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Why is “Uncle Sam” Buried in Missouri?
He came to Missouri several times and died here in 1932 “Probably no globe trotter in history has ever achieved such celebrity as Frank S. Colburn.” -T.F. Matthews, Dayton Sunday Journal, 1917 Frank…
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Brief History of Columbia, Missouri
Columbia, Missouri, has a rich history that dates back to the early 19th century. Here’s a brief overview: Throughout its history, Columbia has undergone various transformations, but its role as an educational and…
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The First Female Mayor in Missouri
1921: The citizens of St. James elect the first female mayor in the state. Two years after women in Missouri were finally allowed to vote, the first female mayor in Missouri history was…
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Brief History of Springfield, Missouri
1838: The “Queen City of the Ozarks” Started Small Springfield began as a small town in the southwestern part of the state but has grown to be the third largest city in Missouri.…
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Powell Hall History
January 24, 1968: Powell Hall converts from a movie theater to a Symphony Hall. The St. Louis Symphony Orchestra played its first-ever concert the night after the legendary theater was re-opened as a…
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Missouri S&T History
On November 23, 1871, the Missouri School of Mines and Metallurgy opened in Rolla. It was one of the first universities in the country to specialize in technology and engineering thanks in large…
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Brief History of Jefferson City
How Jefferson City Became the State Capital Jefferson City is the first and only city “created” to be the seat of government in United States history. Jefferson City was not even a town…
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The Platte Purchase
1837 – Missouri Annexes Northwestern Border with the Platte Purchase Prior to 1837, much of the northwestern part of present-day Missouri was not a part of the state at all. When Missouri was…
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Missouri Bootheel History
Why does Missouri have a Bootheel? Missouri wasn’t supposed to have a bootheel. It wasn’t planned to be this way and it wasn’t included in the original maps. But a wealthy and influential…
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The Namesake for Raytown
January 18, 1808: William Ray is born. The name of William Ray may not be recognizable to most people, although the bustling town on the outskirts of Kansas City that was named in…
