A History of Missouri
A History of Missouri traces the remarkable story of a state shaped by great rivers, competing cultures, and its pivotal position at the crossroads of America. Beginning with the ancient peoples who lived along the Missouri and Mississippi rivers, the book explores the rise of mound-building civilizations, the arrival of French explorers and settlers, and the transformation of the region following the Louisiana Purchase.
As the nation expanded westward, Missouri became the celebrated "Gateway to the West." St. Louis emerged as a center of the fur trade, while towns such as Independence and St. Joseph outfitted the pioneers, merchants, and fortune seekers who followed the Oregon, Santa Fe, and California trails. Yet Missouri's growth also brought conflict, particularly over slavery, statehood, and the political compromises that temporarily held the Union together.
The book examines Missouri's deeply divided experience during the Civil War, when neighbors and families fought on opposing sides and guerrilla violence devastated the countryside. It follows the state through Reconstruction, the age of Jesse James, rapid railroad and industrial development, the rise of St. Louis and Kansas City, and the spectacular 1904 World's Fair.
Moving into the twentieth century, the narrative covers Missouri's contributions to two world wars, the political machine of Tom Pendergast, the presidency of Harry S. Truman, the struggle for civil rights, urban renewal, the construction of the Gateway Arch, and the social upheavals of the Vietnam era. It also celebrates the state's cultural influence through ragtime, blues, literature, barbecue, and the distinctive traditions of its cities and rural communities.
From prehistoric settlements to the challenges of the twenty-first century, A History of Missouri presents a sweeping account of a state whose contradictions reflect those of the nation itself. Rich in political drama, cultural achievement, conflict, and resilience, it reveals how Missouri's people and landscapes have helped shape the American story.
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