October 21st This Day in Missouri

All day

On October 21, 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 October 21, 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 October 21, pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” from Missouri held meetings in Kansas City to support pro-slavery efforts in Kansas, escalating the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict.
  • 1864: During the Civil War, Confederate forces under General Sterling Price were active in Missouri during Price’s Raid. On October 21, they engaged in skirmishes with Union forces near Independence, as part of their campaign through the state.
  • 1890: The St. Louis-based Anheuser-Busch brewery expanded its refrigerated shipping operations around October 21, enabling broader distribution of Budweiser and reinforcing Missouri’s prominence in the brewing industry.
  • 1927: The Kansas City Stockyards processed a record number of livestock around October 21, underscoring Kansas City’s role as a major agricultural hub and boosting Missouri’s economy.
  • 2004: The St. Louis Cardinals played a crucial National League Championship Series game against the Houston Astros on October 21, with Albert Pujols hitting a key home run, helping the Cardinals clinch the pennant and advance to the World Series, reinforcing Missouri’s baseball legacy.