St. Jo Must Knows
St. Joseph has had a number of distinctions during its early history.
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.
The St. Joseph Parkway winds through the City of St. Joseph for 26 miles. Developed in 1918 by architect George Burnap, Saint Joseph was one of the first cities in the United States to develop an imaginative and comprehensive parkway plan.
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.
St. Joseph played a key role in the development of the Civil War. Learn more on the St. Joseph Civil War Commemoration page.
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.
On May 14, 1806, 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.