Inventions from Missouri

Liquid crystal display technology is one of the more than 100 inventions by Missourian James Fergason. LCD is a flat panel digital display which uses liquid crystals to display images. So basically, types of flat screen TVs are thanks to the Carrollton native.

Mood Rings are another invention from James Fergason. The technology used in LCDs also played a role in the color sensitive material. It may not be a groundbreaking, but this probably ranks as one of his coolest inventions.

Ice Cream cones first appeared in 1896 in Italy and the inventor received a patent for it in 1903 in New York. But a similar creation was devised during the World’s Fair in St. Louis. Ernest Hamwi was selling a waffle-like pastry next to an ice cream vendor. When the ice cream vendor ran out of bowls, they improvised and put the ice cream in one of his waffles. And the rest is history.

It may be impossible to determine which restaurant invented Gooey Butter Cake, but we do know it happened in St. Louis. Historians say it is likely Koppe Bakery, Danzer’s, or St. Louis Pastries.

Much like the Gooey Butter Cake above, there is no way to definitively determine who first invented toasted ravioli. But again, we know it happened in St. Louis, likely in The Hill neighborhood.

This “Missouri invention” may be a bit of a stretch, but it is often mentioned in historical articles. Dr. Jack Kilby was born in Jefferson City and did, in fact, invent the microchip, or integrated circuit. But he only lived in Missouri for a short time and invented the product elsewhere. He also won the Nobel Prize in Physics for the invention.

Ellene Bailey may not be well known, but she changed life for many women. She grew up near Wentzville and had several inventions. Her first pattent was a “Pond Fort” boot, which was a knee high boot patented in 1880. She later came up with the Dart needle. But her 1892 patent of a device to even spread face powder on the skin may be her best known invention.

Dr. John Sappington of Arrow Rock invented a pill that was used to treat malaria. He used the controversial agent quinine for the pills, despite the fact that could cause death.

Charles Baker is one of the first black inventors to make his mark on engineering. He was born a slave in Savannah, Missouri but rose to fame by invented a heater that used friction. The Friction Heat and Boiler Company was formed in 1904 in St. Joseph thanks to his invention.