Witnessing the Great American Eclipse in Columbia, Missouri

COLUMBIA, Missouri – It happened just after 1 p.m. where thousands of students, as well as some alums, gathered at the University of Missouri and sat in the middle to get a sweet spot of the total solar eclipse -- and total darkness. 

"This is amazing. This is like my whole lifetime experience. Like, it's amazing. I'm really amazed by it,” Sharon Tan.

She lives in Sugar Land and attended school at the University of Missouri. Tan said she took a private plane early Monday morning to get to Missouri. She said the temporary transformation was worth it. 

"We were hesitating if we want to fly to here because the cost is pretty high to fly by private plane but now I think it's totally worth it," Tan said.

She was not the only Houstonian jet-setting into the line of total darkness.

Houstonians took off from Million Air at Hobby Airport, headed north to see the view.

Read: Houston jet provides best spot to view Monday's solar eclipse

The Missouri School of Journalism flew a drone over the crowd. It captured images over the school on the first day of class.

University of Missouri Student Andrew Gammon had a creative description. 

He said, "I thought it was a good team effort. I think the moon did really well. The sun did too. They really pulled their weight and put a good show on tonight.  Glad Mizzou funded that for us.  It was a great time!"

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