Tom Benoist and Tony Jannus Plane

January 1, 1914

Missourians Tom Benoist and Tony Jannus began the first scheduled passenger airline service in America.


Missouri State Capitol Interior Rotunda

December 31, 1821

Governor McNair signed a bill that designated the site for the City of Jefferson, which was to become the capital city for Missouri.


December 30, 2010

Devastating tornadoes touched down across southern Missouri striking Fort Leonard Wood, Robertsville, and Sunset Hills.


River Des Peres St. Louis Forest Park World's Fair

December 29, 1901

The World's Fair Company awarded a contract to construct a wooden tunnel to take the River Des Peres under the fairgrounds on this date in 1901.


Fenton Missouri

December 28, 1874

The town of Fenton was incorporated. Its petition for incorporation claimed, "35 legal voters, 40 to 50 women, and about 90 children, with fair prospects for an increase in the latter."


December 27, 1869

The composing room at Concordia Publishing House (on the campus of Concordia Seminary in Saint Louis) was put into operation.


Father Sebastian Meurin

December 26, 1707

Father Sebastian Meurin was born on this date. He started the first church in St. Louis and performed Missouri’s first marriage in Ste. Genevieve.


December 25, 1966

A group of architecture students from Washington University sneaked into the McDonnell Planetarium and tied a huge red bow around the hyperboloid roof, thus starting the Christmas tradition.


December 24, 1809

Birthday of Christopher "Kit" Carson from Franklin, Missouri who did as much as any person to open up the west. Read more about him in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland.


Times Beach Missouri Dioxin Hazard

December 23, 1982

The EPA announced that it had identified dangerous levels of dioxin in the soil of Times Beach, MO on this date in Missouri history.