Officials with the Ozarks Heritage Research Center (OHRC) at Missouri State University-West Plains (MSU-WP) will host a presentation, “Iron Through the Hills: Rails over the Rivers & Ridges of the Arkansas Ozarks” at 6 p.m. on Tuesday, June 9, at OHRC, located inside MSU-WP’s Garnett Library, 304 W. Trish Knight St., in West Plains. The presentation will be given by Vincent Anderson.
Free and open to all, this event is sponsored by the OHRC and West Plains Council on the Arts. Refreshments will be provided.
More about the Presentation
At the turn of the twentieth century, railroad locomotives echoed for the first time through the deep hollows and rugged ridges of the Arkansas Ozarks. This new form of transportation forever transformed the region’s economy, landscape, and way of life.
“Iron Through the Hills” explores the dramatic arrival of the railroad and its expansion into one of the most geographically challenging regions in the American South. This lecture traces how workers carved rail lines through bluffs, timber, and the Ozark hills, linking once-isolated Ozark communities to broader markets and modern industry. This program follows the decline of steamboat navigation along the White River, as well as the rise of tourism, and reveals how the railroad reshaped daily life in profound and lasting ways.
Drawing from historical records, maps, and regional accounts, “Iron Through the Hills” demonstrates the enduring legacy of the iron horse in the Arkansas Ozarks. This lecture will show a deeper understanding of how rails, rivers, and ridges were forged together to form modern identity of northern Arkansas.
More about Anderson
Anderson is an Ozark historian who grew up in Ozark County, Mo., and now resides in Baxter County, Ark. He serves on staff at the Baxter County Library, and he is the Baxter County Historian. Vincent was the host of the weekly radio program “Retracing Our Roots” on KTLO for 2 seasons, as well as the creator of the YouTube channel Ozarks’ History.
Anderson is dedicated to uncovering and preserving the layered history of the Ozarks by exploring early settlements, transportation networks, and the often-unspoken stories of the region, including the history of slavery in the Ozarks. Vincent loves old and abandoned cemeteries. Through lectures, writing, and public programs, he brings the past to life with clarity, depth, and a deep respect for place and community.
Contact Information
For more information about this event, contact Rebekah McKinney at 417-255-7949 or RebekahMcKinney@MissouriState.edu.
Visit WP.MissouriState.edu/Ozarks for additional information and upcoming events hosted by OHRC.