November 20th This Day in Missouri

On November 20, 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 20, with local 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 20, 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 remained a battleground. On or around November 20, Union forces under General Henry W. Halleck were reorganizing in St. Louis to strengthen Union control, while Confederate guerrilla activities continued in rural Missouri.
• 1890: The St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch brewery expanded its bottling operations around November 20, 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 20, banks in St. Louis faced increased financial strain, reflecting the worsening economic crisis in the state.
• 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 20, honoring David Freese’s MVP performance and reinforcing Missouri’s baseball legacy.