10 Quirky Facts About Missouri That Sound Made Up, But Are 100% Accurate
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Beth Price-Williams
Author
Living in Missouri certainly is never dull. No matter how long we’ve lived here, we usually uncover hidden gems and discover things about Missouri that we simply never knew. How many of these fun facts about Missouri, for example, did you already know? They may be a bit quirky, but they’re 100 percent true.
1. The City of Fountains is right here in Missouri.
Can you guess which it is? With more than 200 fountains around the city, Kansas City holds the title of the City of Fountains. Many say it has more fountains than any other city in the United States.
2. Missouri is bordered by eight states.
You might already know that, but can you name all eight of those states? Missouri is bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Nebraska.
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3. Only one United States president was born in Missouri.
That president was Harry S. Truman.
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4. Missouri has a state horse.
While around a dozen states have a state horse, Missouri didn’t get its state horse, the Missouri Fox Trotting Horse, until 2002. To honor this majestic animal, Missouri celebrates the first full week of September each year with "Missouri Fox Trotter Week."
5. However, the official animal of Missouri isn’t the horse; it’s the mule.
The Missouri mule, a cross of a female horse and a male donkey, officially became the state animal in 1995.
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6. Branson wasn’t always Branson.
For just over three weeks in October 1903, the brand-new town was officially known as Lucia. It was renamed Branson after Reuben Branson, the local postmaster.
7. The world’s first drive-thru restaurant is right here in Missouri.
Red’s Giant Hamburg dates back to 1947, and it earns credit as being the first fast food restaurant to have a drive-thru window. Missourians still flock to Red’s Giant Hamburg in Springfield for a delicious burger and a side of nostalgia.
8. Missouri is the home of sliced bread.
When you buy a loaf of sliced bread at the grocery store, think of Chillicothe. Although the bread slicer was invented by an Iowan, Otto Rohwedde, the first time sliced bread was sold was in this small Missouri town.
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9. Missouri hosted the first Olympics in the United States.
The honor to host the first Olympics in America was originally given to Chicago. However, the games were ultimately held in St. Louis during the summer of 1904.
10. Missouri has just half a dozen area codes.
If you’re making a call to a Missouri number, you’ll dial one of six area codes first. Missouri’s area codes are 314, 636, 816, 660, 573, and 417.
What do you think of these fun facts about Missouri? Do you have any more? Let us know in the comments! And don’t forget to wear your state pride on your sleeve with this apparel from Wear Your Roots.
Then take a peek at these weird laws in Missouri that are sure to have you shaking your head.
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