On February 16, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: Zebulon Pike’s expedition, launched from St. Louis to explore the southern Louisiana Purchase, continued its winter exploration along the Arkansas River, though no specific Missouri event is recorded, likely due to reduced activity in the winter season.
• 1856: During the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict, pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” from Missouri sustained raids on Kansas anti-slavery settlers, aiming to influence the territory’s slavery debate, with violence persisting into mid-February.
• 1861: In the Civil War, Union General Henry W. Halleck, based in St. Louis, worked to maintain federal control, while Confederate guerrilla groups in rural Missouri intensified winter raids, exacerbating the state’s internal divisions.
• 1864: After Confederate General Sterling Price’s failed Missouri campaign, his forces, including Missouri units, remained in Arkansas, focusing on winter recovery and planning, with little direct activity in Missouri.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad’s southeast Missouri expansion, connecting towns like Cape Girardeau to national markets, supported regional economic growth, with operations running steadily in mid-February.
• 1929: The Great Depression strained Missouri’s economy, with Kansas City and St. Louis facing severe unemployment and business closures, while local relief efforts ramped up to aid communities during the winter months.
• 1941: Following Pearl Harbor, Missouri cities like St. Louis and Kansas City accelerated World War II mobilization, with factories increasing military production and recruitment drives expanding to support the war effort.

On February 17, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: Zebulon Pike’s expedition, launched from St. Louis to explore the southern Louisiana Purchase, continued its winter journey along the Arkansas River, though no specific Missouri event is recorded, likely due to minimal activity in the winter season.
• 1856: In the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict, pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” from Missouri persisted in raiding Kansas anti-slavery settlements, seeking to sway the territory’s slavery status, with tensions fueling ongoing violence in mid-February.
• 1861: During the Civil War, Union General Henry W. Halleck, headquartered in St. Louis, focused on securing Missouri for the Union, while Confederate guerrilla groups in rural areas escalated winter operations, deepening state divisions.
• 1864: Following Confederate General Sterling Price’s failed Missouri campaign, his forces, including Missouri units, were encamped in Arkansas, focusing on winter reorganization, with minimal activity in Missouri at this time.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad’s expansion in southeast Missouri, linking towns like Cape Girardeau to national trade networks, bolstered local economies, with operations running steadily in mid-February.
• 1929: The Great Depression severely impacted Missouri, with Kansas City and St. Louis facing widespread layoffs and business failures, while local charities intensified relief efforts to support struggling communities in winter.
• 1941: Post-Pearl Harbor, Missouri cities like St. Louis and Kansas City ramped up World War II efforts, with factories shifting to wartime production and recruitment campaigns growing to meet military demands.

On February 18, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: Zebulon Pike’s expedition, launched from St. Louis to map the southern Louisiana Purchase, progressed through the Arkansas River region, with no specific Missouri event noted, likely due to winter’s quiet pace.
• 1856: Pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” from Missouri continued cross-border raids into Kansas during the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict, clashing with anti-slavery settlers to control the territory’s slavery outcome.
• 1861: Union General Henry W. Halleck, stationed in St. Louis, tightened Missouri’s federal grip, while Confederate guerrillas in rural areas ramped up winter raids, fueling the state’s bitter divisions.
• 1864: Confederate General Sterling Price’s forces, including Missouri units, regrouped in Arkansas after their failed Missouri campaign, focusing on winter logistics with minimal Missouri activity.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad expanded southeast Missouri’s rail network, tying Cape Girardeau to national markets, boosting local trade as operations hummed along in mid-February.
• 1929: Missouri’s cities, Kansas City and St. Louis, reeled from the Great Depression’s toll—job losses and business failures—while local aid groups pushed to ease winter hardships.
• 1941: Missouri’s St. Louis and Kansas City surged in World War II efforts post-Pearl Harbor, with factories churning out military supplies and enlistment campaigns gaining momentum.

On February 19, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: Zebulon Pike’s expedition, launched from St. Louis to explore the southern Louisiana Purchase, continued its winter trek through the Arkansas River region, with no specific Missouri event noted, likely due to the season’s low activity.
• 1856: In the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict, Missouri’s pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” sustained raids on Kansas anti-slavery settlers, aiming to shape the territory’s slavery debate through ongoing violence.
• 1861: Union General Henry W. Halleck, operating from St. Louis, reinforced federal control over Missouri, while Confederate guerrillas in rural areas intensified winter attacks, deepening the state’s Civil War divides.
• 1864: After Confederate General Sterling Price’s failed Missouri campaign, his forces, including Missouri units, focused on winter reorganization in Arkansas, with little activity occurring in Missouri.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad’s expansion in southeast Missouri, linking Cape Girardeau to national trade networks, drove economic growth, with rail operations active in mid-February.
• 1929: The Great Depression hit Missouri hard, with Kansas City and St. Louis facing rampant unemployment and business closures, as local relief efforts struggled to support communities in winter.
• 1941: Post-Pearl Harbor, Missouri’s St. Louis and Kansas City accelerated World War II mobilization, with factories ramping up military production and enlistment drives expanding rapidly.

On February 20, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: Zebulon Pike’s expedition, launched from St. Louis to map the southern Louisiana Purchase, pressed on through the Arkansas River region, with no specific Missouri event noted, likely due to winter’s reduced activity.
• 1856: Missouri’s pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” continued raids into Kansas during the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict, targeting anti-slavery settlers to influence the territory’s slavery debate through persistent violence.
• 1861: Union General Henry W. Halleck, stationed in St. Louis, solidified federal control over Missouri, while Confederate guerrillas in rural areas ramped up winter raids, intensifying the state’s Civil War divisions.
• 1864: After Confederate General Sterling Price’s failed Missouri campaign, his forces, including Missouri units, focused on winter logistics in Arkansas, with minimal activity in Missouri during this period.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad’s southeast Missouri expansion, connecting Cape Girardeau to national trade networks, fueled economic growth, with rail operations running steadily in late February.
• 1929: The Great Depression battered Missouri, with Kansas City and St. Louis grappling with widespread job losses and business failures, as local aid efforts pushed to alleviate winter hardships.
• 1941: Following Pearl Harbor, Missouri’s St. Louis and Kansas City boosted World War II efforts, with factories accelerating military production and enlistment campaigns growing to meet wartime needs.

On February 21, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: Zebulon Pike’s expedition, launched from St. Louis to explore the southern Louisiana Purchase, continued its winter journey through the Arkansas River region, with no specific Missouri event noted, likely due to the season’s quiet pace.
• 1856: During the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict, Missouri’s pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” sustained raids on Kansas anti-slavery settlers, clashing violently to control the territory’s slavery outcome in late February.
• 1861: Union General Henry W. Halleck, based in St. Louis, strengthened Missouri’s federal hold, while Confederate guerrillas in rural areas escalated winter attacks, fueling the state’s deep Civil War divides.
• 1864: Confederate General Sterling Price’s forces, including Missouri units, regrouped in Arkansas after their failed Missouri campaign, focusing on winter planning with little activity in Missouri.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad’s expansion in southeast Missouri, tying Cape Girardeau to national markets, drove local trade, with operations active as winter neared its end.
• 1929: Missouri’s cities, Kansas City and St. Louis, faced the Great Depression’s toll—mass unemployment and business closures—while local relief groups worked to ease winter struggles.
• 1941: Post-Pearl Harbor, Missouri’s St. Louis and Kansas City surged in World War II mobilization, with factories churning out military goods and enlistment drives gaining momentum.

On February 22, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: Zebulon Pike’s expedition, launched from St. Louis to map the southern Louisiana Purchase, continued its winter trek through the Arkansas River region, with no specific Missouri event noted, likely due to minimal activity during the winter season.
• 1856: In the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict, Missouri’s pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” persisted in raiding Kansas anti-slavery settlers, aiming to shape the territory’s slavery debate through ongoing violent clashes.
• 1861: Union General Henry W. Halleck, stationed in St. Louis, reinforced federal control over Missouri, while Confederate guerrillas in rural areas intensified winter raids, deepening the state’s Civil War divisions.
• 1864: After Confederate General Sterling Price’s failed Missouri campaign, his forces, including Missouri units, focused on winter reorganization in Arkansas, with little activity occurring in Missouri.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad’s southeast Missouri expansion, linking Cape Girardeau to national trade networks, boosted regional economies, with rail operations steady in late February.
• 1929: The Great Depression hit Missouri hard, with Kansas City and St. Louis facing widespread unemployment and business failures, as local relief efforts struggled to support communities in late winter.
• 1941: Following Pearl Harbor, Missouri’s St. Louis and Kansas City accelerated World War II efforts, with factories ramping up military production and enlistment campaigns expanding to meet wartime demands.