From its earliest appearance in recorded history, Arrow Rock has been a destination for travelers. Native Americans came for the flint at the "rock of arrows," Lewis and Clark noted "a cliff called the Arrow Rock," and pioneers stocked their wagons there before heading down the Santa Fe Trail. Established in 1829, Arrow Rock grew quickly and attracted powerful citizens, including the innovative Dr. John Sappington and artist George Caleb Bingham. By the mid-1800s, Arrow Rock was a center for commerce and politics, but its prominence was short-lived. It was devastated by fires, bypassed by...