Military & Leadership Along The Way of American Genius
Highway 36 is dubbed the VFW Memorial Highway, named in honor of the brave men and women who have fought for our country. It is…
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…
Honoring the Genius of our Highway 36 Military Heroes
For those who have an interest in military history, The Way of American Genius has many stories to share and personalities to discover. The Way…