November 12th This Day in Missouri

On November 12, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: The Lewis and Clark Expedition, having returned to St. Louis in late September, was still celebrated on or around November 12, with ongoing festivities in St. Louis honoring their exploration of the Louisiana Purchase, reinforcing Missouri’s role as a western hub.
• 1857: During the prelude to the Civil War, tensions over slavery were high. On or around November 12, pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” from Missouri held meetings in Westport to support pro-slavery efforts in Kansas, escalating the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict.
• 1861: During the Civil War, Missouri was a hotbed of conflict. On or around November 12, Union forces under General Ulysses S. Grant were reorganizing in southeast Missouri after the Battle of Belmont, while Confederate guerrilla operations continued to challenge Union control.
• 1890: The St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch brewery expanded its bottling operations around November 12, enhancing Budweiser’s national distribution and reinforcing Missouri’s prominence in the brewing industry.
• 1929: The Great Depression deepened in Missouri. On or around November 12, businesses in Kansas City faced increasing financial difficulties, reflecting the state’s growing economic crisis.
• 2011: The St. Louis Cardinals continued celebrations of their World Series victory over the Texas Rangers, with community events in St. Louis on or around November 12, honoring David Freese’s MVP performance and reinforcing Missouri’s baseball legacy.