May 4, 1891. Sherlock Holmes and Professor Moriarty fight to the death on that deadly precipice far above Reichenbach Falls. Getting rid of that criminal kingpin was to be the crowning achievement of Sherlock Holmes’s career as the world’s first and greatest consulting detective, the one triumph that Holmes was sure would mean he could retire from criminology altogether. And getting rid of Moriarty was exactly what he did.

So where’s the party?

Sure, there are some things going on in the Sherlockian world on May 4 . . . somewhere. But, at least in America, our one big national-level gathering happens on or around an oft-debated, possibly-invented birth date for Sherlock Holmes. We seem to have plenty of other celebrations and symposiums that draw from all around the country every year. So why not on Reichenbach Day?

America’s a big country. While the one, true Reichenbach Falls is found in Switzerland, we have a whole lot of waterfalls with cliffs that might stand in for that place of honor. Sure, they’re not pilgrimage sites like the real thing, but for an annual celebration that doesn’t cost overseas air fare?

I just returned from Colorado, and it’s full of waterfalls. Helen Hunt Falls, Seven Falls, and Silver Cascade can all be found at easy-to-get-to Colorado Springs. But you don’t even really need mountains for waterfalls: Indiana has four waterfalls in Madison. South Carolina has waterfalls. Pennsylvania has waterfalls. Even Texas has waterfalls!

For now, I’m just floating this idea out on the Sherlock Peoria e-waves. When Reichenbach Day came on Friday, I have to admit that I was a little put off by an all-day threat of rain over Boulder and didn’t actually get out to anything waterfall-ish. But being so close to them and missing the opportunity may just spur me on toward more serious Reichenbach tribute in the future . . . at least in theory.

Your humble correspondent,

Brad Keefauver