History comes alive throughout the city of St. Joe. Once a thriving trade stop and the starting point of the Pony Express, the town has held firm to its roots. Fascinating historical sites and museums commemorate the generations of folks who have made the area their home. It’s hard to even go a few feet in the city without coming across a historical marker that recounts an extraordinary story.
Most people don’t connect St. Joseph with the Civil War. While its true there were no great battles here, there was conflict. Neighbor turned against neighbor. Business partners dissolved partnerships. Families became divided.
Saint Joseph, Missouri is one of America's best-kept secrets for historic architecture. Founded in 1843, St. Joseph quickly grew to become one of the most important sites of commerce and trade for the western continent. Early on it was at the forefront of advances in transportation and communication.
Of all the worlds' legendary characters, few have attracted world-wide fascination like the outlaw, Jesse James. Some call him America's Robin Hood, while others see him as a cold-blooded killer. Perhaps he was all of these things.
Founder of St. Jo
French trapper Joseph Robidoux, who named the community after his patron saint, founded St. Joseph in 1826.
On May 14, 1804, Meriwether Lewis and William Clark embarked on a journey across the uncharted lands of the newly acquired Louisiana Purchase. On their return trip, they traversed the Missouri River, traveling through what is now St. Joseph.
The Pony Express was founded by William H. Russell, William B. Waddell, and Alexander Majors. Plans for the Pony Express were spurred by the threat of the Civil War and the need for faster communication with the West. The Pony Express consisted of relays of men riding horses carrying saddlebags of mail across a 2000-mile trail.