Mobile Phones Debuted in Missouri
1946: Car Phones debut in Missouri A Southwestern Bell worker testing mobile telephone service in St. Louis in 1946.Courtesy of AT&T Archives and History Center Here is a piece of history that may surprise you — for a number of reasons. Firstly, most people think that the invention of mobile phones happened in the 1980s.…
Missouri’s Unusual Town Names
How did Missouri towns get such unusual names? There are hundreds of cities, towns, villages and municipalities in the state of Missouri. Some are major metro areas like St. Louis and Kansas City. Many are tiny with populations in the teens. But one thing is certainly true about Missouri towns; they sure have some strange…
Missouri’s Most Unusual Homes
Missouri Mansions Series There are some homes in Missouri that you truly have to see to believe. Yes, it’s just another reason we call it the Show Me State. And it’s the reason why we put together our Missouri Mansions Series. These unusual homes offer more than just a place to live. They provide a…
Carter Mansion in Carthage
Missouri Mansions Series The Carter Mansion in Carthage is a striking Victorian‑style estate built between 1893 and 1896 by Dr. John Addison Carter. Dr. Carter was a Civil War veteran and influential local physician and landowner. The home is easily recognizable because it is often pictured alongside its companion building, the “Carriage House”. History of…
Historic Mansions in Missouri
People are often surprised at the number of historic mansions in Missouri. These massive estates rival mansions anywhere in America. Why So Many Mansions in Missouri There are several reasons for the significant amount of wealth in the early years of our state. Beer barons, railroad magnates, banking executives, and manufacturing leaders all came to…
Brief History of Kimmswick
Discover the captivating history of Kimmswick, Missouri. A 19th-century river town that rose, fell, and revived into one of Missouri’s most charming historic gems.
Mack Nelson Mansion
Missouri Mansions Series The Mansion The Mack Nelson Mansion is located at 5500 Ward Parkway in Kansas City’s prestigious Country Club District. It has a rich history intertwined with the lumber industry, elite society, and notable early-20th-century architecture. It is much more than a grand home. It’s a physical chronicle of Kansas City’s early growth, architectural…
History of Ha Ha Tonka Castle
Missouri Mansions Series Ha Ha Tonka was a magnificent mansion on the bluffs that overlooked the Ozark Mountains near Camdenton, Missouri. But the ruins of the castle are just one part of this amazing Missouri State Park that surrounds the historic home site. “Ha Ha Tonka” comes from the Osage language, often interpreted as “laughing…
Golf History in Missouri
Oldest Courses and Forgotten Moments Golf History in Missouri is fascinating. Yes, we have some of the best courses in the country. We also have great moments in golf history that many people don’t know about. But if you look into our historical records, you will see it is confusing. Several courses claim to be…
Brief History of Independence
Independence, Missouri, holds a significant place in American history, particularly in relation to westward expansion, the Oregon Trail, and the Mormon migration. It stated as a small outpost on the western frontier and grew to be Missouri’s 5th largest city. It is also the county seat of Jackson County and is seeing significant growth in…
Brief History of Joplin
Joplin, Missouri, is a city in the southwestern part of the state with a rich history tied to mining, transportation, and resilience. Here’s the brief history of Joplin: Early History Growth and Prosperity Challenges and Resilience Modern Joplin Today, Joplin is a vibrant community that honors its past while continuing to grow and adapt. We…
Brief History of Cape Girardeau
Cape Girardeau, Missouri, is a city with a rich history. It is the economic hub of southeast Missouri due to it’s location along major highways and the Mississippi River. It is also the educational center thanks to the impact of Southeast Missouri State University. Early History of Cape Girardeau The area that became Cape Girardeau…
Explore the Missouri State Capitol: A Tour of History
The Magnificent State Capitol on the banks of the Missouri River There are some tours that you want to do by yourself and others that are done best with guidance. When it comes to the tour of the Missouri State Capitol, the latter certainly is better. And when it comes to Missouri State Capitol history,…
Best Small Towns in Missouri
There is nothing quite like a small town in Missouri. The beautiful scenery, slow pace of life, and wonderful people all make our small towns some of the best in the country. But there are the places that the web site Far and Wide named to a pair of lists about the Best Small Towns…
This Day in Missouri Baseball History: Royals Up to Bat
April 8th, 1969: The Kansas City Royals played their first-ever game. This day marked a significant moment for Kansas City which had been without a major league baseball team for two years after the Athletics moved to Oakland in 1967. The departure of the Athletics left Kansas City longing for a team to root for,…
Brief History of Branson
On April 1, 1912 the City of Branson was incorporated in the heart of the Ozark Mountains. It has a rich history that has shaped its identity as a popular tourist destination. Here is the brief history of Branson. Early Inhabitants The area that would become Branson was initially inhabited by Native American tribes, including…
Brief History of St. Joseph, Missouri
Much of what we think of as the “Wild West” traces its origins to St. Joseph. When you think of westward expansion, cattle drives, the Pony Express, and the open frontier—pretty much all of that began along Missouri’s western border. But there is much more to this western Missouri town than many realize. Here is…
Route 66 History in Missouri
March 15, 1931: Celebrations in Missouri as the final section of Route 66 is paved. It was a big party in downtown Rolla as an estimated 8,000 people turned out to commemorate the completion of Route 66 across Missouri. The “Mother Road” dates back to 1922 as Route 14, but it was more of a…
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 symphony hall. It was formerly known as St. Louis Theater, but was renamed as Powell Hall for local businessman Walter Powell when…
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 part to the Morrill Act of 1862. The college was designed around sciences, especially mining, due to the large industrial needs in…
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 when the site was chosen to be the State Capital leading up to Missouri’s statehood. The area along the Missouri River was…
Sara Evans Hits #1
January 17, 2001: “Born to Fly” hits number one for Sara Evans. Sara Evans was on top of the charts and on top of the world back in 2001. The former Columbia residents and central Missouri native hit number one for the first time with the song, “Born to Fly,” which also earned Evans her…
History of Missouri Wines
Missouri wines are getting more famous. But this overnight success story dates back to the 1830s. This is part 1 of a 3 part story on Missouri’s Wine Country. Click for Part 2 and Part 3 This history of the Missouri Wine industry is like something out of a movie. In fact, it was recently…
Brief History of St. Louis
St. Louis, Missouri, has a rich and diverse history that spans centuries. Here’s a brief overview of the history of St. Louis. Early History The area where St. Louis is located was inhabited by Native American tribes, including the Mississippian culture, prior to European exploration. In 1673, French explorers Louis Jolliet and Jacques Marquette reached…
Brief History of University of Missouri-Columbia
The Flagship Campus of the University of Missouri System The University of Missouri, located in Columbia, commonly known as Mizzou, is the flagship campus of the University of Missouri System. Here’s a brief history of the University of Missouri-Columbia: Founding and Early Years (1839-1860): The University of Missouri was founded in 1839, making it the…
Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art
December 11, 1933: The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art opened in Kansas City 2023 Marked the 90th anniversary of the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art which helped put the Kansas City arts scene on the international map when it opened. It is recognized for the iconic badminton shuttlecocks on the lawn and loved by people around the…
Mizzou v. Illinois: Braggin’ Rights
December 10, 1980: The first Braggin’ Rights basketball game. The first Braggin’ Rights game was held in St. Louis between the Mizzou Tigers and the University of Illinois Fighting Illini. Although the teams have a rivalry dating back to 1932, things escalated a notch when the annual match-up moved to a neutral site midway between…
Strange Names of Towns in Missouri
We certainly have some strange names of towns in Missouri! You can always tell when someone new moves to the Show Me State because they pronounce everything wrong. Take for example: But in addition to those names, there sure are some strange names of towns in Missouri, as well! Here are a few of the…
Oldest Counties in Missouri
Top 10 Oldest Counties in Missouri Top 10 Oldest Counties in Missouri(Note: The Top 5 were the Original 5 Counties in Missouri) County Date New Madrid County 1812 Cape Girardeau County 1812 Saint Charles County 1812 Saint Louis County 1812 Ste. Genevieve County 1812 Washington County 1813 Howard County 1816 Franklin County 1818 Wayne County…
Missouri Factoids
Missouri Details and Facts that you may not know. Date of Statehood: August 10, 1821 Capital: Jefferson City Nickname: Show Me State Population: 6,160,281 (2020) Size: 69,720 square miles Oldest City: Ste. Genevieve (1735) Most Populous City: Kansas City (508,394) Most Populous County: St. Louis (990,414) Least Populous County: Worth (1,955) Largest County: Texas (1,179…