April 13, 1936

The Battle of Kirksville was fought.

The Battle of Athens was fought in Athens, Missouri. This Civil War skirmish was the most northern battle west of the Mississippi, and it resulted in a Union victory. Today, you can go visit the Battle of Athens State Historic Site.

On this day Helen Stephens, "The Fulton Flash" dominated the competition and got the gold at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin.

This is the birthday of Thornton Grimsley. He was the St. Louis saddle maker who designed the famous Grimsley saddle which was used by the U.S. Army from 1833 onward.

Burgers’ Smokehouse bacon is a flavorful fit for this favorite sandwich.

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

St. Louis purchased its first steam-powered fire engine.

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

William Clarke Quantrill was born on this day.

Baseball Hall of Famer, Casey Stengel was born in Kansas City. His nickname "Casey" came from the initials of his home town, K. C.

Legendary actor William Powell was born in Pennsylvania, though his family moved to Kansas City in 1907.

The founders of Logboat Brewing Co. have opened a brand new cider company.

Committee of Health declared the great cholera epidemic was over. At least 8,423 people died in St. Louis but countless others died along the Missouri River Valley to the west.

Car aficionados’ tastes are changing the market.

The Atlantic and Pacific Railroad, predecessor of the St. Louis and San Francisco Railroad (known as The Frisco), was incorporated on this date.

President Harry Truman did away with segregation in the military with executive order 9981, making it a model for the rest of society.

Semple Scott of St. Louis was granted permission to rent small electric cars similar to two-seat golf carts for getting around the World's Fair. They were called Electric Autochairs.

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.

Ever dream of settling down in a quiet town, perhaps in a historic home a stone's throw from the Mississippi River? Maybe it's the dream you didn't know you had. In either case, now's the time to realize it in this four-bedroom, one-and-a-half-bath home in Clarksville.

Missouri’s small-batch craft distillers come of age.

This was the reported date when some say the ice cream cone was created and seen for the first time ... at the St. Louis World's Fair, of course.

Kansas City political boss Tom Pendergast was born. Known for using nefarious methods to get his way, Pendergast ran the town of Kansas City and the surrounding Jackson County area for nearly fifteen years, from 1925 to 1939.

Mozarkite was adopted as our official state rock. The attractive rock is suitable for jewelry but was commonly used by Native Americans for arrowheads and tools.

Bonnie and Clyde were involved in another shootout on this day. This time it was at the Red Crown Tavern and Tourist Court in Platte City.

The 68th Annual Sikeston Jaycee Bootheel Rodeo is in the chute

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

How I learned to wakeboard at the Lake of the Ozarks.

The Mountain Grove Journal reported on an old teacher, H. L. Mabrey of Wayne county, had the copy of a contract he made to teach in that county in 1848.

100 years ago in August, women got the right to vote. This woman helped make that happen.

Birthday of Margaret Brown in Hannibal, MO. She led an extremely interesting life, which included being a passenger on the Titanic, and was made famous in the Broadway show and movie called The Unsinkable Molly Brown, named in part for stories about her unbreakable spirit during the ship's sinking. She was portrayed by Kathy Bates in James Cameron's 1997 film Titanic.

The Corps of Discovery spent this day resting. This was the last full day they would have in the area which was to become Missouri.

Joseph Charless was born this day in Ireland. Meriwether Lewis (pictured) brought him to St. Louis where he became the first newspaper publisher in the west.

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

Although this year’s fair may look and feel a little different, the competition, fun, and fair food awaits.

Trio in Cape Girardeau makes vegan dining fun.

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

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.

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 boxing champ, Michael Spinks, from St. Louis. (Brother of Leon Spinks.)

History blooms on the water at Missouri Botanical Garden.

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. 

As a part of our bicentennial series, we show off ten artworks from Missouri artists that help us understand our state’s history.

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

A new hotel, restaurant, and brewery comes to KC. Plus, art exhibits you don't want to miss.

Ken McElroy, who had terrorized Skidmore, MO for years was shot to death with at least two rifles in front of at least 46 witnesses but no one saw anything.

On this day, Henry Tibbe of Washington, Missouri patented an improved corncob pipe.

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 actress, dancer, and singer was born in a home in Independence. This year, it went on the market and sold for $111,500.

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

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.

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.

Missouri ratified the nineteenth Amendment giving women the right to vote in national elections.

Astronaut, Linda M. Godwin, was born in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. She grew up in Jackson, Missouriand graduated from Jackson High School in 1970. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics and physicsfrom Southeast Missouri State Universityin 1974, and a Master of Science degree and a Doctorate in physics from the University of Missouri.

John Wise established a world distance record, traveling 809 miles from St. Louis to New York in the Atlantic, a 65,000-cubic-foot helium balloon. This was only the second balloon flight from St. Louis.

A pool, a lake, a spa, and a Hall of Waters lure people to Excelsior Springs.

More great reads around our state.

Boonville man benefits cancer patients with his fireworks stand.

William Least Heat-Moon’s new novel explores the American interior in every sense of the word.

This storied rail corridor may have a promising new life ahead.

Here’s how The Billy Goat Chip Company makes their mouthwatering snack.

These Missouri creatures come out at night.

The Missouri Waltz was chosen as our state song. It was used as Truman's theme song but it was reported that he had a strong dislike for the tune and the words.

What many regard as the greatest upset in World Cup history, the U.S. team beat England. Five of the players were from St. Louis and four of those were from The Hill. A movie was made about the event. Much of The Game of Their Lives was filmed on The Hill. 

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.

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.

Birthday of Rose O'Neill of Branson. O'Neill was an artist and illustrator who created the kewpie doll which was popular for many decades.

The War Department ordered the primitive people at the World's Fair to wear more clothing. (Yes, the War Department. I know it doesn't make sense, but it's true.) We invited them here so we could learn about their culture, then we insisted that they dress more like us.

Missouri River Relief helps keep the waterway clean.

This is the birthday of "The Coach," Don Faurot, the namesake of Mizzou's Faurot field.

Virtual care at MU Health allows you to receive care at home.

Doctor Andrew Taylor of Macon, Missouri founded the Osteopathic medicine movement on this day.

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.

A photo project helps commemorate the bicentennial.

 Birthday of actor, John Goodman, who is from Affton, Missouri. His mother was a waitress at the famous Phil's Bar-B-Q in Affton.

An Osage Beach family harvests the elite treat from paddlefish.

Juneteenth celebrations, protesting, food trucks, live music, and outdoor theater.

Alberta Claire, "The Girl from Wyoming," was back in Missouri and on her way to an extended ride through the Ozarks.

The War of 1812 began. Nathan Boone and others formed military units and tension built between American Indians and European whites.

Pretty Boy Floyd and his gang were implicated in killing four policemen and their prisoner in front of the Union Station in Kansas City.  This event has come to be known as the Kansas City Massacre.  

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.

Henry Shaw opened his botanical garden to the public on this day.

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

The Lake St. Louis Water Ski Club chases the thrill.

A big crowd of onlookers cheered as a "test elephant" was led across Eads Bridge. People believed that elephants could somehow sense whether or not a structure could support its weight. Eventually Eads ran 14 locomotives back and forth across the bridge while inspectors looked for signs of stress.

Forage for them all over the state.

Missouri Valley College was founded at Marshall.

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

Kansas City and St. Louis star, Al Hrabosky, (the Mad Hungarian) turned his back on a batter for the first time this day.

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.  

Birthday of Joplin-born entertainer, Robert "Bob" Cummings.

St. Louis Aquarium welcomes guests with new shows.

Rost Landscaping outdoor living spaces make room for time with family and friends.

The Missouri Commission on Human Rights was created.

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.

Here’s what it’s like to be a nurse during a pandemic

"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.

The Cardinals signed a young pitcher on this date. The man hurt his arm so the team moved the pitcher, Stanley Musial, to the outfield.

Missouri was organized as a U.S. Territory. The name was changed from "Territory of Louisiana" to "Territory of Missouri."

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.

Find the perfect gift for the "Dad" in your life.

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.

Explore these 19 conservation areas across the state.

Country crooner Jack Grelle switches gears for now on If Not Forever.

A judge ruled that auto license plates in Missouri were valid only for the jurisdiction where they were purchased. Therefore, motorists must purchase a new license for each and every county they passed through. 

Conservation areas by the numbers

This contest measures mules and their trainers.

More great reads.

Could a hyperloop change our transit landscape?

A new book details the grim challenges of steamboat navigation along the lower Missouri River.

The Big Piney is the perfect place to float with multiple camping spots along the way.

Wide smiles and watercolors

The Missouri mule was named Missouri's official state animal.

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.

Five people were killed by lightning in one day in St. Louis County. Four were Freshman girls at JFK High School in Manchester.

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.  

The founder of St. Louis, Pierre Laclède, was going downriver to New Orleans on this date when he died.

The little town of St. Louis was attacked by 1000 British and their Indian allies. At least 21 settlers were killed. If the British had won, would the Louisiana Purchase have happened? 

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.

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

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

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

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

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!)

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

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

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.

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." 

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.

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.