Exploring America State by State

Category Archives: Missouri

The One Day President

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Standing outside the Clinton County Courthouse in Plattsburg, Missouri is a statue of David Rice Atchison. He served as a senetor for Missouri and under the statue is a plaque declaring him as “President for one day”

In 1849, Inauguration Day, which was March 4, coincided with a Sunday, leading to president-elect Zachary Taylor postponing his presidential oath until the following day due to religious considerations. Nevertheless, the term of the outgoing president, James K. Polk, officially concluded at noon on March 4. On March 2, the outgoing vice president, George M. Dallas, stepped down from his role as president of the Senate. Prior to this, Congress had appointed Atchison as president pro tempore. According to the Presidential Succession Act of 1792, the Senate president pro tempore was next in line for the presidency after the vice president. Since both Dallas’s term and the swearing-in of Taylor and vice president-elect Millard Fillmore ended at noon on the 4th, some of Atchison’s associates asserted that he served as the acting president of the United States from March 4 to March 5, 1849.

Atchison died in 1886 at his home near Plattsburg, MO and is burried in Greenlawn Cemetery there. A statue was erected in his honor and reminds people of the day he was the unofficial president.

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The Bates-Geers House

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Located near Plato, Missouri, the Bates-Geers House is a dedaying symbol of the area’s vibrant history. Built in 1840, this two-story Greek Revival-style residence offers an intriguing look into the lives of early settlers and the development of the region.

Around 1850, James Addison Bates constructed this impressive two-story home using planks from his water-powered sawmill. It featured a large chimney at each of its three gabled ends, and the sandstone used for the house was sourced from the property itself. In a time when most homes were modest log cabins, the Bates residence must have appeared as a grand estate. Originally, it included several outbuildings, with a series of small rock foundations believed to be remnants of slave cabins, reflecting Missouri’s status as a slave state. The enslaved individuals worked at the sawmill, maneuvering logs with oxen, stacking lumber, and burning slabs.

During the Civil War, the house served as a hospital, with soldiers encamped in the surrounding area. After the war, John Geers, a former Union soldier, acquired the property. The Geers family inhabited the house for generations, further enriching its historical significance. Its ties to the Civil War era offer a unique insight into this crucial chapter of American history. There are even tales of the Jesse James gang taking refuge there while being chased by two different posses after robbing a train at Gads Hill, Missouri, in 1872.

The house was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.However, without any preservation efforts its only a matter of time until it completely colapses.  The home remains privately owned and is not accessable to the public but you can view it from the road.

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The OId Jail in Hannibal

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Hannibal, Missouri, the birthplace of the legendary Mark Twain, is a charming town steeped in history. Its picturesque downtown, lined with quaint shops and inviting restaurants, warmly welcomes visitors arriving by riverboat. Just a short walk away, an intriguing sight catches the eye: a weathered building with barred windows, once the town’s police station and jail. One can’t help but wonder what secrets this old structure holds, what tales its walls could tell of bygone eras.

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A Magical Barn

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The unassuming town of Marceline, nestled in the heart of northern Missouri, may blend seamlessly into the picturesque landscape of the Midwest, yet it holds a unique historical significance. This average agricultural community was the birthplace and childhood home of Walt Disney, the visionary behind the iconic Disney empire.

While Disney’s childhood home is privately owned, a replica of his family’s barn stands as a testament to his humble beginnings. This barn, a place where Walt spent countless hours dreaming of his future, is open to visitors. Stepping into this historic structure, one can almost imagine the young Disney’s imagination soaring as he gazed out at the surrounding fields.

Visitors are invited to contribute to the barn’s living history by signing the interior walls. Pens and markers are readily available for those who wish to leave their mark, creating a tangible connection to the past.

While I’ve had the privilege of exploring  Disneyland and Disney World, visiting this historic barn offered a refreshing and humbling experience and free to visit. It stands as a reminder that even the greatest of dreams can originate from the most ordinary of places.

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Ha Ha Tonka Castle Ruins

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The funny sounding name Ha Ha Tonka State Park is located along the Niangua arm of the Lake of the Ozarks in Missouri.  High on a cliff overlooking the water are stone ruins from a massive structure built long ago.

In 1903 Kansas City businessman Robert Snyder purchased a large track of land in the Ozarks. A few years later he began construction of a castle that he named Ha Ha Tonka. He claimed the name meant “smiling waters”.  Snyder hired stone masons from Europe to construct the beautiful and elaborate castle. Tragically during the construction Snyder was killed in one of Missouri’s first automobile accidents.

After his death in 1906, the castle was completed by his sons Robert, Jr., LeRoy, and Kenneth Snyder in the early 1920s. One of his son’s used the castle for his residence but the stock market crash, and lawsuits over property rights surrounding the castle, drained his savings. The castle was sold and used as a hotel. Sadly, in 1942, the once glamorous castle was destroyed by fire. In the 1970s the state purchased the property creating Ha Ha Tonka State Park. The park has stabilized the stone walls and preserved them as a reminder of days gone by.

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