July 28th This Day in Missouri

On July 28, the following notable historical events related to Missouri have been recorded:

• 1804: The Lewis and Clark Expedition, navigating the Missouri River, was near present-day Otoe County, Nebraska, across from Missouri’s Atchison County, on or around July 28. They continued their council with Otoe and Missouri tribes, documenting the region’s geography and cultural interactions, advancing their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase.
• 1838: During the Mormon War in Missouri, conflicts escalated. On or around July 28, non-Mormon residents in Carroll and Daviess Counties intensified attacks on Mormon settlers, with increasing violence contributing to the state’s expulsion order against Mormons later in 1838.
• 1861: During the Civil War, Missouri saw ongoing military activity. On July 28, Union forces under General Nathaniel Lyon were engaged in minor skirmishes in southwest Missouri near Springfield, as they prepared for the Battle of Wilson’s Creek.
• 1879: The St. Louis-based Missouri Botanical Garden hosted a significant public event around July 28, showcasing new plant species and horticultural innovations, reinforcing its status as a leading botanical research center.
• 1904: The St. Louis World’s Fair, or Louisiana Purchase Exposition, was ongoing, with July 28 featuring international scientific exhibits and early Olympic events, highlighting Missouri’s global cultural and economic prominence.
• 1930: The Kansas City Star published a major investigative report on or around July 28, exposing corruption in the city’s political machine under Tom Pendergast, reflecting Missouri’s complex political history during the Great Depression.