The Great Depression began in the United States soon after the stock market crash in October 1929. This sent Wall Street into a panic and wiped out millions of investors. For the U.S., it lasted through the entire 1930s and was the deepest and longest-lasting economic downturn in the history of the Western industrialized world. For some countries, it took even longer to recover. Some of the hardest hit economically were the working poor such as farmworkers, miners, loggers, and factory workers. Unemployment rose to as high as 25 percent in the U.S. and as high as 33 percent in other countries. Cities dependent on industry such as St. Louis and Kansas City were hit hard, and construction basically stopped completely. Here are some rare historic photos taken in Missouri gathered by the Photogrammar, a web-based platform for organizing, searching, and visualizing over 170,000 photographs from 1935 to 1945. The site was created by the United States Farm Security Administration and Office of War Information (FSA-OWI). These photos give you a glimpse into Missouri history.

  1. Prairie City

Photogrammar/ Carl Mydans Typical farmer group of Prairie City, Missouri, in Mississippi County 1936

  1. Ashland

Photogrammar/ Carl Mydans Nick Phillips, eighty-one years old with wife in front of house. Ashland, Missouri. 1936. Missouri game and arboretum project. Columbia, Missouri

  1. Mississippi County

Photogrammar/ Carl Mydans Typical sharecropper’s shack with crop entirely surrounding house. Mississippi County, Missouri 1936

  1. Sikeston

Photogrammar/ Carl Mydans Flood refugees housed in the Baptist church at Sikeston, Missouri 1937

  1. LaForge

Photogrammar/ Russell Lee Entrance to store, La Forge, Missouri 1938

  1. New Madrid

Photogrammar/ Russell Lee Sharecropper family on front porch, New Madrid County, Missouri 1938

  1. Sikeston

Photogrammar/ Russell Lee General view of auction, Sikeston, Missouri 1938

  1. Sikeston

Photogrammar/ Russell Lee What a view! Southeast Missouri Farms, spectators at auction of cattle near Sikeston, Missouri 1938

  1. Osage

Photogrammar/ Russell Lee Interior of house without windows, home of sharecropper, cut-over farmer of Mississippi bottoms 1938

  1. La Forge, New Madrid

Photogrammar/ Russell Lee Southeast Missouri Farms. Sharecropper’s son climbing stairs to attic bedroom in shack near La Forge project, Missouri 1938

  1. Steele

Photogrammar/ Russell Lee Sign. 1938

  1. Caruthersville

Photogrammar/ Russell Lee Types of houses recently constructed in Caruthersville, Missouri. They are very flimsy, consist of two rooms and are elevated to take care of a possible rise of the Mississippi River seen in background. 1938

  1. Sikeston

Photogrammar/ Russell Lee Near Sikeston 1938

  1. New Madrid County

Photogrammar/ Arthur Rothstein State highway officials moving sharecroppers away from that roadside to an area between the levee and the Mississippi River. New Madrid County, Missouri 1939

  1. St. Louis

Photogrammar/ Arthur Rothstein Nightclub along the riverfront. Saint Louis, Missouri 1939

  1. Osage Farms

Photogrammar/ Arthur Rothstein Osage Farms project headquarters are located over the general store in Hughesville, Missouri. Osage Farms, Missouri 1939

  1. Osage Farms

Photogrammar/ Arthur Rothstein Sorgo is fed to the 108 Hereford Cattle. Bois d’Arc Cooperative. Osage Farms, Missouri 1939

  1. Washington

Photogrammar/ Arthur Rothstein Former tiff miner, now blind, with son. Washington County, Missouri 1939

  1. Butler

Photogrammar/ Arthur Rothstein Evicted sharecropper reading the Bible. Butler County, Missouri 1939

  1. Mississippi County

Photogrammar/ Carl Mydans A sharecropper’s family in Mississippi County. Missouri 1936

  1. Columbia

Photogrammar/ Arthur Rothstein Baking bread. Columbia, Missouri 1939

What are your thoughts on these historic photos taken in Missouri? Do you have any family stories about Missouri during this time? Were you there? What picture of Missouri history is most interesting to you? Let us know in the comments below.

Photogrammar/ Carl Mydans

Typical farmer group of Prairie City, Missouri, in Mississippi County 1936

Nick Phillips, eighty-one years old with wife in front of house. Ashland, Missouri. 1936. Missouri game and arboretum project. Columbia, Missouri

Typical sharecropper’s shack with crop entirely surrounding house. Mississippi County, Missouri 1936

Flood refugees housed in the Baptist church at Sikeston, Missouri 1937

Photogrammar/ Russell Lee

Entrance to store, La Forge, Missouri 1938

Sharecropper family on front porch, New Madrid County, Missouri 1938

General view of auction, Sikeston, Missouri 1938

What a view! Southeast Missouri Farms, spectators at auction of cattle near Sikeston, Missouri 1938

Interior of house without windows, home of sharecropper, cut-over farmer of Mississippi bottoms 1938

Southeast Missouri Farms. Sharecropper’s son climbing stairs to attic bedroom in shack near La Forge project, Missouri 1938

Sign. 1938

Types of houses recently constructed in Caruthersville, Missouri. They are very flimsy, consist of two rooms and are elevated to take care of a possible rise of the Mississippi River seen in background. 1938

Near Sikeston 1938

Photogrammar/ Arthur Rothstein

State highway officials moving sharecroppers away from that roadside to an area between the levee and the Mississippi River. New Madrid County, Missouri 1939

Nightclub along the riverfront. Saint Louis, Missouri 1939

Osage Farms project headquarters are located over the general store in Hughesville, Missouri. Osage Farms, Missouri 1939

Sorgo is fed to the 108 Hereford Cattle. Bois d’Arc Cooperative. Osage Farms, Missouri 1939

Former tiff miner, now blind, with son. Washington County, Missouri 1939

Evicted sharecropper reading the Bible. Butler County, Missouri 1939

A sharecropper’s family in Mississippi County. Missouri 1936

Baking bread. Columbia, Missouri 1939

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The OIYS Visitor Center

historic photos taken in Missouri December 01, 2021 Beth C. What are some of the most historic buildings in Missouri?

Anheuser Busch Brewery Eads Bridge Gateway Arch Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Graham Cave Liberty Memorial … and many others!

  If you’re fascinated by history, you’ll find Missouri has no shortage of remarkable buildings, historic landmarks, and points of interest. The following is a list of some of the most fascinating historic sites in Missouri that you’ll want to make a point of visiting: the Anheuser Busch Brewery in St. Louis, Eads Bridge in St. Louis, Gateway Arch and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Graham Cave in Montogmery County, Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, Harry S. Truman Historic District in Independence, Mark Twain Boyhood Home in Hannibal, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in Republic, the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in St. Louis, George Washington Carver National Monument in Newton, Fort Osage in Sibley, Scott Joplin Residence in St. Louis, Mutual Musicians Foundation Building in Kansas City, Patee House in St. Joseph, Union Station in St. Louis, and Laura Ingalls Wilder House in Mansfield. Learn more about what makes these historic sites in Missouri so important. Does Missouri have any hidden gems?

Prairie Garden Trust Ha Ha Tonka State Park Mark Twain Landing Rockbridge Memorial State Park Big Cedar Lodge Wild Animal Safari Wakonda State Park

  Absolutely! Whether you’re fascinated by historic sites, natural wonders, or little-known attractions, you’ll find that Missouri holds its fair share of hidden gems. Some of our top recommendations for experiencing Missouri as the locals do would be Prairie Garden Trust in New Bloomfield, Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton, Mark Twain Landing in Monroe City, Rockbridge Memorial State Park in Columbia, Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Wild Animal Safari in Strafford, Kozy Kaboose at the St. Louis West KOA Campground, Stone Soup Cottage in Cottleville, and Wakonda State Park in La Grange. Find out more about these must-see hidden gems in Missouri.

The OIYS Visitor Center

historic photos taken in Missouri

December 01, 2021

Beth C.

What are some of the most historic buildings in Missouri?

Anheuser Busch Brewery Eads Bridge Gateway Arch Jefferson National Expansion Memorial Graham Cave Liberty Memorial … and many others!

  If you’re fascinated by history, you’ll find Missouri has no shortage of remarkable buildings, historic landmarks, and points of interest. The following is a list of some of the most fascinating historic sites in Missouri that you’ll want to make a point of visiting: the Anheuser Busch Brewery in St. Louis, Eads Bridge in St. Louis, Gateway Arch and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Graham Cave in Montogmery County, Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, Harry S. Truman Historic District in Independence, Mark Twain Boyhood Home in Hannibal, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in Republic, the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in St. Louis, George Washington Carver National Monument in Newton, Fort Osage in Sibley, Scott Joplin Residence in St. Louis, Mutual Musicians Foundation Building in Kansas City, Patee House in St. Joseph, Union Station in St. Louis, and Laura Ingalls Wilder House in Mansfield. Learn more about what makes these historic sites in Missouri so important. Does Missouri have any hidden gems?

Prairie Garden Trust Ha Ha Tonka State Park Mark Twain Landing Rockbridge Memorial State Park Big Cedar Lodge Wild Animal Safari Wakonda State Park

  Absolutely! Whether you’re fascinated by historic sites, natural wonders, or little-known attractions, you’ll find that Missouri holds its fair share of hidden gems. Some of our top recommendations for experiencing Missouri as the locals do would be Prairie Garden Trust in New Bloomfield, Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton, Mark Twain Landing in Monroe City, Rockbridge Memorial State Park in Columbia, Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Wild Animal Safari in Strafford, Kozy Kaboose at the St. Louis West KOA Campground, Stone Soup Cottage in Cottleville, and Wakonda State Park in La Grange. Find out more about these must-see hidden gems in Missouri.

The OIYS Visitor Center

The OIYS Visitor Center

  • Anheuser Busch Brewery
  • Eads Bridge
  • Gateway Arch
  • Jefferson National Expansion Memorial
  • Graham Cave
  • Liberty Memorial
  • … and many others!

 

If you’re fascinated by history, you’ll find Missouri has no shortage of remarkable buildings, historic landmarks, and points of interest. The following is a list of some of the most fascinating historic sites in Missouri that you’ll want to make a point of visiting: the Anheuser Busch Brewery in St. Louis, Eads Bridge in St. Louis, Gateway Arch and the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial in St. Louis, Graham Cave in Montogmery County, Liberty Memorial in Kansas City, Missouri Botanical Gardens in St. Louis, Harry S. Truman Historic District in Independence, Mark Twain Boyhood Home in Hannibal, Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield in Republic, the Ulysses S. Grant National Historic Site in St. Louis, George Washington Carver National Monument in Newton, Fort Osage in Sibley, Scott Joplin Residence in St. Louis, Mutual Musicians Foundation Building in Kansas City, Patee House in St. Joseph, Union Station in St. Louis, and Laura Ingalls Wilder House in Mansfield. Learn more about what makes these historic sites in Missouri so important.

Does Missouri have any hidden gems?

  • Prairie Garden Trust
  • Ha Ha Tonka State Park
  • Mark Twain Landing
  • Rockbridge Memorial State Park
  • Big Cedar Lodge
  • Wild Animal Safari
  • Wakonda State Park

Absolutely! Whether you’re fascinated by historic sites, natural wonders, or little-known attractions, you’ll find that Missouri holds its fair share of hidden gems. Some of our top recommendations for experiencing Missouri as the locals do would be Prairie Garden Trust in New Bloomfield, Ha Ha Tonka State Park in Camdenton, Mark Twain Landing in Monroe City, Rockbridge Memorial State Park in Columbia, Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Wild Animal Safari in Strafford, Kozy Kaboose at the St. Louis West KOA Campground, Stone Soup Cottage in Cottleville, and Wakonda State Park in La Grange. Find out more about these must-see hidden gems in Missouri.