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On his epic journey to the Americas, Hernando De Soto visited the Missouri area in 1541. However, several Indian tribes -- including the Osage, Kansa and Wyandotte -- lived on and nurtured the land for generations before French settlers began arriving in great numbers. Over the course of two centuries, French fur traders plied their trade on Missouri’s great rivers, establishing a settlement in St. Genevieve in 1735 and St. Louis in 1764. The United States gained Missouri from France as part of the Louisiana Purchase in 1803 and the territory earned statehood following the Missouri Compromise of 1820.
Although the state of Missouri belonged to the Union, the people of Missouri were sharply divided in their opinions about slavery during the Civil War, supplying both Union and Confederate forces with troops. Even while the conflict raged, Missouri gained historic prominence by playing a leading role as a gateway to the West. President Thomas Jefferson, the great reader, thinker and armchair explorer, dreamed of a voyage up the Missouri River and on to the Pacific Ocean. He commissioned the Lewis & Clark Expedition of 1804-1806 to realize his vision. Today, the stunning Missouri State Capital Building sits atop a long limestone bluff overlooking the Missouri River in Jefferson City, the capital city named in honor of the man who gave the state its legacy. Early commerce in the young state revolved around the water. Fishing, farming, the fur trade, etc. dominated the economy. Today, service industries provide more income and jobs than any other segment and include a growing tourism and travel sector. Wholesale and retail trade, manufacturing and agriculture also play significant roles in the state’s economy. Missouri mines produce 90 percent of the nation’s principal (non-recycled) lead supply and the state is a leading producer of transportation equipment, bear and beverages, and defense and aerospace technology. Different Missouri cities are home to some of the nation’s largest corporate employers. Kansas City, where the beautiful Country Club Plaza (one of the premier shopping destinations in the world) is located, is renowned as the birthplace of Pony Express, H&R Block, Inc., Russell Stover Candies, Hallmark Cards and Hoechst-Marion-Rousell. St. Louis, which was recently rated by Fortune magazine as the nation’s third best place to live and work, is home to 15 Fortune 1000 companies, such as Anheuser-Busch Companies, Inc., Emerson, May Department Stores and Graybar Electric. Greater St. Louis also boasts the fourth lowest cost of living among major metropolitan areas. In addition to a vibrant economy, Missouri is a place of many landmarks and historic places. St. Joseph was the eastern starting point of the Pony Express and is home to the Pony Express and Jesse James museums. The much-traveled Santa Fe and Oregon trails began in Independence, which was the birthplace of Harry S. Truman, the 33rd President of the United States. Bass Pro Shops national headquarters is in Springfield. The Gateway Arch and Anheuser-Busch brewery are must-see stops in St. Louis; as are the Liberty Memorial, Union Station and the Nelson-Atkins Art Gallery in Kansas City. Branson exploded onto the tourist scene offering quality entertainment and resort getaways. Bagnell Dam on the Osage River in the Ozarks created one of the largest man-made lakes in the world, covering 65,000 acres. The odyssey Lewis & Clark began in Missouri is still an ongoing adventure for visitors and residents alike. The very same things, such as quality of life, cultural institutions, outstanding school systems, affordability, recreational diversity and historical interest, which make Missouri a great place to visit also makes it a great state to live in. |