this date in Missouri history

Legal gambling on horse racing began on this date in 1986. The state-sanctioned betting was off and running at the Missouri State Fair.

Missouri U.S. Senator David Rice Atchison was born on this date in Frogtown, Kentucky. Atchison also holds the distinction of being U.S. president for one day.

On this date in Missouri history, Missouri became a state and St. Charles was designated as the temporary capitol.

Tar and feathers? That was just one of the anti-chicken thief punishments promised by a new vigilante group in Shelby County 122 years ago.

The Fats and the Leans squared off for a baseball game in Hermann 125 years. Which team prevailed?

The Lake of the Ozarks owes its existence to the Osage River and the construction of Bagnell Dam, which began on this date in 1929.

Missouri History Today is a regular feature of missourilife.com that chronicles the Show-Me State's history day by day. What dates, events, or accomplishments are we missing from our collection?

William Lear, the Hannibal, Mo. native most associated with the Lear Jet, is credited with getting the patent for the first car radio in 1931.

On this date in Missouri history in 1937, the final trolley car parade took Springfield residents across the city one last time before the trolleys were retired. 

Missouri brick magnate A.P. Green was born on this date in Jefferson City. A.P. Green bricks produced in Mexico, Mo., were fire resistant.