DAY 8 - ST. JOSEPH, MO
May 21, 2014

  Today started early (7:30 AM)! We drove to St. Joseph and the Pony Express Stable Museum. William H. Russell, Alexander Majors and William B. Waddell established 100 stations, hired 80 riders and acquired 400 to 500 horses.  The Pony Express started service on April 3, 1860.  But the establishment of the Pacific Telegraph line ended the need for the Pony Express.  The Pony Express was out of business in a short 18 months, ceasing operation on October 24, 1861.



Hey, this doesn't smell like a real horse!

 

 

Darn it all, I told you we should have used real horses.

  

Too late to save the tree, but I'm saving this post!

   Next we went to the Patee House Museum and the Jesse James house. The Museum contains the Pony Express Office, and a wide variety of collections from radio's to railroads.

 

Biggest model train I've ever seen.

 

 

Told you a slide-out would make the room bigger.

 

 

Mister - you need them dentures cleaned?

 

 

 

Many millionaires were made in Saint Joseph, due to the Gold Rush and the Westward Movement. Most people headed west bought what they needed in Saint Joseph before starting the trip. There are many mansions built by those that profited from the westward migration.  We visited the Wyeth-Tootle Mansion, that was built for $100,000 in 1879.



Poor man, he could only afford one turret.

 

Amazing detail in the wood-work.

 

 

 

   We had an excellent lunch at Bandana’s Bar-B-Q where we were entertained by our guide and her friend.  "Miss Lizzie" and "Calamity Jane" had us all in stitches.

And he left wearing my great big hat with the pigeon on top!

 

Did I imagine that, or did you just pinch me?

 

   Lastly, we visited the Stetson Outlet Store where many hats were tried on and several hats were purchased.

So many hats, so little time.

No, I'm not colorblind.  Why do you ask?

Larry