January 2, 1911
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.
January 1, 1800
The first German-speaking immigrants came to Missouri. Twenty families crossed the frozen Mississippi River in their wagons and built their homes in what is now a part of Cape Girardeau. A cold time of year to arrive with no homes!
December 30, 1882
A fireworks factory exploded on the grounds of Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. Neighbors and fans had complained for years that it wasn't good to have an explosives factory next to a stadium.
December 28, 1831
Rev. Isaac McCoy, a Baptist missionary to the Indians, brought his family to western Missouri on this date. His son, John C. McCoy, would first establish Westport, MO and then Kansas City.
December 23, 1932
Street lights burned all day in St. Louis because the smoke was so bad. The Depression was causing everyone to burn wood and cheap coal.
December 22, 1989
St. Louis was at 16⁄ below zero on this day. Springfield and Columbia were at 20⁄ below.
December 21, 1847
The very first telegraph was sent to St. Louis. It was sent to the Missouri Republican newspaper from Louisville.
December 20, 1812
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.