Thursday, December 25, 2025
December 25th This Day in Missouri
All day
On December 25, 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 Christmas observances.
- 1856: In the “Bleeding Kansas” crisis, pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” from Missouri persisted in raiding Kansas anti-slavery settlements, though activity may have been reduced on Christmas Day, 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 likely slowed in rural Missouri due to Christmas, 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 Christmas Day.
- 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad continued expanding its southeast Missouri network, connecting towns like Cape Girardeau to national markets, though Christmas 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 Christmas Day likely saw temporary relief efforts and community gatherings amid economic hardship.
- 1941: Missouri communities, including St. Louis and Kansas City, marked a somber Christmas amid World War II mobilization post-Pearl Harbor, with local factories and recruitment drives continuing to support the war effort.