Here Are the Oldest Photos Ever Taken in Missouri and They’re Incredible

These old photos of Missouri take us back in time, revealing Show Me State history. Missouri became a state in 1821, and at the time, most of the state was still largely unsettled. In 1823, St. Louis became an incorporated city, and by the 1860's, it was the fourth-largest city in the nation. In 1853, Missouri officially incorporated the "City of Kansas," with an estimated population of about 2,500. Missouri's population continued to swell during the late 1800s as the state became the launching point for westward expansion.

These photos from the State Historical Society of Missouri were taken around the turn of the century and show what life was like all across the Show Me State. While some earlier photographs survive, many of them are portraits or photos of recently constructed buildings that no longer exist today. Here are a few of the interesting examples from the turn of the century that we could find:

1. The University of Missouri Football Team poses for a photo in 1900.

2. Children in Boonville showing off their pinwheels for a photo in 1900.

3. Men and boys at work clearing timber in 1887.

4. Native Americans parade down the street in Jefferson City to promote a wild west show in 1900.

5. John William Boone is being greeted by the people of Clarksburg as he arrives in town for a performance circa 1900.

6. Twelfth Street in Kansas City showing the hustle and bustle of the modern city in 1902.

7. Men and women wait outside the Brown Station Depot for the excursion train to Columbia in 1900.

8. Students and teachers in front of Pike College in Bowling Green, Missouri.

9. A large group of skaters on a frozen pond at Forest Park in 1900.

What do you think about life in Missouri at the turn of the century? It's fascinating to think about what life must have been like all those decades ago. There's so much to love about the Show-Me State. Take a look at some of the reasons folks love living in Missouri.