Outside Jesse James’ Home in St. Joseph, Missouri

We took a trip to St. Joseph on a lazy Saturday in June, 2009. We were excited to visit the home of Jesse James. The home sits next to a museum called the Patee House. You walk up a few stairs and first arrive to a set of headstones with names of people who are related to Jesse James.

At first, we thought the headstones marked actual grades of the deceased Jesse James. But we later found out that that the headstones are for just for a display.

There is a nice stone sign that says:

“Jesse James Home

Outlaw Jesse James was shot and killed in this house April 3, 1882. It was then at 1318 Lafayette on the hill above Patee House. It was moved here in 1977.”

The Jesse James Home was moved from its original location to where it stands now. They remodeled the home to fortify it.

I wonder what Jesse James would think to know that a woman and child of color were entering into his home. During Jesse Jame’s day, we would have been killed by him likely if we were anywhere close to his home.

It just goes to show how times change and although there is so much more to do, especially in his town of St. Joseph, we as a state have certainly come a long way from the late 1800’s.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Kansas City Soul Food Restaurants

If soul food is what you crave, you won’t be disappointed by Kansas City’s offerings. Try the fried chicken, sweet potato cornbread or peach cobbler at restaurants like the Peachtree at 18th & Vine (1512 E 18th St., 816-472-8733), Papa Lew’s Soul Delicious Food (2128 E 12th Street, 816-421-3378), Niecie’s Restaurant (8686 E 63rd St., 816-358-8100), The Mango Room (1111 Main St., 816-268-4600) and Peachtree Buffet (6800 Eastwood Tfwy., 816-923-0099).

Popularity: 1% [?]

St. Joseph, Missouri Mural

Across from the St. Joseph Fire Museum is a building that has a wonderful wall mural. The mural looks like the shadows of a man and woman dressed in late 1800’s or early 1900’s clothing. And they are standing next to a stagecoach. The man is dressed in a suit and the woman is wearing a dress and she has an umbrella.

The building had a sign for a restaurant called “the Mitchell Diner.” I don’t think we checked inside to see if the diner was really open. We were more interested in going to the Jesse James home down the road.

Popularity: 1% [?]

St. Joseph Fire Museum

The St. Joseph Fire Museum located at 1202 S.11 th St. is St Joseph’s newest addition to the museum system. The Fire Museum displays an extensive pictorial history of the St Joseph Fire Department.

The Fire Museum began its existence as Fire Station #5 in 1938. It was constructed in the height of the depression in 1938 through the use of W.P.A. funds. The Works Progress Administration was created for economic relief. It provided unemployed workers meaningful employment.

The museum was closed on the Saturday that we visited St. Joseph. But one of the most unusual items is the fire hydrant fence. They used real fire hydrants to create a fence and that was cool.

We just took a picture in front of a brick wall that had names of people and businesses.

Popularity: 1% [?]

St. Joseph, Missouri - June, 2009

St Joseph, Missouri is located about 45 minutes north of Kansas City. When we arrived to St. Joseph, our first visit was to the St. Joseph Convention and Visitor’s Bureau. It was closed because it was a Saturday but they had a sign that told us to go to the Holiday Inn to pickup a St. Joseph Visitor’s Guide and brochures.

We drove to the Holiday Inn which was about two blocks away and picked up our brochures. From there, we headed into the city a few blocks from where we started. St. Joseph has done a good job with providing signage to get in the direction of some of their tourism destinations. So it was pretty easy to find the Pony Express, the Doll Museum, the Jesse James Home, the Patee House, the St. Joseph Fire Museum and a few other attractions in the vicinity.

Popularity: 1% [?]

Black Archives of Mid-America, Kansas City

The Black Archives of Mid America in Kansas City

This one-of-a-kind attraction, located just one block west of the 18th and Vine District, boasts one of the largest collections of African-American art, memorabilia and historical materials in the region. You will also explore the histories and lifestyles of many of the most respected African-American leaders in the area. The Black Archives of Mid America was founded by Horace Peterson.

The Black Archives of Mid America boasts one of the largest collections of African-American art, memorabilia and historical materials in the nation, with special focus on black history and culture in the four-state area of Missouri, Kansas, Iowa and Oklahoma . Established by African American historian and folorist Horace M. Peterson III in 1974 on the second floor of the local YMCA, the collection today contains more than 31,000 items, including black art, paintings, manuscripts , photographs, personal correspondence, oral histories, and rare books. Permanent exhibits include one dedicated to Buffalo Soldiers and other Black Army units that served in the Civil War up to World War II, as well as a faithful reconstruction of a 19th century slave cabin. Located in Kansas City’s historic 18th and Vine District, a visit to the Black Archives of Mid American makes the perfect addition to a day of discovery in the downtown area.

The Mission of the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City, Inc.

The mission of the Black Archives of Mid-America in Kansas City, Inc. is to collect, preserve and make available to the public materials documenting the social, economic, political and cultural histories of persons of African American descent in the central United States, with particular emphasis in the Kansas City, Missouri region. Black Archives of Mid-America is an educational resource and provides access to its collections for research, exhibition and publication to honor our community heritage and to catalyze public awareness.

Currently, you may only view the digitized collection online.

Popularity: 8% [?]

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