May 21st This Day in Missouri

On May 21, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: St. Louis traders continued spring fur trade expeditions, a key Missouri economic driver, though no specific event is noted.
• 1856: In “Bleeding Kansas,” Missouri’s “Border Ruffians” clashed with Kansas anti-slavery settlers, fueling violent territorial disputes in late May.
• 1861: Union General Henry W. Halleck, based in St. Louis, strengthened federal defenses, while rural Confederate guerrillas escalated spring raids, deepening Civil War divides.
• 1864: Confederate General Sterling Price’s Missouri units in Arkansas planned spring campaigns, with Missouri under Union control and minimal Confederate activity.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad’s southeast Missouri network, linking Cape Girardeau to markets, boosted trade, with late May freight traffic thriving.
• 1927: Charles Lindbergh landed the “Spirit of St. Louis” in Paris, completing the first nonstop solo transatlantic flight, a landmark event tied to Missouri’s St. Louis.

• 1941: Missouri’s St. Louis and Kansas City ramped up wartime production, with late May enlistment campaigns targeting skilled defense workers.