200th Anniversary of the Hawken Rifle Celebrates Missouri History

For the 1,000 people, and two horses, who came to the Boat House for the Hawken Classic, the weekend celebration of antique firearms, Missouri history and the mountain man era represented a chance to experience the Missouri River banks as they existed 200 years ago.

Gerry Messner, author of 1825 Fur Trade Rendezvous (along with Bubbles), describes how he outfitted the mustang for a 90-day trek retracing part of the journey of General William Henry Ashley in 1825 from southwest Wyoming to St. Louis MO.

The second year of our partnership with the National Muzzle Loading Rifle Association and the Gemmer Muzzle Loading Gun Club offered the community free admission to the Lewis & Clark Boat House and Museum as well as incredible displays of historic rifles, traditional crafts, an historic camp and a series of lectures capturing the history of the era. “It was inspiring to see so many people here to celebrate early American history,” said Bob Foster, executive director of the Boat House. “We had all the displays, book signings by authors Gerry Messmer and Lotsie Holton, high-quality education and re-enactors camped out. Thanks to Bob Vogt and everyone at the Gemmer Muzzle Loading Gun Club for the wonderful partnership.”

Bill Brecht, director of education (in blue Spanish Militia attire) is interviewed by Living St. Louis anchor Jim Kirchherr about the museum and the Hawken Classic.

Larry Boschen, who served as DESC phase leader for the three-day event, was praised by the group for the hospitality. “So many people in our club commented on how helpful your people were for them throughout the event,’ wrote Bob Vogt, secretary of the Gemmer Club. “It’s great when two groups with a common interest can work towards a common goal and successfully achieve it.”

If there was a negative to the event, it was knowing the 2025 event — the 200th anniversary of the St. Louis Hawken shop’s founding — was the last. Organizers had always planned a multi-year buildup to the Hawken Bicentennial and the big celebration. (There is interest in a different historic event in May next year, but plans are very tentative.)

ALSO FEATURED THE HAWKEN WEEKEND: Book signing of A Canoe Named Klmin, the story of how William Clark’s descendants righted an historic wrong by presenting a ceremonial canoe to the Chinook people by Carlota “Lotsie: Clark Hermann Holton.