Part VIII: The Great Hotel Museum
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- Jesse James
From Nelson county we went to Logan county to see some relatives we had there, and after staying until the middle of October, I returned alone to my home in Missouri.
- Jesse James
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Day 4: Monday, March 19, 2012
In the above quote, Nelson county is a county in Kentucky that houses my wife's hometown of Bardstown, where Jesse James' cousin worked at the jailhouse...
...which was conveniently next door to the Talbott Tavern where he hung out (and put a bullet in the wall upstairs).
Therefore, since I already needed to make it back to Kansas City for my flight the following day...
...it made sense to make a short stop in Saint Joseph, Missouri...
...and see the house* that James moved to before being killed by fellow gang member Robert Ford.
Unfortunately, the house itself was closed that day, but visitors were welcome to visit the neighboring museum...
...the Patee House Museum.
The Patee House was opened in 1858 as a luxury hotel...
...with a classy front desk...
...a ballroom...
...and great looking rooms.
...with a classy front desk...
...a ballroom...
...and great looking rooms.
But, from 1860-1861, it was also the headquarters to the Pony Express...
...(which had their stables just down the street)...
...a Provost Marshall's office, a female college and many other things throughout the years.
...and I had no idea how big the museum would be.
But it was.
It was absolutely HUGE!
...(which had their stables just down the street)...
...a Provost Marshall's office, a female college and many other things throughout the years.
Of course, before arriving, I had thought that the Patee House was simply a house, not a hotel...
...and I had no idea how big the museum would be.
But it was.
It was absolutely HUGE!
One wing alone...
...replicated an old fashioned street...
...replicated an old fashioned street...
...with plenty of shops...
...that you could explore...
...and kids could get cards from the front desk...
...and find things that didn't belong with the rest of the display.
And elsewhere in the museum, consisting of two floors, the curators took advantage of all the space they had...
...with children's toys...
...a carrousel...
...period displays...
...a beaver...
...TV and radio equipment...
...a huge ball of twine...
...and even a train.
A train!
Meanwhile, outside...
...the rain beat down like crazy...so I just took my time.
I eventually came across a door that led me down a staircase...
...and brought me to this room of impressive artwork...
...where I read about important figures like Calamity Jane...
...and Ohioans Annie Oakley and William Quantrill (leader of a Confederate guerrila group of which Jesse James and his brother were members).
By the time I finished reading all the plaques, the museum was getting close to closing.
Now that the rain had slowed, I didn't have to get too wet as I made my way to the car...
Now that the rain had slowed, I didn't have to get too wet as I made my way to the car...
...and drove the last leg to my hotel in Kansas City.
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Wow! What a museum! Looks like a really fun place to explore. I've never seen gutters like that - that river of rain is impressive too!
ReplyDeleteah, St. Jo... it's been a few years since I've been, but Jesse James looms large not only there, but also in Gladstone, Missouri, where I grew up. He hid out in the attic of what is now Stroud's Restaurant, only a couple miles from where I grew up (not during the same era, however, despite what some people may tell you). It's a highly rated restaurant for home-style cooking, so on your next trip to Missouri, add it to the list.
ReplyDeleteLaura - just looked at the menu...chicken livers and gizzards? I am THERE! :-)
ReplyDelete