St. Joseph, Missouri. Birthplace of the most historic rapper of my generation, Marshall Mathers, famously known as Eminem and the death place of outlaw Jesse James. It is also the birthplace of the Pony Express.

St. Joseph is famously known as “the place where the Pony Express started and where Jesse James died” as I’ve seen many times.

We were able to visit Jesse James home where he was famously shot in the head and murdered. To say it was amazing would be an understatement. The museum has carefully preserved the home and its contents for centuries. The actual chair he was standing on while fixing the frame that is still crooked to this day (which was killing my ocd!!!!! Ahhhh) still sits in the same position, frozen in time, marking an important moment in Wild West history.

We tend to forget there are many things we don’t know and if we don’t know them, how can we pass them on to the next generation? If we do not pass them down to the next generation, it will lost within the course of history, forgotten to the world.

Curiosity was peaked in my children when they saw the wash basin, the hand pump and the washboard used to do laundry. They learned (and we were reminded) how “easy” life is today. Anything and everything is easily and readily available in an instant, from food, household items down to the water in our plumbing.

On Tuesday, our last full day in St. Joseph, the kids and I finally got to check out the Patee House Museum, St. Joseph’s only national historic landmark, and it was fascinating (and even that’s an understatement!!).

Besides the amazing preservation of American History, for 50¢ a playing card, you can try to find, throughout the entire 3 story museum, the 20 out of the place items in 20 different exhibits (they mark each one with a number so you can keep track). If you get at least 16 correct, you receive a free share of the Hannibal & St. Joseph Railroad Stock!

My expertise in the game “Spot the difference” was very beneficial (I knew it would be, along with my Tetris skills LOL) as my oldest and I got all 20 right! The curator mentioned that it is very rare to get all 20, so we feel superior! It called for chick-fil-a afterwards LOL!

The Patee House Museum was probably the most interesting and amusing museum I have ever been to. There was something for everyone. A replica of the town Main Street, ball rooms, murder weapons on display, a replica of an actual Saloon, and so much more (3 stories to be exact). My children loved the hand carved, 81 year old carrousel that they were able to ride!

When the Patee House opened in 1858 by John Patee, it was luxurious hotel. It has been a hotel 3 different times, a girls college twice and also a shirt factory! It served as the US provost Marshal’s office during the Civil War as well! Jesse James was shot and killed just a block away and his widow was interviewed at the Patee House the next morning.

Aunt Jemimas Pancakes was invented in St. Joseph in 1889 and I also found a piece of history that I would absolutely love to question the “artist” a simple question….WHY?! A leaf that contains the hair (yes the spelling is correct, as in HAIR that grows from one’s body, assuming from the scalp) of 125 friends!!!

I love my friends but I highly doubt I’m going to ask for hair samples so I can make art out of it.

History is a vital part of life, in growth and in demise. History is not always pretty but you cannot have a rainbow without the rain (it’s literally in the word, RAINbow). It has been inspiring to see my children understand that things haven’t always been as they are now. It has curated a lot of questions and the thirst for knowledge deepened within them.

So why do we hide the past, whether personal or public? Why are we ashamed of what we have (hopefully) learned from? Why lie or alter or omit the past in general because it’s not always beautiful (I’m talking about those that a trying to erase Aunt Jemima, Pearl Milling Company!!!!). Our history, as a person or as a country, is not and never will be beautiful. But neither will our future if we do not learn of the past!)

As long as you have learned from the “mistakes” you have made, they are no longer mistakes. They become lessons. Growth is strong in those lessons, especially when you choose to share them.

Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. – George Santayana

Don’t be afraid to grow! There is strength in growth. There is happiness in strength.

We had a short but historic stay in St. Joseph but we made sure to make the most of our few days. If you ever get a chance to be in or around St. Joseph, Missouri, make sure to go by the Patee House Museum and Jesse James House! It is so worth it to stop and reflect on where we started to appreciate where we are now!

Now off to Illinois tomorrow! God is good!