April 13, 1936

The ferris wheel at the St. Louis World's Fair was tested for the first time. It stood twenty-five stories tall and could carry two thousand people

The Eads Bridge across the Mississippi was opened for pedestrians. This privately funded bridge cost five cents to cross or, for ten cents, you could stay and "promenade in the cool river breezes."

A terrible tornado destroyed a huge portion of Joplin. The worst hit was the city's main hospital. Over 7,500 homes were also hit. The death toll was over 160. In the days and week after the disaster, the community rallied together to help each other.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition (the Voyage of Discovery) spent most of the day in St. Charles as the men took their last chance to attend church. Most of them were expected to die along the way so the Captains allowed them plenty of time. They didn't push off until about 3 PM. They made three miles progress that first day and camped on an island at the mouth of the Bonhomme Creek, which is now Chesterfield.

Hermann Wurst Haus shortens the farm-to-table chain.

Today astronaut Tom Akers was born in St. Louis. He grew up in Eminence and graduated from Eminence High School. He received a Bachelor of Science degree and a Master of Science degree in Applied Mathematics from the University of Missouri-Rolla in 1973 and 1975, respectively. Eventually Colonel Akers made four trips into space.

A great day for Kansas City! More than 53,000 people attended the grand opening of the new Electric Park. The Heim Brothers opened the amusement park near their brewery. They had operated a brewery in Manchester, Missouri but later moved to Kansas City where they operated the world's largest brewery during the pre-prohibition years.

A Globe-Democrat article stated that Henry Shaw was so upset by the ways that visitors were treating his flowers and plants that he was considering closing the gates to the general public. 

Enjoy the labors of area gardeners.

Almost 200 outlets will be opening in August, and cultivation can begin. Here’s what you should know.

A mother-and-daughter team makes mats for the homeless out of plastic grocery bags.

The Missouri Press Association was organized on this date.

 The Bellefontaine Cemetery was opened in St. Louis. This historic place holds the remains of and monuments to some of the nation's greatest people.

The Globe-Democrat carried a description of a new electronic sound amplifier to be installed at the Muny Opera. The paper said this device brought the sound "all over the house and into the sylvan purlieus beyond."

"Be Prepared," William Clark wrote in his journal as he and the men made last minute preparations for pushing into the mouth of the Missouri.

Birthday of musician-composer Burt Bacharach from Kansas City. 

Learn how the nation’s leading cannabis telemedicine platform can help you get a Missouri medical marijuana card in minutes.

St. Regis Seminary opened. This was the first Roman Catholic institution in America to be founded for the higher education of American Indians.

Missouri Photojournalism Hall of Famer captures the wild horses of the Ozarks.

Three leaders of the Bald Knobbers were hanged on this day in Forsyth. The rope broke on one and he was taken back onto the scaffold and re-hanged. These vigilantes-gone-wild were the domestic terrorists described in The Shepherd of the Hills.

How a St. Louis Pretzel company became a staple in the city.

With a passion for cooking, they opened a brewery in Springfield.

The little critters in the St. Louis drinking water were identified as a type of miniature crab. The Health Commissioner said that seeing them was actually a good thing. The water used to be so muddy that people couldn't see critters. 

The Missouri Women's Suffrage Club was organized for the purpose of gaining the right to vote for women. It was the first organization in the world with women's suffrage as its sole objective.

The Gateway Arch welcomed its five-millionth visitor. It was a nine-year-old girl from Illinois. Among her special attendance prizes were a case of wine and some tickets to the Playboy Club.

St. Louis residents were finding eels in their sinks. The water commissioner said that eels and minnows could easily pass through the filters when they were young and then would grow while they lived in the settling basins. 

Alan Shepard became the first American to go into space. His Mercury capsule is one of twenty spaceships to be built in St. Louis by McDonnell-Douglas.  

Virtual events, ways to give back, and food and drink options all around the state.

St. Charles dealership restores, services, and sells vintage vehicles.

A mass meeting called for the resignation of state lawmakers who favored the purchase of Forest Park. Opponents said that the park was too far from the city to be of any use and that it was just a playground for the rich. 

Laura Ingalls became the first licensed woman pilot in St. Louis.

St. Louis got 4.0 inches of snow. (Yes, in May!)

Our most storied region caters to luxury travel enthusiasts in spades.

Missouri's craft beer scene is more vibrant and prestigious than ever.

You can stay in a home built out of shipping containers.

Missouri’s Hobbyist and Commercial beekeepers help our bee populations stay healthy.

Take a ghost tour of the historic prison, explore a vibrant downtown, and visit the Missouri Museum at our storied Capitol.

We break down medical marijuana in Missouri.

Bicentennial project tells the story of Missouri.

Fiddler Molly Healey finds inspiration from the Show-Me State’s flourishing music scene.

Dine in a renovated home from the 1840s in Weston.

Contemporary art encourages children to think, look, and talk.

Martha Jane Cannary Burke was born in Princeton. The infamous frontier woman was known as "Calamity Jane." 

New St. Louis cultural center entices wordsmiths and bookworms alike.

Meet the vendors who'll be selling their wares at the 2020 Best of Missouri Life Festival.

The Spirit of St. Louis flew its last flight, departing from Lambert Field and arriving in Washington, DC, where it was subsequently donated to the Smithsonian Institution. 

A new ordinance declared that dancing was prohibited in the Jefferson County Courtroom.

The largest concrete bridge deck pour in the state's history took place on this date in Kansas City while building the new Christopher S. Bond Bridge.

Interstate 44 crosses Missouri from St. Louis to the Oklahoma state line, just west of Joplin, a length of 293 miles. For 235 of those miles, from St. Louis to Halltown, I-44 follows the route of what John Steinbeck called America’s “Mother Road”—the legendary Route 66.

Birthday of President, General, and adoptive Missourian Hiram Ulysses Grant (aka Ulysses S. Grant).

The Douglas County Courthouse (which was housed at the time in a temporary building) was destroyed by fire.

Birthday of sportscaster and analyst, Joe Buck from St. Louis.

Kansas City beer baron, George Muehlebach was born on this day.

Many of the fire towers are being closed, removed, and relocated, so this is a good time to find one to climb for the best views in the state.

A haven for gorgeous scenery, the Ozarks is brimming with stunning waterfalls. April and May are great months to enjoy our waterfalls, as water flow is at its peak from spring showers.

On this date St. Charles residents asked the state for a road running west from St. Charles to Howard County. This was the beginning of what would become the Booneslick Trail, then the Route. 2, then Highway 40, and finally now Interstate 70.

Millionaire balloonist and adventurer Steve Fossett was born on this day. In 1968, he received an MBA from the Olin School of Business at Washington University in St. Louis, where he was a longtime member of the Board of Trustees.

The first polio vaccines arrived in Missouri.

Here are the top three winners of our cake contest!

“The earth, river, etc., torn with furious convulsions, opened in huge trenches. There through a thousand vents sulphurous streams gushed from its very bowels leaving vast and almost unfathomable caverns.”

Columbia garden centers provide inspiration, materials and know-how to spruce up your yard.

The St. Louis Police Board approved a "Lady's Platoon." The tallest and best looking police officers could apply to just be "hunks" and help the ladies across the streets.

The Show-Me State—where we have to see it to believe it—boasts not one but three giant balls of twine, the world’s largest rocking chair, and a gargantuan goose amongst a host of other roadside stops. So get out your camera, fuel up, and take a road trip across the state to see Missouri’s largest attractions. 

The Mercantile Library opened in St. Louis on this date thus becoming the first public library west of the Mississippi.

The Green Switch Celebration was held on this day as Rock Port, MO became the first community in America to get all of its electricity from wind power.

For the first time in baseball history an opening day game was played at night when the Cardinals beat the Pirates in St. Louis.

Birthday of Henry Smith Pritchett, astronomer, who was born at Fayette, MO and attended Pritchett College in Glasgow, MO. After additional training at the U.S. Naval Observatory he went to work at Washington University in St. Louis. He was named Superintendent of the U.S. Coast Guard Geodetic Survey and was president of the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Peace.

Thomas Hart Benton, who was from Neosho and one of Missouri's greatest artists, was born today.

Established by the Geyer Act of 1839, The University of Missouri began accepting students on April 14, 1841.

Start planning your future trips with Bed and Breakfast Inns of Missouri.

Bonnie Parker and Clyde Barrow just wanted a little peaceful vacation time in Joplin but the police wouldn't cooperate. A gun battle erupted at their rented bungalow and Bonnie and Clyde sped away in blazing gunfire leaving two of the five Joplin officers dead.

See the majestic elk for yourself.

Vice President, Harry S Truman, assumed the Presidency following the death of F.D.R.

Charles Dickens was touring in Missouri on this date. He truly disliked the west and the people in it.

On this date, officials changed the name of Sprotsman's Park to Busch Stadium.

On this date Samuel Clemens (Mark Twain) got his Mississippi River Boat Pilot License.

The Cardinals played the Browns and showed off their new uniforms. For the first time they had two birds on a bat with "Cardinals" underneath. 

The first elections in St. Louis were held on this date. 

By landscaping with native Missouri plants, gardeners with the palest of green thumbs can enjoy such views just like the pros, all while knowing they’ve done their part to nurture complex ecosystems.

Social distancing doesn’t mean you can’t get some fresh air.

If you’re not feeling well and wondering if you have COVID-19, take a moment to consider your symptoms.

The McDonnell Planetarium opened on this day. 

The citizens of St. James elected Mayme Ousley to be the first woman mayor in the state. This was just two years after women won the right to vote.

Neither rain nor snow nor Comanche war parties could stop Francois Aubry, the Missouri speed demon, from delivering the mail in record time. His exploits were the stuff of legend, and the inspiration for the Pony Express.

The city of Kennett was attempting an alligator roundup. Two years earlier a traveling salesman sold about fifty gators in the town and the "pets" were growing larger and more dangerous.

Jesse James was shot dead by Robert Ford, who was secretly working with Missouri Governor Thomas T. Crittenden. The assassination took place in St. Joseph, Missouri.

Kansas City jazz great, Bennie Moten died during a tonsillectomy. His band member, Count Basie took over as leader and introduced the world to "The Kansas City Sound."

Matt Castilleja creates world-class bespoke furniture in the heart of Kansas City.

Branson was incorporated on this date.

How to protect yourself and others during the COVID-19 pandemic.

A jayhawker raid in 1861 lays waste to the town of Osceola.

People across the state were protesting prohibition. A crowd of 10,000 assembled at the St. Louis Coliseum.

Watch for our native blooming trees this spring, and work them into your landscapes.

Missouri's present Constitution became effective. It is our fourth.

This is the birthday of Virginia Alice Cottey Stockard. She taught at Central Female College in Lexington then founded Cottey College in Nevada, Missouri. She served for decades as Cottey's President.

On this day, Lemma Barkaloo was admitted to the Missouri Bar and became the first woman to practice law in the state. However, she died a few months later from of typhoid fever. 

A teachers training college was founded at Maryville. Today it is called Northwest Missouri State University.

Legislation was signed and bond issues awarded on this day for the building of our present Capitol Building.

Automobile license plates came to Missouri on this day. The same legislation set a state speed limit of nine miles per hour and required automobiles to sound a horn or a bell before passing a horse-drawn vehicle.

Missouri's state flag was adopted. Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver of Cape Girardeau's D.A.R. designed the flag.

St. Louis got a new water purification system just barely in time for the World's Fair. Now St. Louis water no longer had "body." 

This 1950s-style restaurant in Crystal City has had the same menu for over seventy years, but the customers wouldn’t want it any other way.

Birthday of perhaps Missouri's greatest artist, George Caleb Bingham from Franklin, Arrow Rock, and St. Louis, MO. Read more about this in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland.

Browse through the years at the world's oldest fruit tree nursery.

A former Missouri Representative, Isaac Parker, was appointed to a position as judge in what came to be known as ìThe Court of the Damned.î Parker became famous in the old west as "The Hanging Judge."

Beautiful scenery, colossal rocks, and fascinating history can be found in and around this tiny village.

The riverboat Shamrock fired a salvo inviting everyone in St. Louis to the very first St. Patrick's Day celebration and parade in St. Louis and possibly the first in Missouri. Now they're wearin' the green in St. Louis, Kansas City, Rolla, Saint Patrick, New Haven, Shamrock, and of course in our Irish Wilderness.

Gastric bypass surgery at MU Health Care helped this Marshall woman turn her life around.

A historian digs a little deeper into out bicentennial date to figure out if we've actually been celebrating our statehood during the wrong month, and year.

Learn the benefits of choosing local food.

Walt Disney announced plans to open an entertainment complex back in his home state. He wanted to open it on the St. Louis Riverfront. Gussie Busch insisted that he sell beer there but Disney said no. A short time later Disney announced plans for a complex in Orlando. 

Birthday of Senator Thomas Hart Benton. While terribly important in Missouri's history, he also has six counties named for him in other western states.

Opening day at the Home of Throwed Rolls. Lambert’s Café opened on this day in Sikeston.

Doug and Lori McPike turned a home from the late 1800s in Mexico, Missouri into their dream, modern farmhouse.

The life of KC's fabulously talented Charlie "Bird" Parker ended on this day. He was suffering from pneumonia and an ulcer, as well as cirrhosis, and had struggled with declining mental health and an addiction to heroin and alcohol. He was 34 years old. Parker is buried in Lincoln Cemetery near Kansas City.

The University of Missouri Tigers met the Kansas Jayhawks basketball team for the first time. Missouri won 34–32. They played again the very next day and Missouri won 34–12.

Missouri's Supreme Court struck down the 138-year-old "Blue Law" prohibiting shopping on Sunday.  

A Columbia artist creates with the environment, diversity, and young artists in mind.

Birthday of The Missouri Giantess, Ella Ewing. Ella was considered the world's tallest female of her era. She used her great height to earn a living as a sideshow attraction. Born a normal size in La Grange, she grew to a height that is in dispute. Her mother said that the last measurement she took was 8 feet, 4 inches.

Six Missourians share their experiences in a Columbia public park.

On this date a huge still was located on an island in St. Charles County. This one had 6000 gallons of fermenting mash. St. Charles County was called the most still-infested in the state.

An iconic Louis Sullivan building in St. Louis takes on a new life as an upscale hotel.

The Battle of Pea Ridge at the Missouri-Arkansas border decimated the power of Confederate forces in Missouri.

William F. Cody married Louisa Frederici in St. Louis on this day. The next year Cody left Missouri to hunt buffalo providing meat for workers on the Kansas Pacific Railroad. He claimed to have killed 4,280 buffalo during that 17 month period. He became a showman known as "Buffalo Bill."

Streaking was at its height and, on this day, 600 streakers claimed a world record at the University of Missouri.

Senator David Rice Atchison was U.S. President for one day. Read more about this in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland.

A new generation comes of age in one of America’s largest Bosnian communities.

The "Blonde Bombshell" was born in Kansas City. Harlean Harlow Carpenter changed her name to Jean Harlow and became the biggest sex symbol in Hollywood during the 1930s.

Birthday of Nathan Boone. The explorer, community leader, and soldier lived at Femme Osage (Defiance) and Ash Grove, Missouri.

Don't let the rain ruin your day. There's still plenty of fun things to do during the month of March.

Our top picks from around the state.

Explore Thomas Hart Benton's Missouri Murals.

I ate locally sourced food for seven days, and so can you.

There’s plenty to see at the gardens in Southwest Missouri.

A new coffee table book looks beneath the surface of St. Louis’s river history

The Missouri Department of Conservation conserves and protects the outdoors and offers various volunteer opportunities around the state.

Join Missouri Life editors and publishers Danita and Greg Wood on this fantastic trip of a lifetime! Have you ever wanted to cruise the Rhine River?

Independence duo Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear release their most intimate music yet on Started with a Family.

Dr. Troy Nash, a real estate developer working in both rural and urban communities, has a soft spot for small Missouri towns.

This was the birthday of James Craig, Civil War General, lawyer, and railroad builder from Oregon, MO.

The Missouri School for the Deaf was established in Fulton.

"Plank Road Mania" was running wild and the legislature passed bills funding forty nine different road building companies.

The side-wheel riverboat Sonora sank near Portland, Missouri. The dangerous spot where it sank is now known as Sonora Chute.

Annual events bring festive celebrations to Southeast Missouri.  

Legendary musician, music producer, and instructor, Mel Bay, was born in Bunker, MO. He gained fame in St. Louis then in 1947 he began to produce something new ñ ìhow toî books for musicians from his facility in Pacific, MO.

Very little remains of the once massive cottonwood tree Walter Elias Disney called his “Dreaming Tree.” The coarse, woody debris is an anchor tying a small town in Missouri to the pioneer of the American entertainment industry.

On Christmas Eve, 1895, a shooting occurred in a North St. Louis saloon that was destined to find a prominent—and permanent—place in American oral tradition.

Birthday of hotel entrepreneur and sports enthusiast from Fairview, Missouri, John Q. Hammons.

After visiting MU Health Care’s Urgent Care, Mike Conyers discovered he had severe heart blockages, or coronary disease, and needed open-heart surgery.

Forest and Swope Park both rank among our nation's largest city parks by acreage, and both played important roles in the development of their communities.

Birthday of John A. Sutter. Sutter lived and farmed in the Westport-Independence area and later moved to California where he operated Sutter's Mill. His mill is where gold was discovered and had a huge effect on St. Louis, Westport, Independence, and St. Joseph.

Governor William Clark hosted a gala dinner, the first celebration of Washington's birthday in Missouri.

The Second Missouri Division, US Army was formed on this date. Their famous Taney County song, Houn’Dawg, told of a loyal and protective hound.

Legendary botanist, naturalist and medical doctor, George Engelmann, came to Missouri on this day. He did most of the work in establishing what is now the Missouri Botanical Garden for Henry Shaw.

Springfield was incorporated with a population of 250. There had been settlers there living near the Delaware Indians since 1821.

An improbable team of Siberian sled dogs finds love, fun, and new purpose with their Hillsboro musher

In the stories told about them during their careers the Youngers were often cast in the classic Robin Hood mold. It was an image they worked hard to cultivate, but it was only half true. They did steal from the rich but, as biographer T.J. Stiles wrote, “There is no evidence that they did anything with their loot except spend it on themselves.”

Mark Twain’s Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published. At first it was met with mixed to negative reviews, but it is now considered one of the greatest pieces of American literature.

Considered the northernmost Southern state, Missouri is a particularly good place for biscuits and gravy.

Plans were announced for the beautiful Cathedral in St. Louis' Central West End. 

Cole Younger was paroled from prison after the botched Northfield, MN bank robbery and returned to Missouri on this date. He met with Frank James in Kansas City and organized the "Buckskin Wild West Show."

A special offer for Missouri Life readers from Renewal by Andersen

"Baseballís perfect warrior, baseballís perfect knight," hall of famer, Stan the Man Musial was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom on this date in Missouri history.

When news broke that Charles Lindbergh was returning home from his goodwill tour of Mexico and South America, 100,000 people crowded the St. Louis riverfront to welcome him. When he saw the crowd, Lindbergh put on a stunt-flying show for them. 

Jesse James pulled off his first bank robbery. (Liberty, MO)

Whether your tastes run to enjoying a beer while you play fetch with Fido, sipping wine while you paint, or nursing a Donkey Kong cocktail during a pinball match, welcome to a whole new world of entertaining nightlife.

Birthday of Hall of Fame Cardinals catcher and sportscaster, Joe Garagiola. Joe grew up on The Hill in St. Louis with good friend, Yogi Berra.

Miller’s Professional Imaging launches a new brand that pays homage to its past.

Upcoming symposium unravels the common history between German immigrants and African American slaves.

Minor Park's Old Red Bridge in Kansas City brings an old world tradition to the midwest.

Prohibition was in full swing and a 33,000 gallon vat of mash was discovered in St. Louis. The estimated capacity of the still was suggested to be 400 gallons per day. 

Legends abound about the true origins of gooey butter cake, with one common denominator—like toasted ravioli, it is purported to be a mistake of glorious proportions.

Mrs. Julia Soulard gave the city of St. Louis a gift of land on the south side. The gift stipulated that it must be used as a public market. Soulard Market has been a landmark for over 170 years now. 

The new Stan Musial Memorial Bridge across the Mississippi River at St. Louis was opened to traffic.

Frank James, the brother of Jesse James, died at his boyhood home near Liberty. Read more about him in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland.

Join an award-winning passionate team of people who have together created the magazine with the most paid circulation in Missouri!

The great right-handed relief pitcher, Dan Quisenberry was born on this date. He spent a year and a half with the Cardinals but most of his brilliant career was with the Kansas City Royals.

Missouri Life magazine is giving away a pair of Lux passes to True/False Film Fest!

An argument in the office of Missouri's first newspaper, The Missouri Gazette, led to the founding of the second newspaper, The Western Journal.

The House of Representatives approved a bill to move the state capitol back to St. Louis. The State Senate was also reported to be in favor of the move.

The “Town of Kansas” was incorporated in Missouri on this day. Today, we known it as Kansas City.

The St. Louis Rams were in the Super Bowl vs. the New England Patriots in a game which spawned a scandal.

Samuel Clemens used the name "Mark Twain" for the first time.

Take care of your heart at these places in Columbia.

The Globe-Democrat reported that, on this date, St. Louis was the leading maker of shoes in the world. With twenty new factories, they made 48 million pairs in 1905. Of course, many other Missouri communities were to have their own shoe factories. 

Wet your whistle with a Cherry Coke or a chocolate soda at one of these quaint shops for a truly authentic experience. Let the ambience, and the treats, take you back to the good ol’ days.

Brrrr, but you’ll see wildlife and have the river to yourself.

The Bootheel is influenced more by Memphis than by St. Louis, and the area definitely is a member in good standing of the Old South. Stuck like a hatchet in the forehead of Arkansas, the Bootheel and its people, for the most part, feel alienated from the rest of Missouri.

The second largest theater in the world opened on this date in St. Louis. The Fox Theater seats 4500 people.

On January 30th and 31st 1982, a blizzard occurred with the heaviest axis of snow blanketing St. Louis, Missouri with 21-24 inches of snow.

A slow-moving ice storm moved across Kansas City leaving death and destruction behind. 400,000 homes faced the winter cold with no electricity and the streets and sidewalks were impassible.

After receiving an ablation through MU Health care, an Auxvasse man gets his life back.

Kaitlyn McConnell keeps the Ozarks alive through her writing, including a new book.

The big Coates House Hotel burned and caused the worst loss of life by fire in Kansas City's history.

St. Louis officially organized citizens into fire companies. All able-bodied men were required to keep two sturdy buckets on hand and be ready to serve.

A tornado ripped through ten communities in east central Missouri from Chesterfield to Spanish Lake. 

Birthday of John R. Kirk, attorney, educator, and leader in Missouri's schools. He is remembered in Kirksville with the Kirk Auditorium (now the Kirk Building), Kirk Academy, Kirk Society, and his portrait in the President's gallery.

The first national country music show on television was broadcast by ABC from Springfield from 1955 until 1960. The show is credited with popularizing country music and featured well-known performers, including Red Foley, Speedy Haworth, Brenda Lee, Porter Wagoner, and Slim Wilson.

Birthday of pioneering Ann Hawkins Gentry of Columbia. Wife of soldier and adventurer, Richard Gentry, mother of thirteen children, widowed in war, and only the second woman in American history to serve as a postmistress (which she did for twenty-seven years in Columbia).

Lake of the Ozarks offers wonderful winter activities.

This dairy farm found sweet success after the owner, Janet Smith, took it over and made some changes and creating new products.

Governor B. Gratz Brown and his family become the first to occupy the new Governor's Mansion.

Lupita’s Mexican Restaurant serves up artful dishes in a casual environment.

Missouri was under marshal law and selling liquor was prohibited. In Central Missouri, Lt. Franklin Swope was on a crusade to seize illicit liquor and he seized brandy in three different places including the property of a miller, an army sergeant, and a local judge.

Experienced adventurers show us around five of the state’s most extreme outdoor experiences.

Rainbow House provides a safe and loving space for children and families in crisis.

William Ray was born on this day. He operated an important blacksmith shop on the Santa Fe Trail in a spot which is today named for him—Raytown.

Birthday of Joplin-born Darrell Porter who was a standout player and MVP for both the Royals and the Cardinals. He played in three World Series with those teams.

With support from an angel investor found through Shark Tank, a couple from La Belle sells and ships customizable meat boxes.

Money was appropriated for the new state penitentiary in Jefferson City.

The Kansas City Chiefs appeared in the nation’s very first Super Bowl.

The only typewriter in the United States was in use in St. Louis as Charles Weller transcribed court notes

Missouri's Route 66 Association was founded.

By far the worst ice storm ever to hit Missouri covered the I-44 corridor all the way across the state. Transformers exploded, trees blocked the roads, and all the supplies and services that people took for granted were now in question.

In one of his last appearances, John Wilkes Booth performed Shakespeare's "Richard the III" at the St. Louis Theater.

Probable birth date of George Washington Carver in Diamond, MO. This scientist probably saved the economy of the south with his concept of crop rotation and the hundreds of new products he developed from legumes.

Tori Eaton shares how to prepare for your next adventure.

It snowed on this date in eastern Missouri and that started the record 71 straight days with snow on the ground.

This was the birthday of Branson resident, John G. Neihardt, the great epic novelist who wrote of life and history on the Missouri River especially the plains Indians.

What exactly makes a site sacred? Eight locations in Missouri provide answers to that question.

The Mississippi River was frozen over and people were walking across. Saloonkeepers were doing a great business in the middle of the river and out of the reach of any law.

Ring in the new year by taking part in a new hobby.

The wonderful main library on Olive in St. Louis opened on this date.

Rising star Kassi Ashton takes her Missouri roots on tour.

Employees taking down the World's Fair discovered the fine qualities of the snow-covered hill in front of what is now the Art Museum.

Frank S. Colburn died on this day in Excelsior Springs. He was known as the famous Uncle Sam character from the WWI recruiting posters.

The village of Ste. Genevieve was founded by French trappers and miners. French settlers had been living in the area for three years prior to that.

A fire destroyed the Autenrieth Hotel in Clayton. This building housed the Clayton fire department and the fire engine was inside the hotel when it burned.

Our state, its people, and their stories are reflected in these half-dozen songs from the past.

Our picks include a film festival, an ice carnival, and a dance group performing to songs by the Beatles.

The first German-speaking immigrants came to Missouri. Twenty families crossed the frozen Mississippi River in their wagons and built their homes in what is now a part of Cape Girardeau. A cold time of year to arrive with no homes!

Patty Ann's at Hayti serves southern comfort food in the Bootheel.

Missouri's alcohol consumption by the numbers.

Five Prohibition-style speakeasies serve classic cocktails while recreating the past.

Governor McNair signed a bill that designated the site for the City of Jefferson, which was to become the capital city for Missouri.

Did you know some of the most commonly reported weight loss and fitness tips don’t hold up against scientific research?

A fireworks factory exploded on the grounds of Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Neighbors and fans had complained for years that it wasn't good to have an explosives factory next to a stadium.

Do you have a special go-to cake recipe for special occasions? We’re looking for a cake that literally hundreds of thousands of people from all over the world might taste, and one with a tasty story behind it too.

Hundreds of paddlers from around the world will undertake the MR340 next year, a grueling 340-mile race on the Missouri River from Kansas City to St. Charles. Get a taste for the adventure from these veteran competitors, and pick a point along the river to watch.

The World's Fair Company awarded a contract to construct a wooden tunnel to take the River Des Peres under the fairgrounds on this date in 1901.

Rev. Isaac McCoy, a Baptist missionary to the Indians, brought his family to western Missouri on this date. His son, John C. McCoy, would first establish Westport, MO and then Kansas City.

The composing room at Concordia Publishing House (on the campus of Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis) was put into operation.

Father Sebastian Meurin was born on this date. He started the first church in St. Louis and performed Missouri’s first marriage in Ste. Genevieve.

12-14 inches of snow fell across southern Missouri on this day.

The Gratiot Street Prison in St. Louis received its first Confederate prisoners.

Street lights burned all day in St. Louis because the smoke was so bad. The Depression was causing everyone to burn wood and cheap coal.

St. Louis was at 16⁄ below zero on this day. Springfield and Columbia were at 20⁄ below.

The very first telegraph was sent to St. Louis. It was sent to the Missouri Republican newspaper from Louisville.

Sacagawea died at Fort Manuel in South Dakota. As promised, Explorer/Governor William Clark took custody of her son, Jean Baptiste and her infant daughter Lisette and raised them in St. Louis.

One of the worst traffic jams in St. Louis history was caused by a blizzard and the last minute Christmas shoppers.

Long distance telephone service began in Missouri. The first line ran between Jackson and Cape Girardeau. St. Louis-Hannibal and Columbia-Rocheport were connected within months.

Whether you’re just learning about pipes or you’re looking for a Christmas gift, Missouri Meerschaum has a lot to offer.

Things you see, places you go, and people you meet hiking the Ozark Trail.

From the “Petticoated Terror of the Plains” Belle Starr to the fearless Bonnie Parker of America’s most notorious criminal couple, Missouri holds ties to more than its share of nefarious women.

This Missouri program gives incarcerated individuals (including children) a voice, and a chance to be heard.

Written ballots rather than oral voting was officially required now for all St. Louis elections.

Join us on a journey through the backcountry of Shannon County as we search for the most remote location in the state.

Our writer takes his kids to Hidden Valley, a ski resort at Wildwood.

Kim Carr has made her living from animal photography since 2010.

We know how overwhelming it can be to plan your day out when you visit a new city, so we did it for you. Here are the best places to grab a meal, see artwork, shop, and enjoy the Gateway City.

A local Kirksville cafe offers a “pay-what-you-can” option, allowing everyone to eat a healthy, sustainable meal.

The first shocks occurred in the largest earthquake ever to shake North America. It was centered on the New Madrid Fault in Missouri. Read More about this in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland.

What The Katy Trail can teach about the Rock Island.

On this date, Anheuser-Busch became the first brewery in history to produce ten million barrels of beer in one year.

Birthday of Lilburn Boggs. The controversial Boggs was a war hero, fur trader, Jackson County politician, and the sixth Governor of Missouri. He was governor during the Honey War and the Mormon War. He was also instrumental in establishing Missouri's public schools.

Birthday of singer-dancer-funnyman, Dick Van Dyke from West Plains, MO.

Celebrate Christmas the German way at Hermann Farm.

Birthday of St. Louis prizefighter, Henry Armstrong who scored 152 victories and held championship titles in three weight divisions at the same time.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art at 45th and Oak streets in Kansas City opened on this day.

New recipes can spice up your tried-and-true traditions.

The St. Louis police showed off their new electric police car. Called the ìSpeed Buggy,î it was manufactured by Studebaker and could actually go 60 mph!

Birthday of Emmett Kelly. This famous sad-faced clown grew up in Houston, MO.

Jefferson County was formed on this date.

Jesse James robed the "un-robbable" bank at Gallatin, Missouri. James thought the Bank President looked like the man who killed Bloody Bill Anderson, so James killed the bank president.

December 6, 1923 ñ KSD radio joined with four other stations to carry a speech by President Coolidge thus forming something new called a radio ìnetwork.î

Innovator of animated cartoons, theme parks, and more, Walt Disney from Marceline and Kansas City was born on this day.

Investing your hard-earned money is a serious matter. Let the Missouri Secretary of State walk you through the steps you should take before making your decision.

Gemini spacecraft (built in St. Louis) took Frank Borman and James Lovell into space. This spaceship was the first to rendezvous with another craft in space.

Find the perfect winter reading material at Columbia bookshops.

As the flu pandemic hit its peak, St. Louis reported 1,476 new cases on that day alone.

Show your Missouri pride and give made-in-Missouri gifts this year. We’ve gathered some diverse ideas for the people on your list. Support your Missouri makers!

Westport became a part of Kansas City on this date in history.

Birthday of William Carr Lane, medical doctor and the first Mayor of St. Louis. 

We count Christmas trees and small businesses.

The Boonville Christmas Tree Farm has more to offer than a tree to decorate.

The Mizzou football team beat Kansas 13-0 and finished their most profitable season to date. They made a profit of $11,490.96 for the year.

The cornerstone was laid for the Memorial Union Tower at the University of Missouri. It is the last gothic structure that was erected in the United States.

It was "Black Tuesday" in St. Louis. A cloud of thick smoke covered downtown. The streetlights had to be turned on and traffic was snarled because motorists couldn't see where they were going.

The University of Missouri played its first football game against another school—Washington University in St. Louis.

President Teddy Roosevelt was visiting the World's Fair on this day. He met with Geronimo and was entertained by Will Rogers.

Becoming an altruistic kidney donor is rare, but Kyle Sterup knew it was something he wanted to do.

Governor Fletcher called out the militia to search for Missouri's most notorious outlaw. Samuel Hildebrand and his men had recently plundered Farmington and were known responsible for at least thirty murders. Hildebrand turned bushwhacker after Union vigilantes killed his brother.

Reported birthday of the "King of Ragtime," Scott Joplin. When a musician's work is still popular a century after his death, he did it right.

A New Year's celebration in Ste. Genevieve has been held since the days of it's settlement. Our writer tags along.

Clarksville offers scenic views, a slower pace, great food, and unique boutiques.

The faces of St. Louisians at a Blues game show why the word is an abbreviation of "fanatic." This story appeared in our very first issue of Missouri Life. It was published in the March/April 1973 issue.

The Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy opened in Rolla. It is now the Missouri University of Science and Technology.

Mid-Missouri's winter storm of 2006 began and lasted through December 1. The Columbia Regional Airport received over 15 inches of snow.

Lewis and Clark were struggling to get upstream. On this day they passed the area of New Madrid going toward Cape Girardeau.

Astronomer Edwin Hubble was born today in Marshfield. Hubble discovered that the universe is expanding as well as ways to measure its speed. He discovered that almost every “star” that had been observed was actually a galaxy containing millions of stars. 

A fire destroyed the Missouri Building at the World's Fair two weeks before it was to close. Most of the treasures inside were saved. The U.S. Marines rushed in to save the bell that Missourians had bought with their donations for the USS Missouri. 

John Butterfield was born on this day. He went on to found the Butterfield Overland Mail stage line from St. Louis to San Francisco. He also founded American Express. 

St. Louis band releases a critically acclaimed album and tours the world.

Birthday of Dr. Benoist Troost. He was Kansas City's first physician, founded their first newspaper, and started the city's Chamber of Commerce. Troost Avenue is named for him.

Lewis and Clark were on their way to St. Louis to begin exploring. On this day they crossed the Mississippi and set foot on Missouri soil for the first time. They were not far from present day Charleston, MO.

Missouri's new capitol building in Jefferson City caught fire. The fire was not extinguished for two days. It may have been caused by a cigar smoker in the building's library. Read more about this in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland.

Mayor Nathan Cole predicted a period of rapid growth for St. Louis. He said "The smoke will roll heavenward from her furnaces, mills, machine shops and factories and shall cover like a silver sheen her hills and valleys far and near." The ecology movement wasn't in full swing yet. 

Are you a talented freelancer who loves writing about the Show-Me State or photographing it? Start working with Missouri Life today.

This was the night of the "Great Star Shower of 1833." It was said to be so bright that a newspaper could be read on the street. One writer says, "For nearly four hours the sky was literally ablaze." Many thought the end of the world had come.

The first railroad locomotive to operate west of the Mississippi (named the Pacific) made its very first run on this day. It went four miles west from St. Louis to the Manchester Road. 

Route 66 was commissioned to run from Chicago to Los Angeles.

The Queen of Romania was touring Missouri on this day. The Coronado Hotel refurbished the entire 14th floor for Queen Marie and her entourage.

St. Louis was known as "Mound City" for many years. This was due to the Indian mounds in the area. The largest, Big Mound, was destroyed beginning on this day. Along with it, untold amounts of Mississippian Cultural artifacts were destroyed also. 

Cole Younger was being interviewed on this day when he said, "The people of western Missouri are, in some respects, very peculiar. We will take Jackson county where I was born for instance. In that section the people seemed to be born fighters, the instinct being inherited from a long line of ancestors."

Abraham Lincoln was elected President on this day. He won only two counties in Missouri. Some counties gave him no votes at all. Nationwide, he failed to get a majority of the popular vote but he did get enough electoral votes.

Actor and theatrical manager Benedict Debar was born. He brought live theater to St. Louis and many cities across America.

The Y.M.C.A. was founded in St. Louis.

The magnificent Shrine Mosque was built in Springfield. It has been a cultural asset for the area ever since.

These indoor activities will heat up cooler November days.

A small plane flew through the legs of the Gateway Arch for the seventh time. This was the first one to do so at night. 

A couple at Chesterfield built an over-the-top home, with entertainment in mind. See how Elvis, Betty Boop, and the Muppets make an appearance.

You voted. We counted. Now you can discover some best-kept secrets and surprises around the state in eight different categories, such as culture, destinations, food, lore and legend, and more.

This California, Missouri, company provides feathers to the world.

Our top picks from around the state.

Candles and wax with less smoke and soot are created at Overland.

Colonel Thomas Fiveash Riddick was an influential banker who helped create the St. Louis public schools, was a founder of the Thespian Society and was a delegate to the original Missouri Constitutional Congress. On this date he founded the first Episcopal Church west of the Mississippi.

A new title from Belt Publishing explores the architecture of the region.

The Post-Dispatch reported that the unclaimed body of a man had been standing in the window of a St. Louis mortuary for 27 years. They were displaying him to demonstrate the skill of their embalming. 

Kansas City's beautiful Union Station opened for business.

The gift shops at Missouri wineries are filled with unique products that make perfect gifts.

Stock markets crashed around the world and the Great Depression began. Within a year, unemployment was over 9 percent. Four years later, after massive government spending programs, unemployment reached 30 percent.

The tallest national monument in America, St. Louis’s Gateway Arch was completed on this date. 

Join us on an exclusive tour through southeast Missouri.

The Kansas City Royals were the World Champions of Baseball after beating the St. Louis Cardinals. 

Samuel Hawken was born on this day. He and his brother Jacob built the famous Hawken rifle in St. Louis. It was the favorite of Daniel Boone, Davey Crockett, Kit Carson, John Fremont, Jim Bridger and many others. 

Captain Thomas Scott Baldwin's airship demonstration at the Louisiana Purchase Exhibition of 1904 was St. Louis's first exposure to controlled flight. A. Roy Knabenshue operated the powered balloon, maneuvering it in the shape of an S. He flew for 37 minutes and climbed to 2,000 feet above the fairgrounds.

The last American Indian lands in Missouri were given up on this day. The Kickapoo Tribe surrendered over 2 million acres in Missouri for about one third that much in Kansas. They also got $18,000.

Missouri Coalition for the Environment is an independent, grassroots citizens’ group, that works to address a broad range of environmental policy issues.

We still don't know who pulled off the robbery at the United Missouri Bank in downtown St. Louis on this day. 

The University of Missouri Health Care Pavilion opened on the morning of July 6, 2019. The Farmers Market held there contributes to Boone County's overall health.