On March 16, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: St. Louis, a key Missouri trade hub, saw early spring activity with fur traders planning expeditions, though no specific event is documented.
• 1856: During “Bleeding Kansas,” Missouri’s “Border Ruffians” clashed with Kansas anti-slavery settlers, driving violence as spring campaigns gained momentum.
• 1861: In St. Louis, Union General Henry W. Halleck strengthened federal defenses, while Confederate guerrillas in rural Missouri geared up for spring attacks, fueling strife.
• 1864: Confederate General Sterling Price’s Missouri forces in Arkansas prepared for spring operations, with Missouri itself under Union control and minimal Confederate action.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad’s southeast Missouri network, linking Cape Girardeau to markets, drove economic growth, with mid-March freight operations thriving.
• 1929: Missouri’s urban centers, Kansas City and St. Louis, reeled from Great Depression unemployment, with spring public works projects aiming to provide relief.
• 1941: Post-Pearl Harbor, Missouri’s St. Louis and Kansas City boosted World War II manufacturing, with mid-March recruitment focusing on military production workers.