Opening of the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant
On December 19, 1984, the Callaway Nuclear Power Plant went into operation. Missouri’s first and only nuclear power plant had been debated for years before ground was broken in September of 1975. Even after the facility got the necessary approval following the federal government’s evaluation process, it was nearly a decade before it began operating near Fulton in Callaway County.
December 18, 1921 is the Birthday of “Mickey” Garagiola
December 18, 1921, is the Birthday of St. Louis’s most famous waiter, “Mickey” Garagiola. In the 1940s, he worked at Oldani’s (Now Mamma’s) on the Hill when a chef, Terry Lane, messed up a ravioli order. Mickey tasted them anyway and declared that, with some seasoning, they would be a hit. Toasted ravioli was born as a St. Louis tradition.
Hunter Forced to Watch Bambi
On December 17, 2018, a hunter from Barton County was sentenced to watch Disney’s Bambi repeatedly during his year-long prison sentence after being convicted of killing hundreds of deer illegally.
El Torreon Opened
On December 16, 1927, the doors opened to what became the most popular ballroom in Kansas City. The El Torreon was at 31st and Gillham Plaza.
Spacecraft Blasts Off
On December 15, 1965, the Gemini 6A blasted off from Cape Kennedy in Florida. Walter Schirra and Thomas Stafford were the astronauts on board the spacecraft, which had been manufactured in St. Louis at McDonnell Aircraft Corporation. McDonnell had won the contract to build the space vehicles, making St. Louis ground zero for America’s human spaceflight program.
Three Counties Were Established
On December 14, 1818, Lincoln, Montgomery, and Pike Counties were established today.
December 13, 1913 is the Birthday of Archie Moore
December 13, 1913, is the birthday of St. Louis boxer Archie Moore. He scored 131 knockouts in 27 years and held the heavyweight title from 1952 to 1962.
Aircraft Sets Record Speed
On December 12, 1957, The McDonnell Douglas Voodoo established the speed record for airplanes at 1,207.6 mph.
108 Missouri Wineries
On December 11, 2012, state officials announced that there were now one hundred and eight commercial wineries operating in Missouri.
Rivalry of Mizzou vs Illinois
On December 10, 1980, the first Braggin’ Rights basketball game is held in St. Louis between the Mizzou Tigers and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. Although the teams have a rivalry dating back to 1932, things escalated a notch when the annual matchup between the two squads moved to a neutral site midway between the two campuses.