Small Wonders: A Museum of Missouri River Stories | Explore Missouri River History & Culture | Perfect for History Buffs & Travel Enthusiasts

Small Wonders is a perfectly titled book since is brings to the fore the every day small wonders of our human experience as experienced by our varied ancestors; the focus being the old Missouri River Trail and the confluence of three rivers that bring together Iowa, Missouri, and Kansas. The history of the land, the wildlife, and its many varied human population are richly told by James Schaap with love and deep admiration for all who have crossed this land over the centuries. My favorite is the history of "Broken Kettle Preserve," a place I can almost taste and smell by Schaap's delicate description of the land. But there are more stories, most famously "Sacajawea's Birthday," "The Home of Standing Bear" and "Jedidiah Smith" yet it is the smaller stories of the people history tends to leave behind like "Bishop Marty's Cossack" and "Bleeding Kansas" that makes this book such a treasure. I enjoyed every page, every word, and if this interests you even a little it is well worth your purchase.