Missouri History Today

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.

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.  

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.

The Lewis & Clark Expedition was continuing upriver on this day. It was fairly uneventful except for passing some canoes and rafts filled with pelts headed for St. Louis.

The James Gang held up the bank at Ste. Genevieve.

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.

Meriwether Lewis Clark, son of the explorer, designed a new theater for St. Louis and the cornerstone was laid on this day. It was the first in the nation to have individual seats for the patrons.