October 21, 1955
An unknown singer was the opening act for Roy Acuff's three day stint in St. Louis. No one seemed excited about the young Elvis Presley.
October 20, 1883
The historic riverboat Far West sank at Mullanphy's Island near the mouth of the Missouri. It was one of Custer's boats and after Little Bighorn it steamed back 920 miles in just 54 hours! The Far West is also the subject of a Gary Lucy painting.
October 19, 1931
Bagnell Dam was completed and water began to back up forming the Lake of the Ozarks and covering towns like Linn Creek.
October 18, 1847
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.
October 17, 1865
A fair was held at the Greene County Courthouse in Springfield to raise funds for the relief of the area’s war orphans.
October 16, 1917
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.
October 15, 1896
The first Missouri rural mail routes were established from Cairo, MO in Randolph County.
October 14, 1807
Birthday of William B. Waddell whose freight company (Russell, Majors, and Waddell) did much to open trade with the west. He was also a founder of the Pony Express. Read more about him in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland.
October 13, 1877
Lizzie Wise drew a crowd as she ascended in her balloon from the Grand Avenue Baseball Park in St. Louis. A stiff wind grabbed the balloon and she was whisked away. She was found the next day in Illinois, hanging from a treetop, unharmed.
October 12, 1885
The first cross-state long distance call was made. The mayor of Kansas City called to his home from St. Louis.