MISSOURI

1. MISSOURI By Isabelle Vasquez

2. MAP OF THE STATE OF MISSOURI

3. MISSOURI INTERESTING FACTS •  1) Missouri was acquired by the U.S. as part of the 1803 Louisiana Purchase. At that time, the territory's occupants were mainly French settlers. After the War of 1812, American settlers poured into the region. • 2) In 1818, the Speaker of the House of Representatives presented the first petition of the Territory of Missouri requesting statehood • 3) On August 10, 1821, Missouri entered the Union as the twenty-fourth state • 4) The question of Missouri's admission as a slave or free state led statesman Henry Clay to devise the Missouri Compromise of 1820, admitting Missouri as a slave state while admitting Maine as a free state, and prohibiting slavery in Louisiana Territory north of the parallel 36º 30', Missouri's southern border. • 5) In 1865 Missouri became the first slave state to free its slaves. • 6) Missouri was named after a tribe called Missouri Indians; meaning "town of the large canoes". • 7)Jefferson City, Missouri, the state's capital, was named for Thomas Jefferson, the third President of the United States • 8) In 1865 Missouri became the first slave state to free its slaves • 9) The "Missouri Waltz" became the state song under an act adopted by the General Assembly on June 30, 1949 • 10) Missouri ties with Tennessee as the most neighborly state in the union, bordered by 8 states • 11) St. Louis; is also called, "The Gateway to the West" and "Home of the Blues". • 12) Jefferson National Expansion Memorial consists of the Gateway Arch, the Museum of Westward Expansion, and St. Louis' Old Courthouse. During a nationwide competition in 1947-48, architect Eero Saarinen's inspired design for a 630-foot stainless steel arch was chosen as a perfect monument to the spirit of the western pioneers. Construction of the Arch began in 1963 and was completed on October 28, 1965.The Arch has foundations sunken 60 feet into the ground, and is built to withstand earthquakes and high winds. It sways up to one inch in a 20 mph wind, and is built to sway up to 18 inches. • 13) The first train of the Atlantic-Pacific Railway, which became the St. Louis-San Francisco Railway, or "Frisco," arrived in 1870.

4. MISSOURI STATE FLAG AND FACTS The Flag of the State of Missouri was designed and stitched by Marie Elizabeth Watkins Oliver, as a volunteer project from the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1908. Her original design incorporated Missouri's coat of arms and was rendered as a painted paper flag by her friend Mary Kochitzky and adopted on September 4, 1913. The flag consists of three horizontal stripes of red, white and blue. These represent valor, purity, vigilance, and justice. The colors also reflect the state's historic status as part of the FrenchLouisiana (New France). In the center white stripe is the Seal of Missouri, circled by a blue band containing 24 stars, symbolizing Missouri's admission as the 24th U.S. state.

5. MISSOURY seal AND FACTS • The Great Seal of the State of Missouri was adopted on January 11, 1822. The center of the seal contains the Great Seal of the United States on the right side, and, on the left, symbols representing the state. On both sides of the center circle, a bear represents strength and bravery; a crescent moon represents the newness of statehood and the potential for growth. Surrounding these symbols is the motto "United we stand, divided we fall". Two mighty grizzly bears support this center shield. A scroll carries the state motto, "SalusPopuliSupremaLexEsto", a Latin phrase meaning "Let the welfare of the people be the supreme law." The year 1820 is inscribed in Roman numerals below the scroll, although Missouri was not officially granted statehood until 1821. A star representing each of the other states of the Union (Missouri became the 24th) graces the top portion of the seal. The outer circle of the seal bears the words "The Great Seal of the State of Missouri".

6. Missouri state flowerThe White Hawthorn Blossom The White Hawthorn Blossom was named the state flower of Missouri on March 16, 1923. These flowers are white and grow in bunches on hawthorn trees. The White Hawthorn Blossoms most common in southern Missouri.

7. Missouri STATE BIRDBluebird The native bluebird became the official state bird of Missouri on March 30, 1927. The bluebird, considered a symbol of happiness, is usually 6 1/2 to 7 inches long. While its upper parts are covered with light blue plumage, its breast is cinnamon red, turning rust-colored in the fall. The bluebird is common in Missouri from early spring until late November.

8. MISSOURI STATE QUARTER The Missouri quarter is the fourth quarter of 2003, and the 24th in the 50 State Quarters Program. Missouri became the 24th state on August 10, 1821, as a part of the Missouri Compromise. The Missouri quarter depicts Lewis and Clark’s historic return to St. Louis down the Missouri River, with the Jefferson National Expansion Memorial (Gateway Arch) in the background. The quarter is inscribed "Corps of Discovery 1804-2004".

9. MISSOURI STATE LISENCE PLATE This is the official license plate for the state of Missouri as it has been officially adopted by the state legislature. Also known as a vehicle registration plate, it is used to identify the car and owner of a motor vehicle or trailer in the state. The license plate has the map of Missouri with its official Blue Bird and its famous slogan “Show Me State”.

10. AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTS OF MISSOURI • Agriculture • In terms of revenue generated Missouri's top five agricultural products are soybeans, cattle and calves, corn for grain, hogs, and dairy products. • Livestock • Livestock and livestock products are responsible for a little over half of Missouri's agricultural production.Missouri is a leading state in the production of beef cattle ranking number ninth, hogs number seven and turkeys number three with beef cattle and hogs providing the bulk of the income in this sector.Dairy products are important to the state. Some chickens and sheep are also raised in Missouri. • Crops • Soybeans, from which oil is made, are the states most important crop. Missouri rank number seventh among the states in the production of soybeans.Corn and grain sorghum, used for livestock feed, are also important.Other field crops grown in Missouri are cotton, hay and wheat. • Missouri's most valuable fruit crops are apples, peaches, grapes and watermelons.A wide variety of vegetables, including potatoes, are grown in the state.

11. MISSOURI’S NONE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRIES • MINING • The State of Missouri has certainly been blessed by Mother Nature as she has provided vast amounts of minerals hidden beneath Missouri's surface.Mineral deposits occur all over the Earth, but only rarely are these minerals concentrated enough to permit recovery by mining. Lying below the state's rich topsoil are mineral resources so extensive, few can comprehend the magnitude. The mining industry has been an important part of the economic and social fabric of the state for 275 years. No other economic activity, except farming, has been a part of Missouri's scene from its earliest beginnings. The mining industry's slogan has become "If It Can't Be Grown, It Has To Be Mined" as a result of the effects of these two major industries. • Missouri has vast quantities of limestone. Other resources mined are lead, coal, and crushed stone. Missouri produces the most lead of all of the states. Most of the lead mines are in the central eastern portion of the state. Missouri also ranks first or near first in the production of lime, a key ingredient in Portland cement.Missouri also has a growing science and biotechnology field. Monsanto, one of the largest gene companies in America is based in St. Louis. • ENERGY • Missouri has the potential to generate 689,519 GWh/year from 274,000 MW of wind power, and 5,382,000 GWh/year from solar power using 3,188,000 MW of photovoltaic (PV), including 13,081 MW of rooftop photovoltaics. • BREWING INDUSTRY • With a large German immigrant population and the development of a brewing industry, Missouri always has had among the most permissive alcohol laws in the United States. • OTHER INDUSTRIES • Tourism, services and wholesale/retail trade follow manufacturing in importance. • Missouri is the only state in the Union to have two Federal Reserve Banks: one in Kansas City (serving western Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Colorado, northern New Mexico, and Wyoming) and one in St. Louis (serving eastern Missouri, southern Illinois, southern Indiana, western Kentucky, western Tennessee, northern Mississippi, and all of Arkansas).

12. Downtown Kansas City, MISSOURI • Kansas City is the biggest city in Missouri. Its downtown has been recognized as amongst the very best in the USA, where you can find beautiful landscaping, parks, fountains, great restaurants, arenas, ballrooms, and a center for the performing arts, high end shopping arcades and boutique hotels.

13. Gateway Arch, St. Louis, MISSOURI • This Gateway arch is one of the country's most recognizable monuments. It was built as a reminder to the times when the Western frontier was still moving forward. The arch towers are 192 meters tall and are shape as the canvas typically used to cover the pioneers wagons. • This project was very expensive, and was finished on October, 1965. The monument simply cannot be missed, especially at night time, when it is all lit up. Inside the monument, a transporter takes you right up inside and over the top of the arch, giving an incredible view for over thirty miles.

14. bRanson CITY, MISSOURI • Branson city is a beautiful place to visit all year around. There are waxworks, museums, theme parks, national parks, caverns, lakes, caves and rivers.

15. Jefferson City, MISSOURI • Jefferson City the state capital of Missouriwas named after the third U.S. President Thomas Jefferson. The State Capitol Building sits proudly on the shores of the Missouri River. Lewis and Clark came through this flat area in which the Osage's Indians inhabited for centuries.

16. Forest Park, St Louis, MISSOURI • The Forest Park has more than 1200 acres. It was opened in 1876 and is one of the country's foremost urban parks. It is home to multiple attractions such as the St. Louis Zoo, the St. Louis Art Museum, the Missouri History Museum, the St. Louis Science Center, and the Steinberg Memorial Skating Rink which offers both roller and ice skating.