April 13, 1936

R. Buckminster Fuller designed something he called a geodesic dome and placed one in the Missouri Botanical Garden. Calling this one a "Climatron" he explained that it would last for a while but was not a permanent structure. It has been there now for over 50 years and seems able to stand for many more.

George Eyser had a good day at the Olympic Games in St. Louis. He won gold in the parallel bars and rope climb and tied for gold in the vault. He won silver on the pommel horse and the all-around. He took the bronze medal on the horizontal bars.

Coolness is a real thing in Columbia. Dare we say it's a state of mind? Whether it's entertainment, dining or dipping a toe in the water, literally, there are several great options to help you stay cool.

The first duel between lawyers Thomas Hart Benton and Charles Lucas was fought on Bloody Island near St. Louis. At 30 paces both men were wounded.

76 year old Geronimo was roping calves at the World's Fair on this day. He did very well and got a good round of applause from the audience.

Hubert "Hub" Schlafly was born in St. Louis. In 1950 he invented the teleprompter to help soap opera actors. It soon became the politician's best friend.

The steamboat Cora sank in Bellefontaine Bend near the mouth of the Missouri.

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.

Wild Bill Hickok umpired the baseball game between rival teams from Atchison, KS and the Kansas City Antelopes. The Antelopes won 48 to 28. And yes, Wild Bill did wear both six guns while he called balls and strikes so there were no arguments.

An astronomer predicted that a comet was coming and would hit St. Louis. Many people panicked and many left town. Young boys added to the problems by standing on street corners and occasionally yelling, "Here she comes!"

An 11.2 pound meteorite broke into pieces and hit Cass County, MO.

Hundreds of paddlers from around the world will undertake the MR340 in September, 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.

Birthday of Annie Malone, the founder of Poro University, Annie Malone Children's Home, and a cosmetic empire that made her America's first black millionaire. This St. Louis resident helped thousands of black women to earn financial security. Read more about her in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland.

These savants of the smoker are dishing up barbecue heaven all summer long.

Military personnel and others in the Belton area watched a UFO spend 45 minutes in the air above them. Local air bases followed it on radar.

Dip, dunk, drive, or drop a line in these idyllic Missouri waters.

Anti-Irish rioting was sweeping through St. Louis. For three days local toughs roamed through Irish neighborhoods to keep the Irish-Americans from voting. Ten people died in those three days.

Faced with an enemy capable of prolific breeding, extensive property destruction, and potentially dangerous to humans, the Missouri Department of Conservation wages war in southern Missouri.

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

Andrew Taylor Still was born. He invented Osteopathic medicine and started A.T. Still University in Kirksville.

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.

Take a trip outside of Nevada, Missouri to try this restaurant that specializes in mouthwatering steak and only opens its doors on weekends.

On this day the people who had been presenting outdoor musicals and operas in St. Louis voted to make the productions permanent and the St. Louis Municipal Opera (the MUNY) was born.

A spectacular fire occurred in Fenton on this day. More than 180,000 wooden pallets burned at a recycling plant.

Automobile owners were protesting against the eight mile per hour speed limit. They claimed that autos could be safe up to 15 miles per hour. 

Explore this eastern Ozark dale and see why it merited a presidential seal of approval.

Birthday of Lamar Hunt who founded the K.C. Chiefs, the A.F.L., Worlds of Fun, Oceans of Fun and much much more.

Hannah Rainey, songwriter and guitarist in Shady Bug, helps the indie band create its sound.

The St. Louis police department became the first in the nation to use fingerprints for identification.

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

The nuclear submarine, USS Missouri was commissioned. It was the fifth ship of the line to be named for the Show-Me State.

The Literature of the Ozarks: An Anthology

Hitch a ride with us as we explore these sights in part 3, the final installment of our series on treasures along Missouri's interstates.

On this day the St. Louis County Council  raised the drinking age from 16 to 18. 

Photographer Matt Faupel and his friend in adventure, Brian Grace, spent three days last spring floating the Upper Jacks Fork River, from the Prongs to Bay Creek, a river distance of 25 miles. Come along, and let Matt be your guide to the discoveries.

The International Association of Ice Cream Makers credit Syrian immigrant, Ernest Hamwi, with using his wafer-like pastries to hold a scoop of ice cream on this day.  Thus, the ice cream cone was born at World's Fair in St. Louis.  He called it a World's Fair Cornucopia.  

Governor Crittenden offered a $5,000 reward for anyone who could help in the arrest and conviction of the James Gang. 

The first mayor in the U.S. to have an automobile got his new car on this date. St. Louis Mayor Rolla Wells was challenged to a race with the police departments new scorcher wagon.

Head over to Graham Cave State Park to walk in the footsteps of early Missourians.

The two sides of the new Stan Musial Memorial Bridge across the Mississippi were joined in the middle on this day in St. Louis.

Time and skill goes into creating the perfect glass artwork. Rocheport artist, Shawn Palmer, shares his craft.

Missouri was struggling through her hottest month in history. Thousands of city people were sleeping in parks and along highways looking for relief from their houses and apartments.

After moving to Chicago after college, a Columbia couple fell in love with the architect. Now they're back in Missouri, and are designing their new home in Boone County around it.

Birthday of Henry Shaw who spent most of his adult life trying to find ways to give millions of his dollars to benefit St. Louis.  He is most famous for starting the Missouri Botanical Gardens and donating Tower Grove Park, the largest Victorian park in America.

Living with Down syndrome, Grace Strobel battles bullying and boosts confidence.

The new Christopher S. Bond Bridge across the Missouri at Hermann was opened to traffic on this day.

St. Louis police arrested 179 people in raids on stills and speakeasies. Jennie Buttee of Dagett Street told police she didn't even know there was 5000 gallons of mash in her basement.

On the square in Springfield, Will Bill Hickock killed Davis Tutt in what some site as the first true western showdown.

Photographer Notley Hawkins captured images of the historic flooding in mid-Missouri with his camera and drone. Plus, learn how you can assist in relief efforts.

Where were you?  Most Missourians were at their TV sets watching Neil Armstrong step out onto the Moon.

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.

Missouri's first Constitution was adopted at the temporary capital in St. Louis.

The Mississippi River crested at 46.9 feet in St. Louis which was 3.7 feet higher than the previous record. Water flowed past the Gateway Arch at the rate of 7.5 million gallons per second.

The bodies of Daniel and Rebecca Boone were moved to Kentucky. (Or were they?) Forensic evidence and personal testimony indicate that the bodies in Kentucky are not the Boones after all.

Sweetheart song and dance woman Ginger Rogers was born. The beauty from Independence and Kansas City was famous for her duet-dances with longtime dance partner Fred Astaire. Read her biography here.

Cardinals catcher and broadaster, Mike Shannon (left), was born on this day in St. Louis.

General Nathaniel Lyon was born on this day. He was killed at the Battle of Wilson's Creek, making him the first Union general to fall during the Civil War.

Birthday of George "Grin" Bradley. On July 15, 1876 he threw the first no-hit, no run game in major league history.

Rear Admiral Richard E. Byrd dedicated the St. Louis Flying Field as the Lambert- St. Louis Municipal Airport. With him were two St. Louisans, Captain Ashley McKiley and Ensign Thomas Mulrony, who had been with Byrd as he explored the polar regions. 

After entering the Union in 1821, Missouri went nearly an entire century without a state flag. The Missouri state flag was finally designed by Ray County native Marie Watkins Oliver.

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.

Birthday of Louis Blanchette who founded St. Charles in 1769.

Birthday of A-B Founder, Adolphus Busch.

Lewis and Clark were exploring in present day Holt County.

The Sporting News named St. Louis the best sports city in America. Read the original story here.

Missouri lost a great treasure on this day. Artist George Caleb Bingham died in Kansas City.

Maxent, Laclede and Company of New Orleans was granted the exclusive rights to trade with American Indians in the Mississippi Valley on this day. Hence, Laclede and his stepson came upriver and established a trading post which they named St. Louis.

The Battle of Carthage was fought and the Confederates had their first victory.

About ten thousand people gathered for an Independence celebration and to see a balloon ascension in St. Louis. Southern sympathizers in the crowd clashed with Union Soldiers and several people were shot, two died.

The Burlington Bridge at Kansas City, also called the Hannibal Bridge, was completed. It was the first bridge ever built across the Missouri River.

Beautiful Royals Stadium was re-dedicated as Kauffman Stadium.  

The Olympic Games began in St. Louis.    

Columbia always has an eye on its future, but it cherishes the stories of its past. You can get an in-person glimpse of history at these Columbia locales.

The famous steamboat race between the Natchez and the Robert E. Lee began in New Orleans on this date, at 5 PM. It was a 1200 mile upstream race to St. Louis, and the record of 3 days, 18 hours, and about 20 minutes still stands for commercial boats.

Jasper County's new courthouse was completed on this date at a total cost of $398.50, or about $11,000 in today's currency. (Note: the image shows a slightly later iteration of the Jasper County Courthouse.)

It was announced that Frank James had decided to live again in Kearney, MO along with his wife. He also stated (through his attorney) that his aged mother was planning to live with them.

A good sailing day at Stockton Lake begins with a casual breakfast at the dock until around 9 o’clock. One tipoff of correct wind velocity is a particular tingling sound as it blows through the mast lines.

George Sibley and his party departed from St. Charles on this day to survey what would become the Santa Fe Trail.

Lewis and Clark had now traversed the entire breadth of the future state of Missouri. They were at the present site of Kansas City and preparing to start north along the western edge of our state.

Kansas City’s beautiful Starlight Theatre hosted its very first opening night with the musical The Desert Song. However, before construction was finished on the $1.5 million venue, it hosted the Thrills of a Century—a centennial celebration of Kansas City. 

The first Catholic church was dedicated in St. Louis. It was a log structure that stood where the Old Cathedral stands today.

On this date , H.W. Allen patented his new invention, the compound hunting bow. 

The riverboat Montana wrecked on the St. Charles bridge.

In an early attempt at networking before the days of broadcast networks President Warren G. Harding's speech from the annual national assembly of Rotary Clubs in St. Louis was sent by telephone lines from KSD radio to other stations in the U.S.

After near extinction last century, the black bear makes a comeback in Missouri.

The flowering dogwood was chosen as Missouri's official tree.

Steve Fossett circumnavigated the globe in 13 days, 8 hours, 33 minutes (14 days, 19 hours, 50 minutes to landing) and 20,626.48 statute miles by himself in the balloon, Spirit of Freedom.

Farmington artist Brandon Warren teaches his son that good artists can make art anywhere and with whatever supplies are available.

Bell Mountain offers a 12-mile loop with 1,683 feet of elevation change, respectable for the Midwest. Bell Mountain also offers something that you can’t get anywhere else in the country: the chance to see, in person, the result of more than one billion years of geologic time playing out.

Students from Lee’s Summit got the crinoid named Missouri’s official fossil. The little animal that looked like a plant lived in the ocean that once covered Missouri.

The U.S. Open was played at St. Louis Country Club and televised on KSD-TV. It was the first televised golf match in the nation. 

The Corps of Discovery was having a terrible time in western Missouri near present day Miami. The current of the river was so strong that they were running out of ways to get the boats upstream.

Missouri Valley College was founded at Marshall.

The side-wheeler Mary McDonald was tied up at Waverly when she caught fire and was destroyed.

Bass River Resort has been family-run for more than 50 years, going back to when Robert Bass founded a small canoe rental on the Courtois Creek. Since then, it's grown into an Ozark destination in its own right. Here are just 7 of the ways to make the most of summer weather at Bass River Resort.

Big bluestem was named by the state legislature as our official grass.  This followed the lobbying efforts of fourth graders at Truman Elementary school in Rolla.   

Lewis and Clark spent this day walking the prairies of central Missouri. They wrote of being impressed with the combination of good soil, grass, and an abundance of wild fruit near present day New Cambridge.  

30,000 people and 4,000 automobiles were on hand for the dedication of the new Champ Clark Bridge at Louisiana, MO. 

The Missouri Commission on Human Rights was created on this date.

The Platte Purchase added St. Joseph and the northwestern corner of Missouri to the original state which had a straight line for its western border. The bill to approve the purchase was introduced by Missouri Senator Thomas Hart Benton.

"Casey" Stengel, named for his home town of K.C. stunned jeering baseball fans on this day by bowing to them and ceremoniously tipping his cap. From under the hat a bird flew out. Casey may have been the first to give the fans the bird.

On this date Samuel T. Hawken arrived in St. Louis to begin making his famous Hawken's Rifles—the favorite of mountain men and pioneers.

Columbia has become a hub for fine wine, beer and spirits. We’ll drink to that!

Actor Dennis Weaver was born in Joplin. He appeared in the CBS Western Gunsmoke and starred the NBC police drama McCloud, among other roles.

Josephine Baker was born on this day in St. Louis. In her time, she was a world famous dancer and jazz and pop singer. She was also a civil rights leader who defected to France, where she became a citizen in 1937.

Red Chaney died in Springfield on this day. He was the entrepreneur who invented the drive-through window. For 38 years he operated "Red's Giant Hamburg" on Route 66.

The folks in Lawrence County just got the news that the bond issue had passed and they would be building a new courthouse.

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.

King George awarded Charles Lindbergh England's Distinguished Flying Cross on this day. This and many other Lindbergh items are on display for free at the Missouri History Museum in Forest Park.

The Kansas-Nebraska Act was passed causing slave-holding Missourians to flood into Kansas. This led to the Missouri-Kansas Border War and eventually the Civil War.

The notorious St. Charles Bridge opened across the Missouri River. It was the scene of several collapses, train wrecks, and riverboat sinkings.  

The first steamboat on the Missouri River arrived at Franklin. Most riverboats could not traverse the Missouri because of the strong current and the extreme number of submerged snags.  

Here's how the Missouri Meerschaum company ended up being commissioned to create a custom pipe for one of America's most legendary generals.

The tornado struck St. Louis and left 118 people dead. It was one of the most deadly and destructive tornadoes in US history. It hit the Eads bridge, among a number of other historic places, and caused more than ten million dollars (not adjusted for inflation) in damage. 

After a fan's nose was broken by a Jim Bottomley home run, the fan sued. In court, "Sunny Jim" was forced to admit that he "intentionally hit the ball to create a situation known as a home run." He had to pay $3,500.

Kenny Schrader was born in St. Louis. He began his racing career on a go-kart in his yard and then moved up to the dirt track at Pevely. He went on to become one of the top drivers in the nation.

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

A Lear jet rests beside the highway without an airport in sight. A Ferris wheel sits idly in a field. A forlorn brick chimney rises out of a clump of bushes. These are but a few of the curiosities that travelers speed past on their way across Missouri on Interstate 70 between St. Louis and Kansas City. Entertainment abounds on the nation’s oldest interstate highway. You have but to stop and look.

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."

The first large wagon train (more than 1,000 people) left Independence for the Oregon Territory.

The Missouri State Teachers Association was founded in Columbia. It was one of the nation's first organization for teachers.

The St. Louis Globe merged with the St. Louis Democrat and, on this day, the first issue of the Globe-Democrat was sold.

The Missouri Press Association was organized on this date.

Runaway mules killed A.W. Bisby north of Brookfield.

A large number of federal marshals left Springfield for the wilds of Ripley and Oregon counties to break up some illicit stills. These were said to be the last in Missouri. The press releases, however, got out before the raids and they whole thing.

The Lewis and Clark Expedition (the Voyage of Discovery) left St. Louis to explore the unknown west.  

St. Louis became the first city in the nation to offer telephones in your car. A radio telephone was available for fifteen dollars a month.  

Washington University established the first Art Museum west of the Mississippi, the Mildred Lane Kemper Art Museum, on this date.

Learn how to make these baked sweet potatoes loaded with sweet chili glaze, filled with black beans, pickled carrots, and spring onions, plus video instructions.

A tornado in Poplar Bluff killed 104 and injured 350 more.  

The Auglaize Bridge—better known as the Big Swinging Bridge—hangs over the meeting point of Grand Auglaize Creek and Lake of the Ozarks. The bridge was built in 1931—the same year Union Electric completed Bagnell Dam to create the Lake of the Ozarks.

Phoebe Couzins became Missouri's first woman law school graduate (Washington University in St. Louis). In 1887 she became the first female US Marshall in the country's history. She was also on the Board of Directors for the World's Fair.

Joseph Robidoux paid $8 for a license to run a ferry across the river at what is now St. Joseph.

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. 

Are you having fun with your food? Columbians are, and you will, too, when you visit these delish destinations for foodies.

The Neosho Times reported that some Washburn, MO boys were working for a farmer when they plowed up about $80 worth of gold and silver which the farmer had buried there at the beginning of the Civil War.

Parks and trails lace Missouri like cracks in cobblestone, places where you can escape from urban life and commune with nature among windswept glades and shady forests. It’s a wild world from sweeping vistas atop Bell Mountain to waters of the Eleven Point River flowing into the early morning mist. As inviting as the whip-poor-will’s call in the dark, Missouri’s wilderness beckons exploration.

The last KATY passenger train made its run across Missouri on this day. Prior to this there were 115 trains per day using Union Station in St. Louis. Other passenger lines soon followed suit as travelers moved toward interstate highways and aviation.

The treaty that authorized the Louisiana Purchase was signed on this date in Paris.

Missouri was requested to provide five regiments of infantry and one battery of light artillery for the Spanish-American War. 

Monett expected to be "flying high" according to the Monett Times. They were pinning their hopes on the new airplane industry and the Monett Aeroplane Company.

The Nation's worst maritime disaster happened on the Mississippi a fair piece south of Cape Girardeau.

The oldest radio station west of the Mississippi began audio broadcasting. This St. Louis University station claims to be the second oldest station in America. It actually began operating in 1912 but only broadcast in Morse code. WEW stands for We Enlighten the World.

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

C.H. Laessig died on this day. Early in 1905, he opened the first gas station in the United States at 418 South Teresa in St. Louis.

On this date the newspaper, Missouri Intelligencer and Boonslick Advertiser became the first to be printed west of St. Louis. This was important because of the town's (Franklin's) place near the head of the Santa Fe Trail.

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.

James S. Rollins was born on this day. Many recognize Rollins as the Father of the University of Missouri.

Known by old timers as "the day that Marshfield blew away," an F-4 tornado struck Marshfield and killed 99. 100 more were injured.

The All American Red Heads, a women's professional basketball team started in Cassville, sailed for the Philippine Islands. 

Construction began on a permanent theater for the Municipal Opera in Forest Park, St. Louis. It was completed in just 49 days.

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

Charles Lindbergh flew the first air mail run between St. Louis and Chicago. His employer, Robertson Aircraft Company of St. Louis would grow into American Airlines. Lindbergh crashed twice on this St. Louis to Chicago run and fellow pilots began calling him "Lucky Lindy."

It was "Dizzy Dean Week" in St. Louis in celebration of the movie The Pride of St. Louis. Dizzy was in town for the week and said he didn't care if it wasn't exactly accurate. "Jeez," he said, "they're gonna give me 50,000 smackers just fer livin'."

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.

On this night, fireman Phelim O'Toole became a legend. The Southern Hotel was on fire and about a dozen people were trapped beyond the reach of ladders.

Founder of the St. Louis Post Dispatch and the Pulitzer Prize, Joseph Pulitzer was born on this day. He arrived in St. Louis from New York penniless in October of 1865.

Robert de La Salle took possession of this Louisiana Territory, which included modern day Missouri, for France and named the area for King Louis XIV.

In early America, taverns were as ubiquitous as churches; every town had at least one. In Arrow Rock, that tavern was owned by a man named Joseph Huston. A founding father of the town, he arrived in Missouri in 1819, and helped transform the settlement into a thriving village where the Missouri River and the Santa Fe Trail intersected.

The Kansas City Royals played their first game on this day. They beat the Minnesota Twins at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City.

Democrat political boss, Tom Pendergast, was indicted on income tax charges. Prior to this he had almost complete control of Kansas City and the state Capitol was known as "Uncle Tom's Cabin

McDonald County had been left off the state tourism map so they called their representatives home from Jefferson City, seceded from the state, and formed McDonald Territory.

The first settlement to be founded away from a river, the mining town of Potosi was begun on this day.

Marguerite Ann Johnson was born in St. Louis. Better know as Maya Angelou, she went on to be nominated for Pulitzer Prize in poetry and a Tony Award and to win three Grammys.

Meet the vendors who'll be selling their wares at the 2019 Best of Missouri Life Festival.

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.

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

Robert A. Barnes died on this day. This banker left his fortune to be used to establish a hospital. Each day, thousands of people come from around the Midwest to the Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis.

Columbia hits all the right notes when it comes to live music venues.

Plans were accepted and work could begin on the Lafayette County Courthouse in Lexington.

The Jackson County Court convened for the first time. It contracted for the building of a two-room log courthouse which was completed that year and still stands today. Built by slaves, this old courthouse was for 40 years the only one between Independence and the Pacific Ocean. It also served for several years as the office of Harry Truman when he was serving as a judge.

Missouri Life is seeking an editorial intern for the upcoming summer term. Our 8-week summer internship program provides a tailored experience that’s designed to hone your skills and help you gain experience in the areas you’re most interested in.

To test the market for professional baseball, a team of professional players played an amateur all-star team in St. Louis, winning 15 to 0.

St. Louis steelworker Sonny Liston had only been boxing for eight months when, on this date, he won the Golden Gloves heavyweight crown.

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

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.

Joplin was incorporated on this day by the state, but it had already been there for a long and colorful time.

Henry Perry died in Kansas City and turned his legendary barbecue restaurant over to Charlie Bryant.

A photographer in Jefferson County was offering to take horseographs or jackotypes. Photographs of fine horses and mules.

Spring Training began for the St. Louis Browns. And yes, they did go south for the training—to Cape Girardeau.

The French explorer Robert de La Salle, who expeditioned in Missouri and the Mississippi Valley, was murdered on this date by mutineers.

The “Tri-State Tornado” struck Missouri, Illinois and Indiana. It killed 695 people and injured more than 2,000.

Work was completed on the KATY railroad between St. Charles and New Franklin. Now it is a beautiful bicycle trail all across the state.

The city of Fulton was incorporated on this date in Missouri history.

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

The Missouri Pacific Railroad was chartered. It was created to "… extend from St. Louis via Jefferson City, to the western boundary of Missouri, and thence to the Pacific Ocean."

One of the most difficult and rewarding experiences we have at Missouri Life is to pick the winners of our photo contest. Not only does our state have an abundant array of photo material—endless, if you ask us—but we also have an amazing bunch of photographers.

The floating McDonalds on the St. Louis riverfront opened on this date.

At Newcomer Schoolhouse near Brunswick, MO, seven farmers formed the Newcomers Schoolhouse Farm Club.

In St. Charles and St. Louis flag raising ceremonies were conducted recognizing the new American sovereignty.

Meriwether Lewis arrived back in Missouri this time as Governor of the territory.

Many of Missouri's most important pioneers and leaders are buried in the Bellefontaine Cemetery, which was started on this date.

Residents along the Dardenne Creek got together on this day to build a church of logs. This original St. Peter's Church was later destroyed by a flooded Dardenne. The church was rebuilt and the community continued and is known today as St. Peters, Missouri.

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

Kellie created this recipe for the World Food Championships, but the dish of comfort food with a twist has become a family favorite as well.

All of the banks in Missouri were closed on this day. Two days later the President would order all the nation’s banks closed.

Today's date is the birthday of John Hardeman Walker who got the Bootheel added to Missouri.

The radical reformer, statesman, general, and Missouri Senator Carl Schurz was born on this day. He is famous for saying: "My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right."

The four-season beauty of Columbia can be found throughout the town in its private lawns and public gardens. Here’s where the green-thumbed go to find inspiration.

The court in Daviess County ordered the building of the famous rotating "Squirrel Cage Jail" in Gallatin. 

Congress set aside money on this date for a small military unit to explore the valleys of the Missouri and Columbia Rivers. Thomas Jefferson chose a childhood friend, Meriwether Lewis, to head the expedition.

Butler County was formed on this date.

For the last 17 years, Woody has hosted country music programs on KOPN. He began his Midnight Country show, which aired Sundays from midnight to 3 AM, in 2000. He gained a loyal following of listeners all around the United States and abroad.

This the birthday of our third Governor. Abraham J. Williams was a one-legged shoemaker from Boone County who rose to prominence in the Missouri Senate before serving one short term as the Chief Executive. He was also a founder of the Boone County Fair which was the very first county fair west of the Mississippi.

Reporters were allowed to try the new Screamin' Eagle roller coaster at Six Flags in Eureka. At sixty-two miles per hour, it was the nation’s tallest, longest, and fastest coaster.

The steamboat, E. A. Ogden sank in Murray's Bend above Jefferson City.

The gates of Bagnell Dam were closed on this day.

Birthday of Uriel Sebree, in Fayette, Missouri. He served as Commander-in-Chief of the Pacific Fleet, Arctic Explorer, Governor of American Samoa.

Elm Farm Ollie became the first cow to fly in an airplane. She took off from Bismarck, Missouri and flew to St. Louis.

Doug believes there is a popular misconception that Missouri sparkling wines are always sweet—not to say there is anything wrong with a sweet wine. “There is an unfortunate view, usually held by people who are less informed, that sweet wines are less serious than dry wines,” he says.

St. Louisan, Leon Spinks, shocked the sports world when he beat Muhammad Ali in fifteen rounds for the World Heavyweight Crown. He and his brother, Michael, were the only brothers to ever hold world titles.

From the jacket worn by Mark Twain to Truman's famous "The Buck Stops Here" sign, you can find these historical icons within the borders of the Show-Me State.

In Kansas City Rube Foster organized the Negro National League. Both St. Louis and Kansas City were among the original franchises.

Satchel Paige was signed to pitch for the St. Louis Browns at age 46. Between innings Paige lounged in a rocking chair near the dugout.

The state Legislature approved the incorporation of "Kirkwood Association" which was the first planned suburban community in the United States.

Birthday of writer, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Wilder was born in Wisconsin but lived much of her life in Mansfield, MO.

In Ken Gilberg’s line of work, he gets on his soapbox daily. He loves to speak out about Herbaria, his St. Louis-based company’s all-natural, vegetable-based soaps, deodorants, bath bombs, bath salts, moisturizers, aftershaves, insect repellents, and gifts.

Miller County was formed on this date.

Missouriís second capitol building in Jefferson City (fourth overall) was burned to the ground due to a lightning strike.

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

Boost your cultural IQ and have a great time while doing it at Columbia’s museums.

The first Missouri train robbery by the James Gang took place on this date.

Recent health trends show that Missourians have challenges when it comes to obesity, smoking, and drug usage. A person’s residence, zip code, and access to healthy options also play a significant role in overall health, leaving some Missourians at more of an advantage than others when they wake up in the morning.

Robert and Anna Rucker liked to play the lottery.

Several new counties were formed on this date including Adair, Andrew, Bates, Camden, Dade, Dallas, Grundy, Holt, Jasper, Osage, Ozark, Saint Clair, Scotland, Shannon, and Wright.

These waffles are the perfect treat for a brisk winter morning. The cider adds a hint of tartness to the flavor of the batter, and the cider syrup takes this dish a few notches above your average waffles!

An era ended on this date when "Boss" Tom Pendergast died. With his Kansas City Democrat machine he controlled Missouri politics for years.

This year we're bringing our cross-state ride, Big BAM, to the Katy Trail! We'll kick off in St. Charles on October 6, then camp in Hermann, Jefferson City, Boonville, Sedalia, and finally end in Pleasant Hill on October 11.

The very talented sculptress from Christian College in Columbia, Vinnie Ream, at age 18 was given the commission by Congress to sculpt the statue of Abraham Lincoln to stand in the National Capital Rotunda.

Several breweries including Miller and Schlitz were making a beer they called Budweiser.

The 50th Anniversary Miss Black America Pageant celebrates black beauty, empowerment, and positivity in a national TV special with Kansas City hospitality on display.

Howard County, known as "The Mother County" because so many future counties were chiseled out of its original border, was formed on this early date.

Randolph County was founded on this date.

The Kansas Senate approved a plan to move their border eastward, thus stealing Kansas City from Missouri.

Pro basketball player and Mizzou coach Stormin’ Norman Stewart was born in Shelby County.

On this date, Hiram Leffingwell presented his plans for a huge city park west of Kingshighway in St. Louis.

A meteorite weighing just over 1.3 pounds fell on a barn near Baxter in Stone County.

The Mississippi was frozen over and a saloon keeper set up business in the middle of the river.

Birthday of Baseball's most colorful character, Dizzy Dean.

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

Daniel Dunklin was born on this day. Dunklin was the fifth Governor of Missouri and is sometimes called the Father of Missouri Public Schools.

Missourian James H. Howard got separated from his fighter group and, all alone, attacked a German flight of thirty planes.

Henry Dorman of Liberal celebrated his 114th birthday on this date in 1913.

Camp Long Creek at Big Cedar sits on the lakeshore, next to Bass Pro Shops Long Creek Marina, and features 64 units that include shepherd’s huts, luxury “glamping” tents, and couples’ and family cottages. The campground is set to open in May.

On this date Moses Austin and Samuel Hammond Purchased 400 arpens of land to lay out the town of Herculaneum.

The Second Battle of Springfield was fought during the Civil War.

Henry Schoolcraft was exploring the Ozarks and this day was camped at the location of present day Springfield. His glowing description attracted many early settlers to the area.

Here's how citizens of Chillicothe came together to save a historic church that was built in 1868.

The exact northern border of Missouri was established thus ending the dispute which had led to the Honey War in 1839.

Artists have been leaving their imprint on Columbia since the first settlers rolled into the region. Here in this creative city, you’ll find historical masterpieces and fresh contemporary works. You’d expect to find amazing art in local galleries—and you won’t be disappointed—but in Columbia, art also enhances the town’s public spaces.

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.

Sam Conlon says she has a perfect life. She makes whatever she feels like making, and her art is always evolving.

The town of Fenton was incorporated. Its petition for incorporation claimed, "35 legal voters, 40 to 50 women, and about 90 children, with fair prospects for an increase in the latter."

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

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

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.

Finally, on December 18, 1818, Congress heard the petition again. This marked the beginning of a long, slow grind toward eventual statehood in 1821. Between 1818 and 1821, the question of Missouri’s status was mired in a contentious debate over slavery.

Ginger Rogers was born as Virginia Katherine McMath in Independence in 1911, and she spent her early years in Independence and Kansas City. Ginger is best remembered for movies made with dancing partner Fred Astaire. She is famously credited for doing everything Astaire did, only backwards and in high heels.

Brad Pitt was born in Oklahoma. However, soon after his birth, his family moved to Springfield. He attended Kickapoo High School and went on to study journalism at the University of Missouri-Columbia.

The Pacific Railroad reached Kansas City from St. Louis on this date. Even before this date Kansas City was already a thriving railroad terminus.

The largest and most lavish steamer ever to sail on an inland waterway was launched on this day. The Grand Republic was built at Carondelet. It later burned while undergoing repairs there.

Today in Missouri history, it was reported that the rabbit market had been ruined by warm weather. They were selling for only two cents each in south Missouri.

Traveling from the highest elevations of the Missouri Ozarks down the fertile Mississippi River Delta Region and everywhere in-between, see the sites like no one has been able to show off before.

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

Today, gifts and stationery created by this Fulton-based company appear on the shelves of fine boutiques nationwide and at major retailers including Anthropologie and Paper Source.

Black aviator, Wendell Pruitt, was honored in his home town of St. Louis on this day. He won the Distinguished Flying Cross for shooting down three German planes, destroying 70 on the ground and helping to sink a German destroyer.

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

Direct air mail service began between St. Louis and New York.

Over 300 barrels of Jack Daniels whiskey disappeared through a siphon hose from the distillery in St. Louis on this date in Missouri history.

Askinosie Chocolate’s teammates strive to leave the world a better place than BC (before chocolate), one small, cacao-infused batch at a time.

Today's date in Missouri history is the birthday of Agnes Moorehead, who grew up in St. Louis, spent four seasons as a dancer in the MUNY and made her debut as a singer on KMOX.

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

Amateur photographers, including youth, are encouraged to submit their favorite wild bird photographs for the contest that offers cash prizes for winners. The contest is a fundraiser for MRBO, which is devoted to the conservation of Missouri’s migratory and resident birds.

Movie star Rudolph Valentino toured St. Louis. The Italian-born actor starred in silent films, such as The Son of the Sheik and The Eagle, and caused a frenzy among his female fans when he applied for US citizenship.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch became the first newspaper in the country to deliver its papers by automobile.

World-class culture...In Columbia? You bet! Columbians know what visitors discover, that they have access to high culture right in mid-Missouri.

At just 23, St. Louis-based singer/songwriter, upright bassist, and poet Tonina Saputo has accomplished more than many artists twice her age. As a high school student, she performed with her school’s symphonic orchestra at both Carnegie Hall and Lincoln Center in New York City.

Samuel Clemens—who later changed his name to Mark Twain—was born in Florida, Missouri.  Haley’s Comet was seen across the night sky at that time, and Twain later told people that he rode in on Haley’s Comet and he would someday ride out.

Patrick Weston has overcome long odds to survive, live, and thrive throughout his life. This is his story.

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.

California, MO, located just west of Jefferson City, MO on Highway 50, is home to Burgers’ Smokehouse, a family owned and operated manufacturer of country ham, bacon and other specialty smoked and cured meats and foods.

Elegant glazed cakes bring festive flair to your holiday table.

Built at a cost of $250 million, Kansas City International Airport opens, featuring an innovative "Drive to Your Gate" design.

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. 

In the midst the Civil War, Henry W. Halleck assumed command of the Union forces in Missouri and the West. Known derogatorily as “Old Brains,” he was later replaced by General Ulysses S. Grant. 

Today is the birthday of statesman John Brooks Henderson from Lincoln County, MO. He was appointed a Senator and, after Lincoln's death, Henderson co-wrote the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution which prohibited slavery in the U.S.

On this date, Sikeston High School toppled Kennett in football, 147-0.

John Joseph Houghtaling was born on this day in Kansas City. He invented the Magic Fingers Vibrating Bed, a common feature in mid-priced hotels and motels from the 1960s to 1970s. "Hey, gotta quarter?"

Local productions and traveling shows bring the iconic ballet to appreciative audiences here in Missouri. For professional ballet companies, The Nutcracker is often the most popular show of the season.

 Phelps County was formed on this date.

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. 

An inaugural Veterans Day ceremony will take place November 11 at Missouri’s National Veterans Memorial. The event off˜ers a way to remember those lost or serving in the military by securing a personalized Gold or Blue Star badge to be incorporated into the ceremony as service flags.

Elijah Lovejoy was born on this date. Lovejoy was a crusading newspaper publisher, who got his start in St. Louis, and he was abolitionist who was killed when a mob came to break up his press in Alton, Illinois. 

The American League approved the transfer of Philadelphia’s Athletics to Kansas City. 

U.S. Grant sailed 3000 troops down the Mississippi to defeat confederate forces at the Battle of Belmont, Missouri.

An independently owned bookstore is like a friend: it has its own personality that makes you love to spend time there. Despite the draw of web-based super sellers, indie bookstores are surviving.

On this day, forty shots were fired in the Elms Hotel lobby and veranda in a robbery gone bad. The Excelsior Springs police shotgun squad chased the robbers from the hotel to Kansas City where they were caught, tried, and convicted. You can still visit the Elms today. 

For most of the year, life in small-town rural Missouri moves at a quiet pace, but come November these peaceful hamlets transform into prime destinations for those on the hunt for deer.

This is believed by some to be the birthday of a true legend, Daniel Boone. Boone and the people he brought may have done as much as any other people to give Missouri its unique and distinct character.

Columbians know where to go for great food for special occasions, but there’s no need to wait! Any day is worth celebrating when you dine at one of these acclaimed restaurants.

Farm life has always been the way of life for fifth-generation farmers Caleb and Luella Gregory. Emmett, their 19-month-old son now marks the sixth generation to be involved in production agriculture.

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.

Missourians love their coffee now as much as they did hundreds of years ago when the French first brought coffee to the shores of the Mississippi River. Indie coffee shops, boutique roasters, national brands, and regional roasters are pleasing customers all over the state.

The University of Missouri football team played the Kansas Jayhawks for the first time beginning one of the oldest football rivalry in the nation. It ended in 2012 when Missouri joined the SEC and Kansas refused to play against Missouri.

The James Gang robbed the bank at Lexington.

Females fuel America’s wine industry: women buy 57 percent of the wine consumed in this country. But the ladies are not only buying and drinking wine; they’re making it, too.

A huge crowd turned out to dedicate the new Route 66 bridge over the Meramec at Fenton. The bottle of pre-prohibition champagne set aside for the Christening turned up missing before the ceremony.

Although the phrase “ghost town” might call to mind the tumbleweed-strewn roads and abandoned wooden storefronts of the Old West, ours tell a different tale. A detour through these rural locales reveals stories of a changing world and devastating acts of nature.

TWA established the first coast-to-coast all-air passenger service on this date. The planes flew from New York to Kansas City for an overnight stop and then on to Los Angeles. Total trip time was 36 hours.

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.

“There are deep things you can’t explain in English that you can in Shawnee,” he says. “It’s a spiritual language. Everything means something: the ground, the trees, the relationship of sky, water, rock. My father used to say that if you want help from the Creator, you have to speak with the language you were put here with.”

Liz began her operation with just a few alpacas, and for good reason. Alpacas were $20,000 to $30,000 each during those early years, according to Liz, and the females only have one o–ffspring, called a cria, each year. From those small beginnings, Liz built a herd that, at its largest, numbered 142.

Bagnell Dam was completed and water began to back up forming the Lake of the Ozarks and covering towns like Linn Creek.

Boatmen's Bank was established in St. Louis on this date in Missouri history. This landmark operation was specifically for individuals and small investors. Previously banks had mostly served the rich.

Visit these sites to learn more about the state's native heritage.

A fair was held at the Greene County Courthouse in Springfield to raise funds for the relief of the area’s war orphans.  

Get in on what we’ve known all along. Kansas City is a city of champions.

Come out for this festival featuring Missouri-made products you can buy straight from the artists and producers.

Are you looking for a venue to sell your products to Missourians? Join us at the Best of Missouri Life Market Fair! Our Best of Missouri Life advertisers will have the chance to sell their products at the Best of Missouri Life Market Fair at Powell Gardens on April 28-April 29, 2018.

A disastrous fire raged through the Kansas City stockyards killing 17,000 cattle and hogs; 30,000 others were set free and survived.  Many had to be rounded up in downtown Kansas City.

The battle of Glasgow began on this day. Four hundred Union soldiers and fifty Confederates lost their lives in this rebel victory.

In honor of the brave leader of the "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo" Centerville (west of Rolla on Route 66) was re-named for the leader of the raid, St. Louis oil executive, Jimmy Doolittle. General Doolittle himself was there for the ceremony. 

A French missionary, Father Gravier, noted in his journal, "Discovered the river Mirameguoua, where the rich lead mine is situated, 12 or 13 leagues from its mouth." Today we refer to that river as the Meramec. "Meramec" (Mirameguoua) is an Osage word meaning catfish.

The first Overland Mail from California reached St. Louis. It was carried to the route terminus at Tipton and put on a train for St. Louis. The trip took almost 25 days. 

Dominated by the new US government, Missouri’s indigenous groups struggled against efforts to marginalize them—and sometimes against the indifference of their own young people. The native groups are gone from here now. But they—and their heritage—survive.

Missouri-born George Washington Carver taught his first class at Tuskegee Institute on this date.

On October 27 Spirit of the Civil War, a community living history event, will truly transform downtown Lexington into its 19th century look and feel. Serving as both a reenactment of the Battle of Lexington and a community fall festival, this event has attractions that will delight visitors of every stripe.

A conversation with Chief Geoffrey M. Standing Bear of the Osage Nation, based in Pawhuska, Oklahoma

A conversation with Heather Payne, Otoe-Missouria Tribe public information officer, based in Red Rock, Oklahoma.

Sara Fougere estimates that 75 percent of her recipe collection calls for beef. There’s a lot she can do with the versatile ingredient. As a professional caterer, Sara knows what people want and what to prepare for any occasion, no matter the season.

Frank James surrendered on the steps of the state capitol. He made a short speech and turned his gun over to the Governor. Read more about this in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland. 

Birthday of Alexander Majors of Westport, MO.  He was a co-founder of a huge freighting firm, the Overland Stage Co., and the Pony Express. Read more about him in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland.

The very first state fair opened in Boonville. State fairs were held in Boonville until 1901.

It was the opening day of the World Series where St. Louis Cardinals faced off against the New York Yankees. This was the first World Series ever for the St. Louis Cardinals.