The Boone's Lick (diorama)

The Boone's Lick (diorama), Timothy Briner, 2007

Yesterday I visited a small village about 30 minutes outside of Boonville named Arrow Rock (population 79). They have a museum which has an interesting diorama of The Boone's Lick (or Boonslick), along with artifacts found at The Boone's Lick site, which is just across the river from Boonville; This is also the spot where the Santa Fe Trail supposedly originated.

The Boone's Lick is thought to be why Daniel Boone came to the area (although it is often disputed that he was ever here). In 1805 Daniel Boone's sons, Nathan and Daniel Morgan Boone set up camp across the Missouri river and started the areas Salt business; There is a claim that Daniel Boone came to visit his sons and passed through the area that is now Boonville.

"In 1804, Lewis and Clark reported the presence of many saltwater springs in the area that now comprises Howard, Cooper and Saline counties. The largest of these salt springs was the Boone's Lick....Brine water was poured into iron kettles and heated to boiling on a stone furnace. As the water evaporated, salt crystallized in the bottom of the kettle. The salt was shipped by keelboat on the Missouri River to St. Louis. Salt, which was indispensable at the time for preserving meat and tanning hides, was produced at the site until approximately 1833."