Area explored by Spanish explorer Hernando De Soto
1735
Sainte Genevieve becomes first permanent European settlement
1803
Missouri ganied from France as part of Louisiana Purchase
1821
Becomes 24th state
Missouri - Facts
The Gateway Arch in Saint Louis, a symbol of Missouri as the "Gateway to the West", is the nation’s tallest monument
The Bootheel, consisting of the two words "Boot" and "Heel" is the land in Missouri between the Saint Francis and Mississippi Rivers. This region is the lowest, wettest, and flattest part of the state, and its economy is based on cotton and rice production
Missouri’s nickname the "Gateway to the West" reflects its colonial importance due to its geographical position along the confluence of the US’s two major rivers: the Mississippi and the Missouri. Missouri was the starting point for many trails, especially the Oregon Trail and the Santa Fe Trail, both of which began in Independence. The Lewis and Clark expedition traveled along the Missouri to find the Pacific Ocean. The Pony Express, a system of mail delivery to the west, began in Saint Joseph. Thus Missouri has served as the transportation corridor for many centuries to the west
Missouri’s mines produce almost 90% of the nation’s lead supply, making it the largest producer of the mineral
Branson is a popular music resort
Samuel Clemens, better known as Mark Twain, grew up in Hannibal, Missouri, where he wrote The Advntures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn
The largest earthquake ever recorded in the continental United States, and having a magnitude of 8.3 on the Richter Scale, the 1812 New Madrid Earthquake which occurred along the New Madrid Seismic Zone was felt 40,000 sq. miles away