Missouri Road Trip 2015

Every Hero Has A Story: Points of Interest Scott Joplin attended George R. Smith College in Sedalia to study music. The id you know Missouri had a king? Buoyed by success, Joplin and his wife, Belle, J college burned down in 1925. Yes, “The King of ,” a talented moved to St. Louis in the spring of 1900. musician and composer whose real While living there, he produced some J Scott Joplin was inducted into the Hall of Famous Missourians in the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City in 1992. nameD was Scott Joplin, spent a significant part of of his better known compositions: “The Entertainer,” “Elite his life in Missouri and it was here he composed J In 1976, Joplin was posthumously awarded a Pulitzer Prize for his some of his most famous musical works. Syncopations,” “March Majestic” contribution to American music. and “Ragtime Dance.” Scott Joplin has a star on the St. Louis Walk of Fame in the Delmar Loop As a young man, Joplin established roots in J Sedalia, where his experimentation with musical In 1907, Joplin moved to New district. Learn more at StLouisWalkofFame.org. York to increase national rhythms led him to create his first well-known The Friends of Scott Joplin organization works to preserve and promote J published work, the “.” The tune recognition and further his the enjoyment of ragtime within the greater St. Louis area. Visit became a national sensation – even though mass success. Sadly, the most FriendsofScottJoplin.org for an events calendar. media outlets such as radio didn’t exist. ambitious work of his life – his opera, “” – failed and Source: Missouri Department of Natural Resources Named for a nightclub in Sedalia, “Maple Leaf he eventually succumbed to disease Division of State Parks Rag” is said to be the first piece of American sheet in 1917, at the age of 49. music to sell more than 1 million copies! Ragtime saw renewed interest in the early 1970s when the motion picture “” used Win Prizes! “The Entertainer” as its theme music. The movie Gas Up and Go visit St. Louis with a $50 gas card! won seven . Log on to VisitMo.com/MoRoadTrip15 and enter the weekly code Win eekly for a chance to win a $50 gas card and the Summer Finale Prize. W There are 11 weekly codes! This week’s code is JOPLIN.

Visit any of the destinations in our 11-week Missouri Road Take A Road Trip to St. Louis! Fan of Trip 2015 series and share your photos on Twitter using #MoRoadTrip15. VisitMO will select a photo to share on our social In 1976, Joplin’s St. Louis home was music room allows visitors to listen to piano the Week channels each week. placed on the National Register of rolls of the ragtime era, including some that Historic Places and today is known as were cut by Joplin himself. At the end of the summer, we’ll award a family trip on Missouri’s the Scott Joplin House State Historic If you have time, travel about Summer Highway 36, The Way of American Genius. Each Gas Up and Go Scott Joplin House Site. The home is furnished as it 200 miles west of St. Louis to Finale weekly entry is automatically entered to win the Summer Finale Prize, a trip from Hannibal to St. Joseph, including lodging, State Historic Site would have been in 1902 when Sedalia, where Joplin attended Prize attraction tickets and a $150 gas card. 2658 Delmar Blvd. Joplin was composing songs that high school and college and St. Louis •314-340-5790 would one day make him famous. returned throughout his life. The Oficial rules available at VisitMo.com/MoRoadTrip15 • Parent must enter sweepstakes The visitor center exhibits depict St. Louis Scott Joplin Ragtime Festival is held there each and the neighborhood as Joplin knew June, and thousands of music lovers attend to hear them, and additional details about his performances by some of the best ragtime musicians ©2015, Missouri Press Foundation life and work. The operating player piano in the in the world. Learn more at ScottJoplin.org.

Heroes come in all different forms. Heroes can be grown-ups or kids, even pets. Missourian Most heroes are ordinary people who do extraordinary things or inspire others to be extraordinary. Help us recognize local Hometown Heroes by nominating yours! We will feature some of our summer readers’ Hometown Heroes in a special Missourian feature. To nominate your Hometown Hero, tell us what makes your hero extraordinary in 200 words or less and send it to The Missourian by Aug. 15. Visit emissourian.com/hero to nominate your hero online.