On December 26, the following notable historical events related to Missouri occurred:

• 1806: Zebulon Pike’s expedition, launched from St. Louis to explore the southern Louisiana Purchase, continued its journey along the Arkansas River, though no specific Missouri activity is recorded for this date, possibly due to post-Christmas slowdowns.
• 1856: During the “Bleeding Kansas” conflict, pro-slavery “Border Ruffians” from Missouri persisted in raiding Kansas anti-slavery settlements, though activities may have been quieter after Christmas, with ongoing tensions fueling violence over the territory’s slavery status.
• 1861: In the Civil War, Union General Henry W. Halleck, based in St. Louis, reinforced federal control, while Confederate guerrilla raids in rural Missouri likely resumed after Christmas, deepening the state’s internal divisions.
• 1864: Following Confederate General Sterling Price’s failed Missouri campaign, his forces, including Missouri units, were regrouping in Arkansas after October defeats, with logistical efforts likely minimal post-Christmas.
• 1888: The Missouri Pacific Railroad advanced its southeast Missouri network, connecting towns like Cape Girardeau to national markets, though operations may have paused briefly after Christmas, continuing to drive regional economic growth.
• 1929: The Great Depression ravaged Missouri, with Kansas City and St. Louis facing mass unemployment and business failures, though post-Christmas community relief efforts likely provided temporary aid amid economic hardship.
• 1941: Missouri communities, including St. Louis and Kansas City, intensified World War II mobilization post-Pearl Harbor, with local factories resuming war production and recruitment drives accelerating after Christmas.