On December 31, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:
- 1806: Zebulon Pike’s expedition, sent from St. Louis to explore the southern Louisiana Purchase, continued mapping the Arkansas River region, though no specific Missouri event is documented for this date, likely due to New Year’s Eve observances.
- 1856: In the “Bleeding Kansas” crisis, pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” from Missouri persisted in raiding Kansas anti-slavery settlements, though activities may have been reduced on New Year’s Eve, with tensions still fueling violent clashes over the territory’s slavery status.
- 1861: During the Civil War, Union General Henry W. Halleck, commanding from St. Louis, maintained federal control, while Confederate guerrilla raids in rural Missouri likely slowed for New Year’s Eve, though the state’s divisions remained deep.
- 1864: After Confederate General Sterling Price’s failed Missouri campaign, his forces, including Missouri units, were regrouping in Arkansas following October defeats, with minimal activity likely on New Year’s Eve due to the holiday.
- 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad continued expanding its southeast Missouri network, connecting towns like Cape Girardeau to national markets, though New Year’s Eve likely paused major operations while supporting regional economic growth.
- 1929: The Great Depression devastated Missouri, with Kansas City and St. Louis facing mass unemployment and business failures, though New Year’s Eve may have seen community gatherings and relief efforts amid economic hardship.
- 1941: Missouri communities, including St. Louis and Kansas City, marked a somber New Year’s Eve amid World War II mobilization post-Pearl Harbor, with local factories and recruitment drives continuing to support the war effort.