Poplar Bluff welcomes thousands across nation during solar eclipse
POPLAR BLUFF, Mo. (KMIZ)
The city of Poplar Bluff welcomed thousands of visitors during Monday's solar eclipse.
The city was one of the southeast Missouri cities that were in the path of totality, with darkness lasting about 4 minutes, 8 seconds. The bright blue sky, along with a low-70-degree day with a cool breeze, led to a packed viewing area at the Poplar Bluff High School.
Visitors from all across the nation, including Maine, Alabama, Georgia and Minnesota gathered awaiting totality at 1:56 p.m. Damian Smith and his wife Ruth, traveled from Johannesburg, South Africa, for the experience, which Smith described as "fantastic."
Smith said the two braved the 17-hour flight from South Africa. They then stayed in Nashville, Tennessee, with family friends, before they drove to Missouri. The 2024 eclipse was not Smith's first time viewing a total eclipse.
He previously lived in Bolivia, where he said he climbed a mountain in the Andes years ago to capture the memory. He said he decided to make the decision roughly two months ago to visit the southeastern Missouri city with a population of around 16,000 to take in the moment once more.
"I saw Poplar Bluff and something about the name made me think I’m going to come to Poplar Bluff," Smith said. "It’s been absolutely fantastic, we spoke to lots and lots of people.”
For couple Dariel and Sunen Cabrera, the eclipse was a way to celebrate their four-year wedding anniversary.
The two, wearing matching "Total solar eclipse...our cosmic anniversary bash" attire traveled from their home in Miami, Florida, to New Orleans, driving around scouting out the best place to view the eclipse. Sunen said the two were looking for an area with the best weather and lowest amount of cloud coverage, landing them in Poplar Bluff.
Dariel experienced the 2017 eclipse, making the 2024 viewing a special moment for the two.
"It's my first time actually ever seeing an eclipse or experiencing it it at all so I'm actually really excited," Sunen said.
Richard Brosmer and his grandson Ethan made the trek from Alabama in an RV to view the eclipse.
Richard wore a "Twice in a lifetime" t-shirt, saying he watched the 2017 eclipse in a cave in Tennessee. Ethan, 15, reminisced on the eclipse seven years ago, and said he was excited to fully capture the moment alongside his grandfather.
"He stays on top of this type of stuff," Ethan said. "He makes sure I don't miss anything and I'll remember this one and I'm sure of it and I'm thankful that he got me out here."
President and CEO of the Greater Poplar Bluff Chamber of Commerce Steve Halter told ABC 17 News previously that the city was expecting 40,000 extra visitors during Monday's eclipse.
