The riverboat Shamrock fired a salvo inviting everyone in St. Louis to the very first St. Patrick’s Day celebration and parade in St. Louis and possibly the first in Missouri. Now they’re wearin’ the green in St. Louis, Kansas City, Rolla, Saint Patrick, New Haven, Shamrock, and of course in our Irish Wilderness.

This post was contributed by Ross Malone. A historian and a retired school teacher, Ross has authored many books about Missouri’s history, weird facts, and folk tales. He has also written children’s historical fiction. Visit his website, and buy his books in the Missouri Life store.

Photo by Brad Tutterow, Flickr