The story of Moses Riney, a slave who took up arms to end slavery and restore the Union, became a permanent part of the Sainte Genevieve Museum Learning Center in a formal ceremony held Sunday, May 22.
Guest speakers include Mayor Paul Hassler, Mike Schaff from the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and Anita Alsup, whose beautiful painting of Riney was hung in the museum as a permanent reminder of his life and times. There was also a musket gun salute in honor of Riney.
Mike Schaff researched the life of Moses Riney extensively and his remarks can be read by clicking here: Life of Moses Riney by Mike Schaaf.
(l-r: Mayor Paul Hassler, Anita Alsup and Mike Schaaf)
Following the brief ceremony on the courtyard, the painting was marched upstairs by members of the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War to be hung in the museum.
To add perspective to the Civil War discussion, Greg Wolk gave a presentation “FORGED IN MISSOURI: ULYSSES GRANT AND THE SHOW-ME STATE,” that focused month by month on his activities in Missouri in the months of July to November, 1861. He placed particular emphasis on Grant’s “nemeses,” two of which were general officers of the United States Army, and one of which was actually the enemy, Missouri’s famous “Swamp Fox,” General Jeff Thompson of the Missouri State Guard.
Wolk’s book, A Tour guide to Missouri’s Civil War: Friend and Foe Alike, is available in the museum gift shop.