a block and a half from the big court house is the Civil War museum. This picture is of the front of the building. It is more interesting inside but I thought a picture of the front of it would help you find it easier.

Inside the Civil War museum is a model of the battle and other exhibits. My favorite thing was a painting of a young lady lifting her skirts up in the museum. The story goes that when the enemy forces invaded Carthage the young lady hid her flag by sewing it to her petticoats. When her own army came to liberate the town she stood up on some thing high and raised her skirts to show the soldiers the flag attached to her petticoats. The soldiers all saluted her petticoats.

I was looking up Carthage on the internet tonight and found out there is a museum in Carthage I did not go to. The Powers Museum is about the city's history in the years after the Civil War and up to now. I've got some thing to look forward to next time I am going that way. If you get there before I do let me know what the Powers Museum is like.

http://www.powersmuseum.com/about/about.html

If you like Victorian architecture there are many such homes in Carthage. You can pick up a list of them and drive around the town to see them. This information is available at the Carthage Chamber of Commerce. Ask for the Victorian Homes Drive Brochure. The Chamber is located at 107 East Third Street, Carthage, Missouri 64836. Telephone: (417) 358-2373

This fabulous mural is inside of the Civil War Museum. Look also for the Petticoat Flag painting. It has an interesting story.