The Missouri Mystery: Where Did The Phrase “The Show Me State” Come From?

The Secrets Behind Our Motto

There are two things you need to know about The Show Me State motto:

• It is not Missouri’s Official Slogan or Motto
• Nobody really knows where it came from

“The Show Me State” is a long-standing nickname for Missouri. It has come to define the state’s reputation for skepticism and pragmatism, even though most people don’t know where the phrase came from. In fact, nobody really knows for sure. There are some theories, but there is no way to show me where “The Show Me State” originated.

Origins of the phrase

The nickname is most commonly traced to a speech back in 1899 by Congressman Willard Duncan Vandiver of Fayette. The Central Methodist University graduate was speaking at a naval banquet in Philadelphia, when he reportedly said:

“I’m from Missouri. You’ve got to show me.”

He went on to explain that Missourians weren’t easily impressed by fancy talk or theories—they believed in evidence and results.

Other Theories

Another popular theory is not so flattering. Some miners from Missouri’s “Lead Belt”. These workers were transferred out to the mines in Colorado, but they didn’t know what they were doing. The mining methods were different, so the Missouri men had to be told repeatedly how to do the job. The bosses are reported as saying, “He is from Missouri. You will have to show him.”

How The Nickname Stuck

The phrase immediately resonated with Missourians, especially in the rural areas. So it was already commonly used when the 1904 World’s Fair came to St. Louis. The name was branded well and it stuck. It was never made the official nickname, but around the world, Missouri is recognized as the Show Me State.

The Official Motto

Missouri’s official motto is the Latin phrase Salus Populi Suprema Lex Esto.

That means “Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law.”