History

America loves heroes, but the truth is that no one is completely heroic or a villain. Everyone is a combination of good, bad and otherwise. I would imagine that's true of Walt Disney, too, who had humble beginnings in the Kansas City, Missouri area before he became a worldwide phenomenon in the motion picture and entertainment industry.

Of all the history in Missouri, I cannot think of any one figure that is more of an enigma than Jesse James. Depending on who you're talking to, he's either a villain, outlaw or hero. The truth is somewhere in between. There is a new walkthrough of his life showing his farm, the home he was assassinated in and his very controversial grave sites.

It was almost like Woodstock was airlifted from New York State and dropped into the middle of Missouri. It's been 50 years now since a music festival in Missouri surprised even the wildest expectations of the promoters and shocked the world, too.

I've heard Bigfoot described a lot of ways, but I had no idea that he was possibly a felon. There's proof that a "wild hairy man" really was captured and arrested in Missouri way back in 1891.

I used to love going to the drive-in movies when I was a kid. It was such a fun experience and wish there were more available for us nowadays to experience. But did you know Quincy had a drive-in movie theatre?

This is one of my favorite parts of Missouri and it might even be at the top of the list. I'm talking about Ha Ha Tonka State Park and now thanks to explorers, you can see what it's like inside the famous castle and water tower ruins in this fascinating place.

It was the span across the Mississippi River that I and many others grew up with. The Mark Twain Memorial Bridge is no more, but there are many pictures that remain documenting this vital part of Hannibal, Missouri history.

Illinois has been the original home state of many famous Hollywood movie stars and superstar sports celebrities. I would argue that the greatest of them all is the one named after Illinois' arch rival state - Indiana Jones. You can see inside his childhood home that really was in Illinois and it hasn't changed much over the years.

There are few historical figures with a more complicated life than Jesse James. History considers him an outlaw while many in Missouri still consider him a hero to this day. You can take a virtual walk through his real Kearney, Missouri farm to learn more about this controversial man.

Why is everyone so afraid of clowns? If you live in Illinois, there's actually a very good reason or reasons. One is all too real while the other is the state's most notorious urban legend who's perpetrator was never caught.