Imagine you unearthed the bones of an animal and had little idea of what you found. Now imagine making up a tale about the creature and traveling the nation to tell its story. That’s exactly what happened just south of St. Louis…

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All this week we are in St. Joseph, MO and today’s stop is perhaps the place for which the city is best known. Remember you can plan your own trip by logging on to stjomo.com. It’s the place were the west officially started getting wild…

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Many cities have parks and parkways…but few can boast the system found here. It’s a historic jewel that residents here have enjoyed for over a century. Our broadcasts this week are all from St. Joseph, MO. Plan your trip to enjoy it’s amazing past, present and future by logging on to stjomo.com…

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No battles were fought here…but that didn’t keep the fort from accidentally firing on its own residents. All of this week we are in St. Joesph, MO and are brought to you by stjomo.com. Check out the Pony Express, Jesse James and much more in St. Joe…

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We’re back in St. Joesph, MO this year for a week of broadcasts brought to you by stjomo.com. We also say hello to our long time listeners on 680 KFEQ in St. Joe. Folks in that part of the country may see the Missouri River regularly, but a new exhibit and trail let’s you explore it in a grand new way…

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Next year is the 150th anniversary of the first riders and U.S. mail to leave St. Joseph, MO on the Pony Express. This week we begin our broadcasts were the express began…the Pattee House Hotel.

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Imagine hitting the age to retire and then deciding to go volunteer for the army. That is what John Burns did. The military rejected him because of his age…but then the battle came to him and he joined the army anyway.

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He is perhaps the most famous name to fight at the battle of Gettysburg. His leadership on the battlefield has made his name immortal, but he would probably preferred to remain anonymous.

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I hope you are enjoying our series of interviews from Gettysburg. I’ve spent quite a bit of time there recently and have really enjoyed the many people that I have met. The national battlefield has a brand new visitors center that is really a grand site to see. If you are in that part of the country, take time to really enjoy the town and its rich history. I’m glad I did!

In the three days leading up to Independence Day in 1863, Americans waged the greatest of battles against one another at Gettysburg.  So for the next three days, we’ll go there as well to take a look at the people the played at important role in that conflict.  We begin with the man who led the Union…a man most Americans can not name.

You can listen to today’s program below:

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If you do something the same way day after day, you might be said to have a method to your work. The method these brothers used in their work is still copied today…in fact, the method is still in the name.

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On the southeast coast of Georgia you can find the place were these brothers encountered one of their most trying times. However those challenges helped them encounter God and lead a reform movement that is still witnessed today.

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Over 2 decades after he first entered the army, Kermit Bell was now on his way to Vietnam. Not only would he serve in that conflict, but he had another degree and career awaiting him after the war as well…

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His name was Daddy Bryson…and he became one of the best known train engineers in the Smoky Mountains…not because of his skill on the rails, but instead for the unfortunate accident that cost him his life. Hear the story and the song on this edition of the American Countryside.

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Visitors to Smoky Mountain National Park can wander miles of trails that meander through endless forests. It wasn’t that long ago that many of these forests had been cut. This is the story of the man who logged much of that timber and then gave the land that is a park today.

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We sometimes bill our program as a slice of Americana…and today’s broadcast certainly fills that theme. We visit with a lady who built her own museum…quite by accident in the beginning…but today a unique slice of history that people from around the world come to enjoy.

You can listen to the program below:

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Kimmswick, Missouri officially has 92 residents. Most days you will find far more people in this little town. When Mrs. Ross, heir to the 7-Up company, revisited the town where she had grown up, she was disappointed to see that it was run down and most businesses had closed. She steadily bought and improved properties and helped new businesses to open. Today Kimmswick is a draw for visitors from states away. One of the highlights is the Blue Owl, a restaurant that serves “Levy High Apple Pie.” Believe me, the pie literally is eight inches tall! You’ll get more apples in a slice of their pie than anywhere else in the country.

I can’t say enough about the World War I museum in Kansas City. It is a true gem in the Midwest and more people need to discover it. The museum lies underneath the Liberty Memorial and next to Union Station. I’ve been to hundreds of museums across the nation. I would put this place up against any museum in D.C. or any other large city. It has something for everyone. It’s not a stuffy place, but instead has plenty of technology and interactive exhibits to make it a great stop for any age.

The Lake of the Ozarks has been a major attraction in Missouri for about 80 years now. At the time Bagnell Dam was constructed the lake became the largest in the world. It’s still a beautiful place to visit and has more shoreline that the state of California! Be sure to stop by Willmore Lodge, next to the dam. It was constructed in the 1930s and also houses the local tourist information office. The lodge contains plenty of old artifacts about the building of the dam and the history of the area from a century ago. It’s a nice mix of recreation and history.

Covered bridges are really a neat slice of history. Many states have worked to preserve the few that remain. Missouri has four such spans and I recently visited the Sandy Creek covered bridge south of St. Louis. What makes this bridge such a great place to visit is that there are over 200 acres adjacent to it that are open for hiking, picnicking and swimming. It’s the perfect place to take a break from the day and enjoy a slice of history and nature.