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St. Joseph, Missouri, locally referred to as just "St. Joe," sits on the Missouri River about 30 miles north of Kansas City and is probably best known as the starting point for the Pony Express and as the place where Jesse James was killed. This 1838 steel engraving is among the "Most remarkable places and objects of all countries" included in Meyer's Universum, published by the Bibliographic Institute founded by Joseph Meyers.

Jefferson City, Missouri sits on the Missouri River more or less in the middle of the State. The county seat of Cole County as well as the state capitol, it sits on the northern edge of the Ozark Plateau, which covers most of southern Missouri, as well as parts of northern Arkansas, northeast Oklahoma, and southeast Kansas. Lewis and Clark passed by this point in 1804, and my family came here from Kentucky in the early 1830s. Just beyond the horizon in this picture is the bluff where the Steely family Cemetery is located. The building in the foreground is now the Jefferson Landing State Historic Site. The capitol building burned in 1837, and was rebuilt a block west. The Missouri Governor's Mansion is now located at the site. This 1836 steel engraving is among the "Most remarkable places and objects of all countries" included in Meyer's Universum, published by the Bibliographic Institute founded by Joseph Meyers.

Until the flood of 1881 changed the course of the Missouri River, was the largest port on the Missouri River, with more steamboats docking here than either Kansas City or St. Joseph. Weston was originally known as "West Town," and was the farthest western settlement prior to Texas joining the Union in 1845. It was also, for a time, the home of William "Buffalo Bill" Cody. This 1845 steel engraving is among the "Most remarkable places and objects of all countries" included in Meyer's Universum, published by the Bibliographic Institute founded by Joseph Meyers.

Independence, Missouri is best known as the starting point for the California, Oregon, and Santa Fe Trails. My family arrived in Independence from Kentucky in the early 1830s. This 1838 steel engraving is among the "Most remarkable places and objects of all countries" included in Meyer's Universum, published by the Bibliographic Institute founded by Joseph Meyers.