Genius Spotlight: The Pony Express
The Birthplace of the Pony Express In 1860, the United States was a country on the move – to the west – but it stood…
A Visitor’s View: Kirksville’s Osteopathic Museum
Have you ever wanted to travel in a time machine? When I visit the Museum of Osteopathic Medicine it feels like I am stepping back…
Father of the Tenor Saxophone: Coleman Randolph Hawkins
Highway 36 Innovator Coleman Hawkins or “Hawk” is the Father of the Tenor Saxophone. Born in St. Joseph, on Nov. 21, 1904, his mother taught…
First Female State Governor: Nellie Tayloe Ross
Highway 36 Innovator Nellie Tayloe Ross, the first woman to take the oath of office and serve as governor of a state, was born in…
Highway 36 Innovation: Rock Port, Missouri
The city of Rock Port holds the distinction of being the first community in the United States to be totally powered by wind energy. As…
Genius Spotlight: J.C. Penney
J.C. Penney trained a young Sam Walton (yes, that Sam Walton of Walmart fame) on the ins and outs of the world of retail. That’s…
Picnic Perfect Spots
The Way of American Genius is as scenic as it is significant. On your travels pop into one of our amazing eateries or grocery stores…
Breaking new ground in agriculture: U.S. Congressman Jerry Litton
Innovators in every industry have had a lasting impact on our lives, but perhaps none as important as the progress that is made in modern…
Cycling Across North Missouri
Walt Disney. Mark Twain. Newscaster Walter Cronkite. Retailer JC Penney. WWI General John “Blackjack” Pershing. Outlaw Jesse James. The Pony Express. These people all have…
Dr. Howard A. Rusk, Father of Rehabilitative Medicine
You could argue that Dr. Howard A. Rusk, a Brookfield native and perhaps one of the more overlooked innovators along Missouri Highway 36, actually was…