St. Joseph, Missouri, is teeming with tails of trailblazers who helped win the West. From the start of the Pony Express to the legend of Jesse James, the jumping-off point for pioneers headed West in the mid-1800s is a must-stop for history buffs and vacationers alike.

The Pony Express

No event In American History has captured the imagination of young and old more than the Pony Express. Founded in 1860, this daring relay system called young men to ride horses and carry mail 2,000 miles westward in record time. Experience the ride at the Pony Express Museum or visit the historic Patee House, once the Pony Express headquarters and now a National Landmark Museum.

Jesse James’ Last Days

The outlaw Jesse James spent his last days in St. Joseph, Missouri, before his fellow gang member Bob Ford shot him for a bounty in 1882. Explore the legendary sights, starting with the famous bullet hole in the Jesse James House on the same grounds as the Patee House Museum. See the Buchanan County Courthouse, where the Ford brothers were indicted, and the Missouri Valley Trust Building, rumored to be “cased” by James himself.

King of the Trails

St. Joseph, Missouri, was the headwater for the journey west for thousands of settlers arriving by steamboat. The covered wagons, oxen, and supplies purchased by the emigrants established the economic foundation of St. Joseph. The jumping-off point for those headed to the Oregon Territory includes the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail, Pony Express National Historic Trail, and the Oregon-California National Historic Trail. Today it’s Highway 36, named “The Way of the American Genius,” that sees visitors passing through St. Joseph for a modern-day journey west.”