(Re)Discover COMO: Art in the Park, Hindman Junction, “Blind” Boone Home

(Re)Discover COMO is a monthly feature sponsored by the Columbia Convention and Visitors Bureau highlighting places, events, and historical connections that new residents and visitors can discover, and not-so-newcomers and long-time residents can … rediscover.

Art in the Park   

Art in the Park, which began in 1959, is one of the oldest and largest fine arts festivals in mid-Missouri. The festival features artists from across the United States displaying a variety of media, including painting, drawing, photography, pottery, jewelry, fibers, sculpture, wood, and glass.    

The 2025 edition of Art in the Park is set for June 7 and 8 at Stephens Lake Park. Families can enjoy a unique experience in arts, hands-on activities, live music, and entertainment, while finding special gifts and keepsakes. There’s also a Kid’s Art Spot for designing a tie-dye t-shirt, having their face painted, or starting their own art collections.   

Art in the Park is organized by Columbia Art League, and entrance is free thanks to the generosity of the event’s sponsors. 

Hindman Junction (MKT and Katy Trails)     

Columbia’s MKT Trail converges with the iconic, 225-mile statewide Katy Trail at Hindman Junction, 8.9 miles from the MKT’s downtown trailhead. The intersection and resting spot was named in honor of Darwin Hindman, a cycling enthusiast who served as Columbia mayor from 1995 to 2010 — the longest tenure of any mayor in the city’s history.   

Hindman Junction was dedicated in 1995 and was refurbished as recently as four years ago, when new informational panels were installed. Former State Rep. Chris Kelly called Hindman “a true champion for that great American idea of public places for public purpose” and cited the significant impact of the MKT and Katy trails at the panel installation event. He also noted that without Hindman’s relentless advocacy for the Katy Trail, the rails to trails movement — and the MKT Trail — might not have happened.   

The main trailhead at 101 S. Fourth St. was part of the Flat Branch area’s revitalization under former City Manager Ray Beck. There are also trailheads at 501 S. Providence, 800 W. Stadium, 2701 Forum Boulevard, and 3662 Scott Boulevard.   

This 10-foot-wide trail, built on the old railbed of the MKT railroad, is an all-weather, crushed limestone surface providing opportunities for walking, jogging, running, and bicycling. The city’s 4.7-mile MKT links to Boone County’s 4.2 miles of trails at the southwest edge of the city at Scott Boulevard.   

Some other trail amenities include fitness stations at the Stadium and Forum trailheads, drinking fountains, the Forum Nature Area and trail, the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial at Battle Garden, and playfields at the Scott Boulevard access. 

John William “Blind” Boone Home     

The historic Blind Boone Home and Event Center at 10 N. Fourth St. will mark the 161st birthday of John William “Blind” Boone on May 17. The two-story Victorian home of John and Eugenia Boone is historically significant as the home of one of America’s greatest musicians and a symbol in Columbia of African American achievement at the turn of the 20th century.   

In his lifetime, Boone overcame blindness, poverty, and discrimination to become a renowned composer and concert pianist. His musical compositions provided a direct link between traditional African American music, classical music, and the music that came to be known as ragtime. Historians of jazz and ragtime are increasingly recognizing Boone’s seminal role in the evolution of American music.   

The Boone Home is an important destination on Columbia’s African American Heritage Trail. The historic Second Missionary Baptist Church, built in 1893, is adjacent to the home. Whether hosting a wedding, a private party, or a corporate event or meeting, the Blind Boone home provides one of the most distinctive venues in central Missouri.