The Pacific Railroad reached Washington, Missouri in February of 1855. The original goal was to connect St. Louis to the Pacific Coast, but this goal was never achieved. The railroad did endure multiple hardships and financial troubles, eventually growing into a sizable railroad. Several merges were made and the Union Pacific Railroad was born. Over the years the Union Pacific Railroad donated several caboose cars to townships that the railroad ran through, one of which sits on the grounds of the Heritage Park.
On October 2, 1864, a Confederate force led by General John S. Marmaduke raided Washington as part of a larger campaign to retake control of Missouri and rekindle the Confederate cause. The campaign was orchestrated by Major General Sterling Price, who moved to Missouri as a young adult and served as governor from 1853-1857. He commanded an army of 12,000 men and divided it into three divisions, one of which was led by Marmaduke (he would also become governor in 1884). On the night of the September 30, the Confederates camped at the town of Sullivan, which is located to the south. Warned of their impending approach, the local militia built some breastworks but it was clear that defending the town would be impossible against the much larger force. The town surrendered but the troops ransacked homes and businesses and plundered whatever they wanted. The next day, a remaining contingent set fire to the ralroad depot to prevent it from being used by the Union. In the end, Price's Missouri Expedition, as the campaign was called, failed—a result that contributed to the eventual defeat of the Confederates the next year.
Constructed in 1869, St Francis Borgia Catholic Church is a historic church that is home to a congregation founded in 1834 by German immigrants. It was built with red brick and combines elements of Federal, Neoclassical, and early Romanesque architectural styles. Notable features of the church include stained glass windows, a tall steeple, and arched windows. The building is the third church built for the congregation; the first was erected in 1838 and the second in 1846. In addition to the church building, the site also includes a rectory built in 1883, a school built in 1884 that was converted to a hall, and a convent built in 1891. The church is a contributing property of the Downtown Washington Historic District, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Also known as the Godt House, Gottfried's Cabin is the oldest building in Washington. It was built in 1834 by its namesake George Gottfried Beyreis. It was declared a local historic landmark in January 2019 and was managed by Downtown Washington Inc. and the Historic Washington Preservation Foundation. Today it operates as a small hotel for those interested in a rustic setting (guests rent the whole structure).
The Washington Historical Society was founded in 1959, focused on preserving Washington, Mo., history. The society purchased the old Presbyterian Church building at Fourth and Market Street in 1995 and in 2001 hired a full-time director. Besides its many exhibits and archives, the museum also houses the Four Rivers Genealogical Society and the Ralph Gregory Library.
Though a place for rest and relaxation today, Krog Park was actually a former cemetery called Bassora Cemetery. Here, many of Washington's early settlers are buried, including the town's founders William and Lucinda Owens. The park features a large stone marker with an inscription and the names of those buried here. The Owens' gravesite features a historical marker and matching tombstone pillars. The one for Lucinda was created in 2012 since her grave was unmarked. The park also features a Korean War memorial, a Vietnam War memorial, and a veterans memorial.
This historic site features the Historic John B. Busch Brewery complex and the Busch Mansion. Established as Washington Brewery in 1855 by German immigrants Fred Gersie and brothers John Baptiste and Henry Busch, the brewery grew to become the largest brewery in the city and operated until 1953. The three buildings that stand today are the only structures left from the brewery. John was the older brother of Adolphus Busch, the co-founder of the Anheuser-Busch Brewery which is located in St. Louis. The brewery complex is a historic district listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It is now an event venue. John Busch built the mansion, which is not included in the district, in 1855. It is now the location of the Max W. Mueller Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 2661.
Owned and operated by the Washington Historical Society, the Firehouse Museum features three antique fire trucks and three antique vehicles on display. These are: a 1917 Model T Ford, a 1935 Dodge, a 1918 Jeffrey. a 1908 Economy, a 1907 Ford, and a 1912 Maxell Messenger. The 1917 Model T Ford was the city's first fire truck (it is a converted 1914 Model T car) and the 1907 Ford is the city's oldest car.
The Louis Kohmueller House is a historic 19th-century home located in Washington, Missouri. The home was built in 1879 by Louis Kohmueller on property that had been purchased by his father Frederick in 1844. The house is a well-preserved example of typical Missouri-German architecture from the late 1800s. It was constructed with red bricks, which were made using the clay found on the property. The property, which is called the Kohmueller Farmstead, also includes a large barn built c.1908, and smokehouse connected to the main house by a roof. The farmstead is owned by the City of Washington and is operated by the Washington Historical Society, which uses the house for living history demonstrations and tours. The house was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This Missouri River town tour starts at the Louis Kohmueller home and includes several museums and landmarks that are central to the history of Washington. Be sure to check out the railroad museum just south of the walking tour and several other sites of interest in the region that are listed in Clio.
