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.

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