State Historic Preservation Office

08/22/2026

If you're at the Missouri State Fair today, come check us out at the Womens Building. We've got team members inside the building sharing information about Missouri State Parks, as well as team members outside on the lawn explaining the importance of historic preservation. We've even got kids' coloring sheets and a chance to see some elusive SHPO hippos!

08/22/2026

How did early Missourians administer justice? Come find out with the evening of Wednesday, September 9th in an engaging talk by our interpreter Charles Callier!

08/20/2026

If you answered "gun flint" to yesterday's What Is It Wednesday post, you hit the bull's eye! A gun flint is a small, specially shaped piece of stone used in flintlock fi****ms from the mid-17th to mid-19th centuries. The flint is held in the jaws of a spring-loaded hammer that is pulled back, or cocked, before pulling the trigger. Once the trigger is pulled, the hammer with flint springs forward, striking the flint against a vertical steel plate. The friction from the strike causes sparks, which fall into a small open tray of loose gunpowder, called the flashpan. The powder in the flashpan ignites, shooting a flame through a tiny hole in the gun barrel, which in turn ignites the main powder charge inside, propelling the lead shot (ball) out of the barrel.

And, in case you're wondering, this is the origin of the saying, "a flash in the pan." The phrase describes a person, thing, or event that brings a sudden, brief moment of success, excitement, or promise, but fails to last or happen again, leading to disappointment. It stems from when a flintlock would misfire, where the ignition fire failed to reach the main powder inside the gun barrel. This would cause a bright flash and smoke but no shot.

And there you have it!

08/20/2026

Did you know that today marks the 160th anniversary of the official end of the Civil War? On Aug. 20, 1866, more than a year after General Lee's surrender at Appomattox Court House in Virginia, President Andrew Johnson issued a proclamation declaring that, "...the said insurrection is at an end and that peace, order, tranquility, and civil authority now exist in and throughout the whole of the United States of America."

In spite of President Johnson's optimistic words, peace and tranquility did not fully exist in Missouri for many years after the Civil War. Former Confederate guerrillas such as the James brothers (Frank and Jesse) and Younger brothers (Cole, Jim, John, and Bob) continued their raids, although their motives had shifted to personal profit rather than in the name of the Confederacy. For nearly a decade following the Civil War, the James–Younger Gang was among the most feared, most publicized, and most wanted band of outlaws on the American frontier.

08/20/2026

⏰ Nominations for Small Town Showcase 2027 are still open!

Is there a Missouri town of 10,000 people or fewer that holds a special place in your heart? Maybe it's where you grew up, where your grandparents still live, or just a place where you hold a fond memory. This is your chance to help spotlight it!

📝 Nominate here: https://forms.gle/fyHFidMok4znJwfUA
🗓️ Nominations close October 1

The five towns with the most votes will be our featured communities for 2027, each getting a short film and podcast episode made in partnership with Missouri Humanities.

Don't let your favorite small town miss out!
Questions? Email [email protected].

08/20/2026

You know what time it is? Time for a What Is It Wednesday challenge!

Can you correctly name the item in these photos? It's tiny -- only about 1" square.

Drop your answer below and all will be revealed tomorrow!

08/19/2026

People have been reporting Hugo sightings in central Missouri this week (and someone has even captured a photo of him!) We have created a map tracking the sightings, and are hoping to catch him on Friday, August 21st. Where do you think he will be on Friday? Do you think you can be there to catch him, too?

08/19/2026

Don't miss out on the National Trust for Historic Preservation's 2026 Preservation Summit! This year's summit reflects on America's 250 years of history. Tuesday's award presentations and Wednesday's sessions are being livestreamed for those who aren't able to attend in person. For more information and to register, click on the link: https://savingplaces.org/summit.

Join us September 22-24, 2026, in Washington, DC and online.

08/18/2026

Another example of a successful Section 106 process is the 2014 Poplar Street bridge repair project in St. Louis. Before working on the bridge, Missouri Department of Transportation archaeologists investigated the site to determine what historic resources were present. They found the remains of eighteenth-century colonial homes and ceramic shards. These findings help us to understand colonial life in St. Louis. The artifacts are now in the Gateway Arch museum.

Archeologists from the Missouri Department of Transportation are ecstatic over a discovery beneath the Poplar Street Bridge in St. Louis. They’ve…

08/17/2026

Brick walls need to breathe. Moisture should be able to move through the brick as weather conditions change. Painting the brick often seals the moisture in and causes spalling. Once the paint starts to peel, the remaining paint is very difficult to remove without causing further damage. If you must paint exterior brick, avoid paints that create a film (like latex-based paints) so that moisture is not trapped. For murals, we recommend covering the historic brick in a protective surface, like EIFS, which can then be painted.