West Plains native made history in World War 1 When an Associated Press dispatch from France during World War l hit the wires, it failed to mention the name of the aviator being featured in the story. It did tell his hometown, and everyone in West Plains knew the...
Heroism brought Medal of Honor — but little fame — to John Lewis Barkley In the months before the U.S. entered World War I, an underaged young man entered the Holden post office where the postmaster doubled as the Army recruiter. He applied for the service and was...
It may be difficult to imagine how elephants once came to reside in Lancaster more than 100 years ago. Numerous newspaper accounts from the day paint an exciting picture, but no source is better than the Schuyler County Historical Society. “Back then, it was probably...
At home and abroad, Missourians were front and center for World War I On April 6, 1917, Missourians and their fellow Americans found themselves at war. For the previous three years no one in Missouri, or anywhere else in the nation, wanted anything to do with the...
Book celebrates the history, people and traditions of Missouri’s churches There’s something about our churches that draws us in. They often dominate the skyline, with steeples pointing toward the heavens. They are a place of community and a sanctuary in difficult...
The extraordinary life of rider and trainer Tom Bass The idea of the American show horse is now synonymous with Kentucky, but it was once a symbol of Mexico, Missouri during an all but forgotten era of horse training. The town was home to the most skilled show horse...
No trip to the Missouri State Capitol is complete without a visit to the Thomas Hart Benton mural located in the House Lounge on the third floor. The painted walls executed by Benton 82 years ago are still surprisingly bright and vivid. Benton’s artistic wizardry pops...
Discover Missouri’s historic covered bridges These days if someone recalls a covered bridge, they’re likely to think of the Roseman Covered Bridge in Iowa romanticized by Clint Eastwood’s and Meryl Streep’s characters, magazine photographer Robert Kincaid and farm...
The story of Old Drum, man’s best friend Editor’s note: This story, which is one of the most popular with our readers, is reprinted from the April 2014 edition of Rural Missouri. On the lawn of the Johnson County Courthouse in Warrensburg stands a bronze statue of a...