In the Path of Totality

Something really extraordinary will happen April 8 in Ozark County – and also in some other lucky communities and cities across a narrow swath of North America. 

On that date, for those of us fortunate enough to be in the right spot, the sky will darken, and for a few precious minutes, day will become night. That happens when a new moon slides across the visible surface of the sun, blocking its light except for the outer atmosphere, which can only be seen during a total solar eclipse.

That's what will happen here on April 8.

Note that a total solar eclipse differs from an annular eclipse, which isn't so rare. Internet sources say that, in an annular eclipse, the moon is farther from the Earth, so it appears to cover less of the sun, allowing more sunlight to be visible around the "rim." During an annular eclipse, daylight dims as it might on a cloudy day. In contrast, during the brief period of "totality" in a total solar eclipse, those in the path experience what feels like nighttime.

The path of the last total solar eclipse that passed over the continental United States happened just seven years ago, in 2017. But the one before that happened 99 years earlier, in 1918. Before that, the last two total solar eclipses that were visible from Missouri happened in 1869 and 1806. 

These internet sources say that no one in the continental United States will see another total solar eclipse until 2044. The next one that will be visible from Missouri won't happen until the year 2178.

'Something that will live in our memories forever'

People who have experienced a total solar eclipse, including Ozark County residents Jane and Andy Elder, say it is something to behold. Jane calls it a "wonder of nature" that creates powerful sensations and emotions that are hard to describe. 

In 2017, the path of the total solar eclipse passed from Oregon to South Carolina, crossing Missouri roughly from north of Kansas City to south of St. Louis. Andy and Jane, who said she had experienced three partial eclipses at that point, carefully studied maps and timing predictions then opted to drive 200 miles to experience the total eclipse at Port Hudson Lake Conservation Area, a site north of Highway 50 between Jefferson City and St. Louis.

 They scouted out a good viewing spot ahead of time – a solitary hilltop overlooking the lake. Then, on their way to that spot early on the morning of Monday, Aug. 21, 2017, they stopped by a yard sale to chat with the vendor. 

They asked the man at the cash box if he was impressed about the coming eclipse. 

"Not too much," Jane wrote in her Ozark Road blog on Aug. 26, 1917. "He thought it might just be like a cloudy day. Nothing to get too excited about."

In the conservation area, they watched as a "growing crowd of people" gathered. "Some came from Arkansas, some from nearby, and some from farther away," she wrote.

Here's how Jane described, in her blog, what happened next. (The glasses she mentions are special dark-lensed glasses specifically designed to protect the eyes while looking directly at the sun):

"We checked our time and made the trip back to our solitary hill. As we walked, we sensed the beginning of the dimming of light. I remembered how the sun appeared to fade when I had experienced an eclipse before. There is a difference in the light . . . almost a bleaching out of color. We climbed up to the field and waited.

"Putting on our glasses, we watched the sun move from a fat crescent to a small and smaller sliver. And then, just as if someone was blowing out the light of a candle, the air around us grew chilly, and darkness descended down around us. Taking off our glasses, we saw it . . . a total eclipse of the sun. The moon stood there, blocking the light. With our glasses off, we marveled at this amazing sight. 

"For me, it was an almost holy experience. I began to cry. My heart beat so fast. Actually, I don't think I could ever find the words to describe what I saw. I was at once very small in the universe . . . and very alone standing there on that hill. 

"I took some pictures as the moon began to move away from the sun. The brighter colors came back. We took some pictures of the crescent sun as it grew larger, its shadow making tiny arcs on the bare ground and through the smaller leaves of a river birch.

"Coming back to the parking lot, many people were already leaving. We stayed until the sun emerged whole again. Sharing our experience with the others, we found that they were just as awed as we were.

"Going back through town, we stopped by to see our friend, the garage sale man. So, what did he think of the eclipse? Awesome, is what he said. It was absolutely awesome. Never thought it would be like that. And I think he was having a hard time coming up with words to describe his feelings. 

"Just like me. At a loss for words. In amazement, we all saw something that will live in our memories forever. A total eclipse of the sun."

Watching the 2024 eclipse

Jane and Andy drove 200 miles to see the dark period of totality during the 2017 eclipse. But on April 8, they can stand on their own solitary hilltop at their home in, ironically, the part of Ozark County that was named for early settlers and is still identified on many maps as "Luna." The website space.com includes Luna, Missouri, on its list of places with moon- and eclipse-related names that will experience total darkness on April 8. 

On the Elders' hilltop, according to the 24-hour timeclock on the website timeanddate.com, the moon's shadow will start moving across the face of the sun to create a partial eclipse at 12:36:42 p.m. CDT. Totality will begin at 13:54:19 and end at 13:56:14, a period of 1 minute 55 seconds (17 seconds longer than it will last in Gainesville). At 15:13:08, the eclipse will be completely over. 

Being ardent eclipse fans, the Elders are excited about the total eclipse being visible right there at their home on the Luna hilltop. But they're also a little envious of nearby places like Thayer, where the period of totality will last 4 minutes and 1 second, according to timeanddate.com, and Mountain Home, Arkansas, where totality will last 3 minutes 11 seconds.

West Plains, where the period of total darkness on April 8 will last 3 minutes and 1 second, is planning a four-day "Party in the Path" festival April 5-8 to celebrate the eclipse. The West Plains Daily Quill last week described the upcoming event as a "four-day extravaganza packed with thrilling concerts, vibrant parades, a spirited 5k run, and an array of food trucks offering delicious treats" plus "music that'll make your heart sing."

The 115-mile-wide North American path of the 2024 total solar eclipse will enter North America at Mazatlan on Mexico's Pacific Coast at 11:07:25 a.m. PDT and travel some 4,000 miles diagonally across the continent until exiting over Newfoundland, Canada, a little more than two hours later at 5:13 p.m. ADT (Atlantic Daylight Time), according to timeanddate.com. (The timeline for the partial eclipse is longer.)

Like West Plains, some cities in the path of totality are planning eclipse parties and celebrations. 

The nasa.gov website reports a day-long Oct. 30, 2023, meeting in Russellville, Arkansas, a college town between Fort Smith and Little Rock, where NASA scientists from Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, spoke to an estimated 1,000 people who turned out "to discuss educational outreach opportunities" related to the April 8 eclipse. Russellville is preparing for more than 100,000 tourists who are expected to experience the city's predicted 4 minutes and 12 seconds of totality. 

Schools' plans

Century Bank of the Ozarks is giving all Ozark County schools eclipse-viewing glasses for students and faculty. 

Dora teacher Crystal Leroy said their preliminary plans are to take all the students outside to view the eclipse with the glasses provided by Century Bank. The week before the eclipse, high school and middle school classes will do activities with elementary students "to help explain what an eclipse is, why it is rare, what happens during the eclipse, safety measures we must take, etc.," she said in an email to the Times. Middle school students will do a "student's choice" eclipse project such as creating models, informational brochures, videos, slideshows, or posters.  

Amy Padgett, Bakersfield School superintendent, said they're excited about the upcoming eclipse and are considering their options. The Bakersfield district operates on a four-day week, Tuesday-Friday, which means school normally wouldn't be in session on Monday, April 8. District officials are discussing whether to hold school that day "to ensure kids have the opportunity to properly and safely participate in the viewing," Padgett said. But she added that another consideration is that "things could be crazy" if lots of tourists converge on this area to view the eclipse. In that case, she said, "it might be better to continue with our normal schedule." No decision has been made yet, she said.

Kathalee Cole, superintendent of the Lutie School District, said students will be off on April 8 because that Monday is scheduled to be a teacher workday. However, the district is considering inviting students back to school on April 8 to view the eclipse with science teacher Raymond Beaudin. Definite plans will be announced later.

Thornfield administrator Melissa Campbell and Gainesville Schools superintendent Justin Gilmore said students will be taken outside to view the eclipse through the Century Bank glasses. Teachers may also lead students in eclipse-related class projects and lessons. 

Businesses' plans

The Times reached out to Ozark County business and resort owners to ask about plans related to the eclipse.

Betsy Ritchie, whose family owns and operates the Little Creek Opry House Event Center and Getaway near Wasola, said they are planning an April 5-8 "eclipse party" offering packages that can include camping, hiking, live music, a horseshoe tournament and "food and fun." For more information, call Ritchie at 951-704-6736 or visit the Little Creek Opry House and Event Center Facebook page or littlecreek-opryhouse.com.

Missy Grisham, owner of Antler Motel in Gainesville with her husband Ray, said last week that someone had "just called from Chicago to reserve a room for four nights in April." Missy admitted to being a little surprised when the guest told her they are "driving down from Chicago for the eclipse," she said. For more information, call the motel at 417-679-4292. 

Myron McKee, owner of River of Life Farm resort on the North Fork of the White River, said he'd received several reservations from visitors coming for the eclipse. For more information, visit riveroflifefarm.com or call 417-251-7777.

Michelle Vivero, owner of Roo-B-Doo Family Resort at Pontiac, said they are opening early-spring cabins for fishing-tournament participants and eclipse viewers. For information, call 417-679-4174 or visit roobdoofamilyresort.com.

Jabet Wade, Ozark County Chamber of Commerce president (and Pontiac Cove Marina manager), said ideas for celebrating the eclipse are being considered. 

Jane's suggestions

Jane Elder encourages everyone to get outside on April 8 and experience the eclipse. The period of totality in Ozark County will be relatively short, but Jane notes that the totality she and Andy went through in 2017 was just a little over two minutes "and it was a great experience."

 If you're interested in getting a longer eclipse experience, consider driving to one of the places mentioned above – or do your own research and find another place with longer totality. Online sources say the longest period of totality will be near Nazas, Mexico, where darkness will last four minutes 28 seconds.  

Jane advises all eclipse viewers to "get special eclipse glasses and know how to use them." A total solar eclipse differs from a more common, annular eclipse in that, during the period of totality, viewer may remove the glasses and look directly at the sun. But it's crucial to wear the glasses while viewing the eclipse at all other times. 

Finally, Jane says, it's "always best to plan ahead." She and Andy did their research and found the best location then scouted the perfect viewing spot on that solitary hilltop so they were ready and knew exactly where they were going on the morning of the 2017 eclipse.