Missouri History Today

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

St. Louis Mayor Kiel signed an ordinance establishing a zoo in St. Louis in Forest Park. The idea was almost killed because of a lawn-mowing dispute.

David Francis said, "Farewell to all thy splendor." and threw a switch closing the World's Fair in St. Louis.

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.

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.

Lewis and Clark visited the oldest permanent settlement in Missouri, Ste. Genevieve.

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

Carrie Nation was born. She lived in Belton on a farm in Cass County and in Independence. This ax-swinging temperance advocate was famous for smashing saloons.

Singer Tina Turner was born on this day in Tennessee. However, around age eleven, her family relocated to St. Louis, the same location where she got her start in the music business.

Lewis and Clark were still making their way toward St. Louis when they arrived at Cape Girardeau. Lewis was the dinner guest of Louis Lorimier. Clark was not welcome. Read more about this in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland. Lewis noted that there was also a group of "duch" (German) settlers who had already erected mills and a group of about 400 Shawnee.