November 7th This Day in Missouri

On November 7, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: The Lewis and Clark Expedition, having returned to St. Louis in late September, continued to be celebrated on or around November 7, with local festivities in St. Louis honoring their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, reinforcing Missouri’s role as a western hub.
• 1856: During the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict, pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” from Missouri were active on or around November 7, crossing into Kansas to intimidate anti-slavery settlers, escalating violence and highlighting Missouri’s role in the slavery debate.
• 1861: During the Civil War, the Battle of Belmont took place on November 7 in southeast Missouri. Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant engaged Confederate troops near Columbus, Kentucky, marking Grant’s first major battle and a significant early conflict in Missouri.
• 1888: The St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch brewery expanded its refrigerated shipping operations around November 7, enabling broader distribution of Budweiser and reinforcing Missouri’s prominence in the brewing industry.
• 1933: The Great Depression impacted Missouri, and on or around November 7, New Deal-funded Works Progress Administration projects in Kansas City continued constructing public infrastructure, providing jobs and economic relief.
• 2004: The St. Louis Cardinals held a season-end fan appreciation event in St. Louis on or around November 7, following their World Series loss to the Boston Red Sox, honoring Albert Pujols and the team’s strong performance, reinforcing Missouri’s baseball legacy.