the State Historical Society of Missouri
Patricia C. McKissack dedicated her career as a writer to showcasing black voices through children’s books and…
![<em>Missouri Indian, Oto Indian, Chief of the Puncas</em>, portraits made by Karl Bodmer during an exploration of the Missouri River and its environs led by Prince Maximilian of Wied in 1833–1834. The Missouria man portrayed is Mahinkacha (Maker of Knives). [State Historical Society of Missouri Art Collection, <a href=https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/art/id/477/> 1958.0007c1</a>]](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_image/public/2024-03/1.-missouria.jpg?itok=Qzyu2w6o "<em>Missouri Indian, Oto Indian, Chief of the Puncas</em>, portraits made by Karl Bodmer during an exploration of the Missouri River and its environs led by Prince Maximilian of Wied in 1833–1834. The Missouria man portrayed is Mahinkacha (Maker of Knives). [State Historical Society of Missouri Art Collection, <a href=https://digital.shsmo.org/digital/collection/art/id/477/ >1958.0007c1</a>]")
When French explorer Robert La Salle passed by the mouth of the Missouri River in 1682, he wrote that on its banks…
![The Nelson Hotel, formerly known as Nelson Tavern, in Lebanon, Missouri. [State Historical Society of Missouri, John F. Bradbury Jr. Postcard Collection, R1551]](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_image/public/2026-02/1.-nelsons-dream-village.jpg?itok=bNCVuc4O "The Nelson Hotel, formerly known as Nelson Tavern, in Lebanon, Missouri. [State Historical Society of Missouri, John F. Bradbury Jr. Postcard Collection, R1551]")
At the intersection of Route 66 and Highway 5 in Lebanon, Nelson’s Dream Village was one of the finest…
![Howard Nemerov. [Washington University Libraries, Special Collections, Howard Nemerov Papers]](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_image/public/2021-09/1-Howard_Nemerov.jpg?h=17b87167&itok=5aRtdbee "Howard Nemerov. [Washington University Libraries, Special Collections, Howard Nemerov Papers]")
Howard Nemerov was born on February 29, 1920, in New York City, and died on July 5, 1991,…
![Frank O’Hare as a young man. [Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis]](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_image/public/2022-09/1.%20Francis%20Peter%20OHare.jpg?h=4f4df08b&itok=VCeFjcgi "Frank O’Hare as a young man. [Missouri Historical Society, St. Louis]")
Francis Peter “Frank” O’Hare was born in New Hampton, Iowa, on April 23, 1877, to Peter…
![Jack Oakie. [University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, J. Willis Sayre Collection of Theatrical Photographs, JWS25751]](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_image/public/2022-06/1.%20Jack%20Oakie_0.jpg?h=f008bb98&itok=7RltpLAI "Jack Oakie. [University of Washington Libraries, Special Collections, J. Willis Sayre Collection of Theatrical Photographs, JWS25751]")
Jack Oakie was long considered one of the screen’s most notorious scene-stealers. He had a…
![Oasis Night Club. [State Historical Society of Missouri, Newspaper Collection, Joplin News Herald, November 29, 1937]](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_image/public/2026-06/1.-oasis_joplin_news_herald_1937_11_29_11.jpg?itok=hQ5jL3oG "Oasis Night Club. [State Historical Society of Missouri, Newspaper Collection, Joplin News Herald, November 29, 1937]")
The Oasis Night Club in Central City, Missouri, was one of the last businesses westbound travelers on Route…
![Mo-Hon-Go (Sacred Sun), an Osage woman, and her child. [State Historical Society of Missouri, Image Collection, 021180]](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_image/public/2020-07/Osage-woman-and-child.jpg?h=238c05a8&itok=9oO6EF7v "Mo-Hon-Go (Sacred Sun), an Osage woman, and her child. [State Historical Society of Missouri, Image Collection, 021180]")
![Jim Owen promoting the Branson Silver Cornet Band, one of his many enterprises. [Courtesy of Trenton Thompson/Findagrave.com]](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_image/public/2021-03/1-James-Owen.jpg?h=e01d5501&itok=gFy5vygh "Jim Owen promoting the Branson Silver Cornet Band, one of his many enterprises. [Courtesy of Trenton Thompson/Findagrave.com]")
James M. Owen, a young advertising and insurance professional in Jefferson City, left mid-…
![Geraldine Page and Rip Torn on stage in Strange Interlude. [New York Public Library Digital Collections, Billy Rose Theatre Division, Friedman-Abeles Photograph Collection, #5026079]](/sites/default/files/styles/article_header_image/public/2020-07/Geraldine-Page-and-Rip-Torn.jpg?h=58818689&itok=x7bZnVuc "Geraldine Page and Rip Torn on stage in Strange Interlude. [New York Public Library Digital Collections, Billy Rose Theatre Division, Friedman-Abeles Photograph Collection, #5026079]")
Geraldine Page was born in Kirksville, Missouri, on November 22, 1924, to Leon Elwin Page,…