According to newspaper reports from the time, the first train to arrive in St. Joseph made its inaugural run today on the Hannibal and St. Joseph railroad on this date in 1859.
St. Joseph
The Story Collective, St. Joseph’s only independent bookstore, offers something for everyone. For owner and operator Ashley Dawson, who has always viewed books as a door to engage with other people, the shop is a dream come true.
Jesse James and his family were on the run when they rented a house in St. Joseph to hide. Robert Ford was one of the only people James trusted, but unbeknownst to James, Ford had been communicating with Missouri governor Thomas Crittenden behind James’ back. He was going to help capture the fugitive during a …
Missouri History Today November 6, 1913: St. Joseph Observer Highlights Suffrage and Prohibition Defeats
Standing just 4 feet tall, and weighing 97 pounds, Shigeru Akabane was a popular professional wrestler in the Midget Class. Born in Japan, Akabane died in 2011 in St. Joseph. Once wrestling before a crowd of 93,000, Akabane held the NWA World Midget’s Championship on three occasions. He competed in North American promotions from the …
On June 16, 1860, about ten weeks after the Pony Express began, Congress authorized a bill instructing the Secretary of the Treasury to fund building a transcontinental telegraph line connecting the Missouri River and the Pacific Coast. The bill’s passage resulted in the incorporation of the Overland Telegraph Company of California and the Pacific Telegraph …
After retirement, Zack Workman wanted to focus on his art. First, he needed a workshop. He found the perfect spot in an old Sears and Roebuck barn in need of restoration. These before-and-after photos of The Barn at Greystone will amaze you.
America’s most trusted man, Scooby’s Mystery Machine, and antique veterinary tools that would send Scooby howling to the hills—you’ll find them at these three Missouri museums. Head here to learn about wonderful and wonderfully weird exhibits.
On March 4, 1928, the Bunion Derby, an 84-day footrace along the 3,422 mile length of the new Route 66 began.
St. Joseph is home to iconic places, including Jesse James’s home, the Pony Express birthplace, and the Kansas City Chiefs’ training camp. History flows through this town where museums tell the stories of this westward jumping-off point and where new stories are beginning.
This article was originally published in our September 2020 issue. The growing desire for farm-to-table, sustainable food is drawing customers back to the traditional meat market and the craft of cutting, trimming, and packaging meat. Missouri’s butcher shops do more than just sell meat—customers appreciate the personal service, specialty products, and expertise. From small towns …
A bike ride across Highway 36 reveals wonder in the minutiae of Missouri.
Explore these 19 conservation areas across the state.
Celebrate Missouri’s bicentennial all year long.
The Pony Express started its first run from St. Joseph. Read more about this in Tales From Missouri and the Heartland.
Our top picks from around the state.
News anchorman Walter Cronkite was born in St. Joseph. He grew up in Kansas City until he was ten until he moved to Texas. You can learn more about his life here or by visiting the Walter Cronkite Memorial in St. Joseph.
Neither rain nor snow nor Comanche war parties could stop Francois Aubry, the Missouri speed demon, from delivering the mail in record time. His exploits were the stuff of legend, and the inspiration for the Pony Express.
Jesse James was shot dead by Robert Ford, who was secretly working with Missouri Governor Thomas T. Crittenden. The assassination took place in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Joseph Robidoux paid $8 for a license to run a ferry across the river at what is now St. Joseph.
The first railroad across the state was completed between Hannibal and St. Joseph. On this date the eastbound section was joined with the westbound section at Chillicothe.
