Top 10 True Western Towns of 2007
Given to towns that have made an important contribution to preserving their pasts.
By: TW Editors 01/01/2007
Given to towns that have made an important contribution to preserving their pasts. We hope this award will encourage federal, state and local governments to continue funding such efforts, as well as alert some Western towns to the duty of rewarding its citizens and visitors alike with an outward showing of their historical relevance to this nation.
10. ST. JOSEPH, MO
You might say that St. Joe is a city of beginnings and endings. The Pony Express got its start here in 1860; Jesse James died here in 1882—coincidentally, both happened on April 3. And St. Joseph was the jumping off point for most folks making the trek westward in the 19th century. A lot of history can be found in this town of about 74,000 residents.
The city does a great job of honoring its past. St. Joe’s boasts 17 history museums—a remarkable number for a place of this size. Visitors can check out the Patee House, an 1858 luxury hotel that served as the Pony Express headquarters, or the nearby Pony Express National Museum. The Jesse James home is where that dirty little coward shot Mr. Howard; it’s located just behind the Patee. In all, more than 50 properties are on the National Register of Historic Places. And many more 19th-century buildings are well maintained. St. Joe is a true Old West town.
Then there are the annual events. “Trails West” features art and music from around the region. The “Southside Fall Festival Rodeo and Roundup” is a regular crowd pleaser at the St. Joseph Stockyards. “April 3rd Days” commemorates the start of the Pony Express and the end of Jesse James. And a new event, “Come Home to Ole St. Joe,” showcases artists and artisans who specialize in traditional wares.
But the locals aren’t resting on their laurels. Over the past couple of years, a number of downtown buildings have been renovated. Plans are underway for restoring the historic Mead Building and converting it into retail and private residences. The city also recently issued a Design Guidelines Booklet to aid folks who own and want to maintain historic properties in the area.
In the past, St. Joseph was a place that people went through to get somewhere else. Nowadays, it’s a great destination—a place to start and finish an Old West visit.
Post A Comment