November 2010

Built in 1914, Union Station encompasses 850,000 square feet and originally featured 900 rooms. In its prime as a working train station, accommodated tens of thousands of passengers every year. At its peak during WWII, an estimated one million travelers passed through the Station. The North Waiting Room (now the Sprint Festival Plaza) could hold 10,000 people and the complex included restaurants, a cigar store, barber shop, railroad offices, the nation's largest Railway Express Building (used for shipping freight and mail) as well as a powerhouse providing steam and power.

Closed in the 1980s, the station sat empty and neglected, escaping demolition on several occasions. In 1996, a historic bi-state initiative was passed to fund the station's renovation, which was completed in 1999.

The station is once again a popular destination for the surrounding community just stopping by for lunch or to mail a letter from the post office in the west end of the Grand Hall. The station also draws tourists from all over the world who marvel at the Grand Hall's 95-foot ceiling, three 3,500-pound chandeliers and the six-foot wide clock hanging in the Station's central arch.

An exquisite collection of fine-scale miniatures will transport visitors through history and far-away lands. Perfect in scale, the miniatures are working reproductions of actual pieces crafted by highly skilled artisans. Imagine walking through the ornate halls of Versailles or traversing the wide open plains of the heartland with only a teepee to call home.

Finished in 2006, Busch Stadium is the home of the Cardinals.

During the period of 1821 to 1826, when St. Charles was the site of the Missouri's first State Capitol, William G. Pettus, Secretary of State for the State of Missouri, saw a need for a public market where the region's farmers and fishermen could sell their wares to the general population. In 1822 Pettus publicly requested that proposals be submitted for this project and in 1823 a two story building with a basement was built and opened as the 'Market and Fish House'. This original commercial enterprise is part of the present building that is located at 101 S. Main Street.

Much of the collection has been indexed to assist those looking for family history and genealogy. The society holds quarterly membership meetings, publishes periodicals, and sponsors various activities to promote the preservation and study of history.

Covering more than 80 acres of beautiful rolling hills in Kansas City North's Hodge Park, the museum dedicates itself to bringing the 19th century Missouri to life through special events, programs, tours, and reenactments. Tours, weddings, and school programs are available by appointment.

In a modest walk-up flat, Scott Joplin and his new bride Belle began their life in St. Louis. It was then called Morgan Street, a busy, densely populated, blue-collar district of African-Americans and German immigrants. Located nearby were the honky-tonks and dives of the notorious Chestnut Valley. This black musical genius, buoyed by his success with the Maple Leaf Rag, was making his move toward the national arena. He would soon be known as the "King of Ragtime."

Famous Randolph Countians include General Omar Bradley, five-star general from World War II. Be sure to visit Bradley's birthplace in Clark and his grand memorial statue in Moberly's Rothwell Park. Moberly has produced authors Elizabeth Seifert Gasparotti, a prolific romance novelist, and Jack Conroy, whose most famous work, The Disinherited, is a tale of the Great Depression. Moberly Area Community College houses the Jack Conroy Room which contains a large collection of his writings and numerous book reviews. Also at MACC is the Stan Isle Room which houses a collection of the Moberly native who wrote for The Sporting News for many years.

The museum chronicles the development of the Michigan labor movement beginning in the latter half of the 19th century and following it until the present day. Museum exhibits teach visitors about the evolution of the labor movement as Michigan's industrial landscape became more complex at the turn of the century. Central to this narrative are formal labor organizations, such as the AFL-CIO, that coordinated the efforts of the working class not just in Michigan, but around the nation. The Museum also features a library and database for researchers seeking information on Michigan labor history.

Located in the heart of downtown Monroe, this imposing Georgian style public building was built as a post office in 1910, on the site of General and Mrs. Custer’s home. It was acquired in 1972 by the La-Z-Boy Chair Foundation as the second home for the Museum. Founded in 1938 by the Monroe County Historical Society, the museum is presently operated by the Monroe County Historical Commission. It houses one of the largest collections of 18th and 19th century artifacts relating to Southeast Michigan. Only a small percentage of the total collection can be exhibited at one time; many exhibits are changed each year.

Located in the old L & N Railroad Depot is Foley's Museum Archives. The first depot was built in 1905 when Mr. John B. Foley of Chicago used some of his own money to bring the railroad to the southern part of Baldwin County. This first depot burned to the ground, and a second station took its place in 1908. The railroad line was a spur from Bay Minette and ended approximately a mile south of Foley. At that end, there was a wye when the train could turn around.

The depot and the railroad became the center of activity for the growing town of Foley. At this time, the area was primarily agricultural so the railroad was vital to getting the produce to market. During "shipping" season, thousands of boxcars would pull out of Foley loaded with potatoes, corn, gladiolas, and many other types of produce that was grown in the area.