The local CVB’s are an integral partner for us, as they are the main sponsor for our visits. There are no bigger cheerleaders for a community, and their hometown pride shines through during our correspondences. For Jefferson City, we had the pleasure of working with Brittney Mormann, who met us when we arrived in town. After a short visit, we were ready to launch into a schedule filled with places that intrigued us, and some that Brittney had suggested. 

We want to thank Visit Jefferson City and the local businesses for their hospitality. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

More Than a Dome

Our first stop was a chance to see the dome. We have been on a kick of late, and realized that we have visited a slew of state capitals in the past couple of years. I guess this is something we have just grown into, since we never really did many tours in the past. Now that we know just how amazing they are, you can bet we will look forward to more of them, as we continue our travels. We may even find a pair of capitals again, like we did in Springfield, Illinois. The capitol in Jefferson City was under renovation, on the outside, but still available for tours. We chose to forego the tour and just explored on our own.

Inside the building we found the home of the Missouri State Museum. Here we walked through the history of the state, from past to present. In Jefferson City, you will find some interesting details about how the city was chosen to be the state capital. The museum also holds many artifacts about the state’s citizens involvement in defending our country. Be sure to save time to walk the halls in the capitol. The artwork that we found there was so beautiful and adds to the story-line of the state.

Rolling on the River

To see the history from past to present, in Jefferson City, meant that a visit to Jefferson’s Landing was a requirement. Located near the riverfront, this historic building has seen life as many types of business. We enjoyed meandering through the displays, where we learned about life in Jeff City during the early days. This place is certainly kid-friendly, and includes a scattering of interactive exhibits that we explored. The curator on duty is happy to explain to visitors the history of the site, as well as giving additional insight into life back in the 1800s.

Luscious Lunch

Now that our morning coffee was wearing off, our appetites were calling out to us. Time to head downtown and scope out a lunch location. We enjoyed finding that the downtown business district was located in sight of the capital. This makes exploring the past and present, in Jefferson City,  a foot-friendly destination. For our Noontime meal, we had determined to sample The Grand Cafe. Sandwiched in the middle of the shopping district, it makes a great refueling station. The food is a nice selection of American dishes, with interesting twists. The freshness of their ingredients was apparent in the tastes and we loved having a ringside view of shoppers strolling the sidewalk outside.

A Little Retail Therapy

While we dined, we reviewed our day, and were glad that we had saved some free time for exploring. The shop-lined street piqued our interest, and we decided to spend some time looking for treasures. After all, we had a little more than an hour, before our next stop. Walking up and down High Street, we found a nice assortment of choices. Besides finding toys, apparel, and home furnishings, we also spotted an assortment of coffee shops and eateries. Everything you need for a day filled with retail therapy.

Holiday Preparations

Our visit to Jefferson City fell in the back half of November, so many shops were preparing for the upcoming holiday season. We spotted plenty of Christmas cheer being hung inside and out of the stores in the area. Crystal really fancied this shop and even requested that we stop for a quick selfie with the decorations.

A Little Retail Therapy

We continued our treasure search and made a few small purchases during our visit. It is our belief that spreading some tourism dollars, in destinations we visit, is a positive way to impact the local economy. This is especially true when frequenting locally owned shops. Besides, it is always fun seeing the unique finds that can be spotted in these boutique-style shops.

Scary Stories

One of the stops that had not been on our original itinerary was the Missouri State Penitentiary tour. During our planning period, Brittney suggested this attraction. She arranged for us to take one of their two-hour history tours. Little did we know, this visit would be an excellent accent to our history research from past to present, in Jefferson City. While we have heard of sensationalized places, like Alcatraz, we never realized a more notable prison was found in our region. As we walked the cell blocks of these ages old structures, we could only imagine how fearful it would have been to be held there. There is a good reason it was referred to as “the Bloodiest 47 acres in America”.

Bring on the BBQ

With the completion of our tour, we had finished exploring attractions in Jefferson City. It was time for a good dinner, before hitting the road for home. Back to High Street, for another downtown restaurant option. Being from the Midwest, you know we have a love for barbecue. During our walking tour of the shops, we saw a good stream of diners filing into Sweet Smoke BBQ. All of that activity piqued our interest in sampling some of the smoked meats that we could see through the windows. Oh man! This was a really good choice and we were happy to find a sampler platter on their menu.

Local Landmark

I’m sure if we told you that we visited an ice cream shop, you wouldn’t be surprised. On this trip, we were trying to paint a picture of history from past to present, in Jefferson City. So when I tell you that we visited Central Dairy, it was really a research visit. Okay, it may have included some ice cream, but we had to verify the historical facts. This Central Missouri dairy has been in business since 1920, and introduced their ice cream counter in 1934. We needed to find out the secret of their longevity.

Sweet Endings

Since we were preparing to drive for almost three hours, we decided a sweet treat would be the perfect way to end our visit. Stepping through the front door, we found that the place was packed with locals. By the way, if you want to attract attention to yourself, just start taking photos inside of a place like this. As we waited our turn in line, we watched treat after treat being scooped up for anxious guests. Deciding on just one menu item each was putting a lot of pressure on us. Best to leave it to the professionals.

When our turn came, we introduced ourselves to our server. We explained the purpose of our visit, and told them about our decision making predicament. After thinking for a minute, she came up with a couple of great suggestions. She went to work creating our treats, while I captured a few more images of the space. She handed us our creamy dishes, and we found a spot to enjoy them. As we ate our ice cream treats, we watched the steady line of customers file along the ice cream counter. It proved to us that this is the kind of place to spend on evening on the town.

Past to Present in Jefferson City

Even though we only spent one day in Jefferson City, we feel like we gained a good feel for the history of this destination. It confirmed to us, once again, that there are lots of great day trip destinations in the Midwest. Being centrally located between Kansas City and St. Louis, it’s a perfect place to spend a day. We hope our articles inspire you to seek out even more hidden gems in Missouri’s capital city. Now we just have to know, would you be willing to take the penitentiary tour?

The post Past To Present In Jefferson City appeared first on Our Changing Life.

We want to thank Visit Jefferson City and Missouri State Penitentiary for their hospitality. Rest assured all opinions are our own. 

Historic Start

Missouri was admitted to the Union in 1821, and the next year saw the capital become Jefferson City. To help ensure that the city retained this designation, the governor decided it needed to be home to the state prison. You can learn more about the city’s interesting history with a visit to the Missouri State Museum. In the early 1830s, the Missouri State Prison came into existence. To give you an idea of the time-frame of its opening, it was the same month as the fall of the Alamo in Texas. It would serve in this capacity for over 160 years until its closure in 2004. That made it the oldest operating penal institution west of the Mississippi River.

Seeking Guidance

Our tour was scheduled for 2:00, which gave us a little downtown exploring time after lunch. When the time approached for our tour, we made our way the short distance to the prison. It surprised us just how close it is to the capital building. We would learn that this location was outside of the city limits, in the 1830s. It makes sense that over time, the city would grow to encompass the facility. We parked our car and made our way to the entrance. Inside the entrance, we found ourselves in a holding area, along with the others who would be on this tour. Soon, Naydene would arrive to corral us, so that our history lesson could begin. While she was not our guide, she was instrumental in keeping us on track.

Into the Yard

As the time to start approached, Michael, our guide called us all together. Michael explained that we were about to embark on a history lesson of one of the most notorious sites in America. After giving us a short history of the early days of the city, we had a better understanding of the prison’s location. In the earliest days, business owners were in charge of the prisoners, who would work for them during the day. Near the penitentiary, we had noticed some large, beautiful homes. Now we learned that they were built for the business owners to stay close to their workers.

Just a couple of decades after the Civil War, there were six shoe companies in Jefferson City. All of these were utilizing labor from the nearby prison. As our guide pointed out that many of these businesses benefitted from this cheap labor source, he also explained the downsides. Since the business owners were responsible for the inmates, it was not unusual for escapes and even deaths to be hidden from the record. After all, they wouldn’t want bad marks on their record, since it might impede their ability to get additional laborers.

Expansion Needed

For the next phase of the tour, we moved out into the yard. As we stood in the warm afternoon sunshine on this chilly fall day, we could imagine it filled with an assortment of criminals. Michael pointed out that in the early 1900s, there would have been flower beds and fountains located in this area. It is hard to picture that such a pleasant setting would house a nefarious crowd of miscreants.

The prison wasn’t nearly as large in the beginning. Over time, the population swelled, which required more housing. Additional buildings were constructed by using prisoner labor. Michael pointed out that what would take a couple of years to have built by outside contractors, could be completed in a few months with prisoner labor. No matter who built them, the buildings were amazing architectural specimens. It surprised us at how well they look, after serving so many for so long.

Walking the Block

Now came the time for us to enter one of the cell blocks. As we passed through the entrance, the cold chill of the November day enveloped us. Staring through the maze of metal, the overwhelming feeling of captivity closed in. Michael explained how the series of doors worked to keep the prisoners segregated from the guards. It was hard to imagine the idea of spending eight hours isolated inside a small cage, where you controlled the coming and going of everyone.

We made our way farther into the cell block, where we could investigate the cramped spaces that would house some of the most dangerous people in the state of Missouri. In fact, in 1932, there were upwards of 5,200 inmates housed in the Missouri State Penitentiary. At that time, it was the largest prison population in America. Walking the block, we could barely imagine what it would have been like to share a cell with four more prisoners.

Keys to Freedom

In each building we entered, Michael would remind us not to attempt to move any of the cell doors. He quickly pointed out that they only had four keys for the whole complex, and would hate to see someone have to spend the night. With the chill that was found inside the empty spaces, we certainly would not have wanted that either. Naydene handed Crystal the keys to show her that there were only four. It was clear that they were created to work in a substantial lock.

Familiar Residents

While walking the block, we learned that there had been some familiar names associated with the Missouri State Penitentiary. Charles “Sonny” Liston would find himself a resident of the prison. After being found guilty of robbery in 1950. It was in the yard that he learned to box. This led to his early release in 1952, and soon he was on his way to becoming a world heavyweight champion. While this positive story had a somewhat happy ending, others were not so pleasant. In 1959, James Earl Ray was found guilty of robbing a grocery store. His twenty-year sentence was interrupted when he escaped in 1967. Within a year, he would kill Martin Luther King Jr.

There was also a short stay by “Pretty Boy” Floyd. In later years, one of Floyd’s accomplices would be executed at Missouri State Penitentiary. Adam Richetti would be found guilty of participating in the “Kansas City Massacre”. Attempting to rescue gangster Frank Nash from custody, the botched mission caused the deaths of four peace officers, as well as their prisoner.

Execution Central

The common form of execution at the prison was public hanging. This would change in 1937 when the governor signed a bill making execution by lethal gas the new method. In 1935, Richetti had been sentenced to hang. An appeal delayed his execution until 1938, which made him the fifth person to die in the gas chamber in Jefferson City.

Eerie Surroundings

From 1937 until 1965 there were 39 inmates executed in this fashion. A halt to executions occurred after 1965. This coincided with the Supreme Court’s rulings on the legality of this practice. Many states began abolishing the death penalty, but Missouri was not one of them. The prison would see one more execution in 1989. During the hiatus, the chamber had been converted from gas to lethal injection. The prison would continue to serve the community until 2004.

Easy Escape

Our time at the Missouri State Penitentiary was now over. After walking the block, we did not wish to ever spend real time in a place like that. We could only imagine how life behind the walls must have been for the prisoners. There must have been a good reason for Time Magazine to label it “the bloodiest 47 acres in America”. These days, the only sounds found inside the hallways are those of the visitors who take one of the tours.

The post Walking The Block At The Missouri State Penitentiary appeared first on Our Changing Life.

We want to thank Visit Jefferson City and The Grand Cafe for their hospitality. Rest assured that all opinions are our own.

Downtown Dining

You know that we love exploring the downtown areas of new destinations. While the suburbs hold plenty of chain-type businesses, we find the heart of the locally-owned shops is concentrated in these sections. After a morning filled with history lessons at the Missouri State Museum, we were in the mood for lunch. There are a few options to choose from in the downtown, but we set our sights on The Grand Cafe.

Arriving before noon on a Saturday, we were immediately seated. They had just opened for the day, but there were already other diners inside. While they did notice me moving around with a camera, they seemed more familiar with the situation than I have seen in other destinations. Perhaps Jefferson City is a familiar tourist stop, and we are just late to the party. Crystal had chosen one of the sturdy wooden tables that offered a spot in the late morning sunlight. After snapping a few photos, I joined her to review the menu.

Lunch is as Easy as ABC

Having been in business since 2012, The Grand Cafe has had a chance to work out all of the kinks. Their menu is portioned into three categories; lunch, small bites, and dinner. As we scanned, our eyes took in a nice assortment of meal options. While dishes like Poke Tacos and Grilled Salmon Toastie sounded intriguing, we were both in a ‘fowl’ mood. I was even willing to skip over the Cubano Panini to hazard a try at something new.

My gaze settled on the ABC Chicken Sandwich, which had an intriguing combination of flavors. A marinated chicken breast offers a juicy base for this handheld delight. They kick it up a notch with the addition of smoky bacon, sharp Cheddar cheese, and slices of tart Granny Smith apple. A smear of honey Dijon mustard on the Brioche bun provides a tangy touch. All of these flavors blend so well together that I savored every bite.

Not Your Average Turkey

Crystal didn’t stray very far down the menu, as she stopped on the first entry. The Southwest Turkey Panini was actually going to be my choice, but since she went there I was able to add some variety to our table. A generous pile of smoked turkey breast is held in place with melted pepper-jack cheese. Tomato and avocado slices add more height to the sandwich, and a corn salsa brings an additional texture. Throw some chipotle mayonnaise on the French bread, and then toast it all to a golden crispness.

Like my meal, hers was served with a side of their House-made Chips. These crispy slices had a beautiful sheen that reflected their freshness. Every crunchy bite was a little taste of potato chip heaven. It was apparent that The Grand Cafe had certainly honed their menu to near perfection.

A Peek Behind the Curtain

With our first Jefferson City restaurant under our belts, we were impressed at what Missouri’s Capital City has to offer. Our next stop was scheduled for mid-afternoon, which meant that we had earned some downtown shopping time. Having a good meal really put us in the explorer mode, as we set off to see the sights. The decades-old facades of the buildings invited us to take a closer look. As we moved from shop to shop, we found the staff at each welcoming us in with that all too familiar Midwest hospitality. For us, this is reason enough to explore the Central U.S. What more could you ask for?

The post The Grand Cafe – A Peek Behind The Curtain appeared first on Our Changing Life.

As we approached the capital, we noticed that it was being kept under wraps. Actually, they have a protective cover on the building, while they complete renovations. Since the day was actually one of the first chilly mornings in Fall, it seemed appropriate that the capital had on a coat. Fortunately, the inside is still able to be viewed, in all of its splendor. It has only been the last few years that we have gained an appreciation for the differences inside each state capital building.

We want to thank Visit Jefferson City for their hospitality. Rest assured all opinions are our own. 

Some Big Shoes to Fill

As we stood under the dome, one of the tour guides started up a conversation. While we told Stephana that we would forego a guided tour, she was still instrumental in providing some background on the building. It was clear that she really knows her stuff, so if you have time we would suggest taking the tour. The Missouri State Museum is split between two halls, on either side of the dome. For this visit, we were concentrating on the History Hall, which was designed in 1919. We were informed that the exhibits in this gallery rotate about every six months.

The first display we found was about Ella Ewing, who has the distinction of growing to be almost 3 feet taller than Crystal. While many would gawk at her unusual height, she would find a way to capitalize off of her deformity. Eventually, she joined the Barnum & Bailey Circus, where she would earn more in six months than most Americans would in any given year. This allowed her to purchase a farm for her parents and a custom-built homestead for herself. Sizing up some history was uncovering some interesting facts.

Back to the Beginning

Indigenous people have inhabited the Midwest for thousands of years. Evidence of these early inhabitants has been found at dig sites around the state. Colossal mounds were constructed by the Mississippian culture and created cities inhabited by thousands of residents. The majority of these people had left the area long before the first European explorers arrived. In the early days, St. Louis had been referred to as “Mound City” due to these leftover formations. This little tidbit came to us during a visit to the Missouri History Museum in St. Louis.

By the time that the first European explorers arrived, there were three main native Indian tribes inhabiting the area. On the east side of the region were the Illini tribe. The Osage occupied the southwest, and the Missouri tribes were concentrated in the northwest. All three tribes were known to harvest crops like corn and squash, as well as hunting the game that was so abundant.

Settling In

By the late 1600s, the French were attempting to colonize the middle of the continent. Their purpose was to inhibit British influence from spreading west. The Mississippi and Missouri Rivers were beneficial in providing pathways through the region. Control of the lands, that would become Missouri, ended up in Spanish control, by the end of the Revolutionary War. Spain embraced the sudden influx of immigrants moving into the eastern edge of their area, as it offered a boost to the economy of their province.

One of the first established settlements would be New Madrid. Spain’s advertisements of free land and no taxes enticed another wave of settlers, including Daniel Boone. By 1800, Spain realized that its heavy investment in the region had not provided the expected returns, so it secretly relinquished control back to France. An embittered war with Britain created a need for Napoleon to sell France’s interest in their lands on the American continent. In March 1803, the Louisiana Purchase would bring Missouri territory into control of the United States.

Homesteading

By the time Missouri became a state in 1821, southerners had been pouring into the territory. The original western border was a straight line, running from Arkansas to Iowa, and as far west as the confluence of the Kansas and Missouri Rivers. What would become the northeast corner of the state was still Indian territory and inhabited by the Iowa, Fox, and Sac tribes. By 1836, these native Indians would be pushed out of the region, to make room for more settlers.

The Missouri River Valley was prime land for agriculture, and farms sprung up all along both sides. Having entered the Union as a slave state, many parcels of land were purchased by slave owners from Kentucky and Tennessee. With the river as a transportation resource, the area was prime for commerce. On the eastern edge of the state, St. Louis served as a waterway hub for riverboat transportation. Across the state, Kansas City would become incorporated in 1848. The state was now primed for explosive growth.

History in the Hallways

While we found that sizing up some history is easy to do in the museum, exploring the rest of the capitol building offers other glimpses into the past. On the second floor, we discovered a series of hallways that are lined with beautifully painted murals. Each one captures the spirit of the people, landscape, and history of Missouri. While the eastern end of our country is known for its major Civil War battles, Missouri was considered a hotbed of a dispute during the War between the States.

While Missouri had entered the Union as a slave state, the use of slaves was primarily concentrated along with the river lands. By the mid-1850s, the country was moving quickly down a path of conflict. The territory to the west of Missouri was being populated by abolitionist groups, which conflicted with the pro-slavery forces in Missouri. As Kansas prepared to enter the Union as a free state, elections were held to choose the legislature. Missourians flooded across the border to cast ballots for slavery candidates. Over 6300 votes were cast, even though the population of the region was less than 2100 people. A fresh influx of antislavery immigrants refused to accept this fraudulently elected government and created their own.

The years leading up to the Civil War were filled with border skirmishes. Border Ruffians patrolled the lands with the intent of preventing new abolitionist immigrants from settling in Kansas territory. Citizens of the cities and towns along the western edge of Missouri lived in fear of raids. On the Kansas side, the same atmosphere was felt by its newly arriving residents. When Kansas was admitted to the Union in 1861, it was the final straw for many in the pro-slavery group.

Sizing Up Some History

While pro-slavery sentiment was strong in areas of Missouri, on a statewide scene it appears that the majority of voters were siding with the Union. A large portion of these was located in the St. Louis region. As the country split in two, Missouri would remain in the Union. The U.S. government issued a request for Missouri troops but found that the governor chose to go in a different direction. He rallied 50,000 troops to join the Confederate forces. While many of the fights in Missouri were made guerrilla-style, there was a notable campaign by former governor Sterling Price.

Price initially sided with the Union and believed that Missouri should not secede. This stance changed after pro-Union forces seized a state militia camp. To Price, this was a declaration of war against Missouri. In August 1861, Sterling Price led troops in an effort to free the Union-controlled capital. The culmination of this campaign was the battle of Wilson’s Creek, where Union forces were soundly defeated. He also found success at the First Battle of Lexington, but soon Union reinforcements arrived in Missouri.

Price was forced to lead his forces to Arkansas, where he would organize guerrilla-style raids into Missouri territory. During 1864, he led a Confederate cavalry expedition of 12,000 riders, through Arkansas, Kansas, and Missouri. As he cut a swath of destruction across Missouri, his force dwindled. In what would later be called the “Gettysburg of the West”, Price found his forces facing overwhelming numbers of Union troops at the Battle of Westport. His remaining cavalry fled south, which signaled the end of the last major Confederate campaign west of the Mississippi River.

Missouri Goes to War

The rift created by the Civil War ran deep in Missouri. While legislation helped soften the hurt, there was still a lot of animosities. All of this was pushed aside when the world was drawn into war. Patriotism in Missouri was second to none, as citizens rallied to volunteer. The high demands for supplies drove the prices for crops to all new highs, which benefited farmers across the state. When the draft was instituted, many of the youth in Missouri was allowed to remain to work the farms.

Social Break (The Reality of Blogging)

As we were sizing up some history, there came times that we had to pause for social updates. These are a reality for travel bloggers so that we can keep our audience engaged. My duties include capturing the images we will use for our articles and social posts. This leaves Crystal to catch up and keep up with showing glimpses of our day. She also has the important task of interacting with all of the comments we receive on our posts. I’m sure that more than a few of you are glad she is the one doing this since she is definitely better at it than I am.

A stop in the Trench Theater offered her a chance to do some catching up, while I watched some informational videos. We were really enjoying the variety of exhibits at the Missouri State Museum. It really helps keep the audience engaged with all of the information they have to offer.

Familiar Faces

As we continued through the galleries, we came across a special feature designed for younger visitors. The Raggedy Ann Trail introduces a variety of Missourians, who have made an impact on the world. When we spotted the photo of George Washington Carver, it reminded us of our visit to Joplin. Just south of the city, we found the George Washington Carver National Monument. While his name was familiar from school, we only thought of him as the “Peanut Man”. What we learned was that this Missouri raised citizen helped revolutionize agriculture ideas worldwide. How many of you have been to his site?

Another Capital Visit

After finishing our exploration of the Missouri State Museum, it was time to wander around the capitol building. We love checking out all of the amazing architecture and artwork we find in these spaces. When you visit Jefferson City, you will need to allow time for this activity, as well. An assortment of Thomas Hart Benton’s paintings, amazing statues, and a beautiful rotunda await your discovery. Bring a camera, and comfortable walking shoes, because you will want to explore all four floors of the capitol building.

Even though it was chilly on the day we visited, we still took some time checking out the grounds. Here we found more statues, including one commemorating Lewis and Clark’s stop along the banks of the nearby Missouri River. Standing at the northern side of the capitol building gave us an amazing view down Main Street. Keep in mind that the Amtrak runs just a block from the capital, so it would make a perfect day trip getaway excursion. Have you ever ridden on Amtrak? We’d love to hear your opinion on this form of travel.

The post Sizing Up Some History – Missouri State Museum appeared first on Our Changing Life.

We want to thank Visit Jefferson City and Sweet Smoke BBQ for their hospitality. Rest assured all opinions are our own.

Doing Downtown

Our attention had been focused on the downtown district of Jefferson City.  This is a regular practice in most every city we visit. After touring a few historic sites, like Jefferson Landing, we saved some time to explore the downtown shops. As we made our way up and down High Street, we passed our dinner spot a couple of times. I couldn’t help but wonder what tasty treats we had in store for the evening. There is something about barbecue that really captures my interest. While I captured images of the area for our articles, the idea of sampling the BBQ scene had captured my attention.

Simple Enough

As the nearby shops began closing for the day, it signaled the time for us to finally get a chance to check out Sweet Smoke BBQ. Stepping through the door, we found the interior pleasing, and the atmosphere simple. This was a good first sign. I have always believed that the more stuff they have to distract your attention, the more of a challenge it may be to find satisfaction in the meal. Here, the decorations are minimal, so diners can keep their focus on the food.

Dinner in downtown can be a mixed bag when it comes to a crowd. Since much of the customer base is usually workers, the evening mealtime can be less busy than lunch. That’s just fine with us since it gives us the freedom to move around for photos. It also means that the staff can focus their attention on fewer tables.

Flavorful Bites

The seating is open to choice, and orders are taken at the counter. On our way there, we discovered the menu plastered on a wall. They have a nice selection of choices and even some that are non-BBQ. (Why would anyone not want barbecue?) Something that jumped out at us was the menu items that allow customers to sample various BBQ styles from around the country. While we love our KC style ‘Cue, we can understand how people from other regions are so dedicated to their own versions.

Each has its own redeeming values, and flavor nuances. We like finding eateries that are willing to go out on a limb and offer this type of variety. Now that we stood there facing the choices, what would we pick? Perhaps some Carolina pulled pork or an Alabama brisket sandwich. The Texas-style tacos, made with three types of meat, looked like a good choice, as well.

Good Bark

As we scanned the menu, we found the perfect plate for sampling the BBQ scene at Sweet Smoke. Their Boss Hogg is a sampler style platter that includes ribs, turkey, brisket, pulled pork, and sausage. To accompany this meaty meal, they include two sides. We chose some of their pit beans and Cole slaw. For us, these are two sides that are staples, when sampling the BBQ scene at a new joint. After placing our order, we grabbed a table and waited for our plentiful platter. With a smaller crowd on hand, it didn’t take long for our meal to arrive.

We like that they serve the meats naked, so diners can choose their sauces. Of course, I like to sample the meats and let the flavor of the smoke stand on its own. We found that they deliver a good bark at Sweet Smoke BBQ. The meats were tender without falling apart, which is where some restaurants struggle. The availability of saucing up our entrees with various styles brought an extra appeal. I lathered up some pulled pork with the tangy Carolina sauce and it reminded me of our trip to the Smoky Mountains. A squirt of the Texas mop sauce added a spicy twist to the tender brisket. Being from Kansas City, I couldn’t pass up slathering some of the sweet and tangy sauce on my pork ribs. It seemed like each bite got better and better until soon they were gone.

Sampling the BBQ Scene

There are times I am in amazement at Crystal’s patience with me. Without hesitation, she prepares the plated meals for me to journal. I’m not sure that I would be able to resist the temptation of testing the tastes laid out before me. Of course, once the pictures are completed, you will find us up to our elbows in our dishes. Once we had time to explore the platter, we discovered some unexpected surprises. Besides delectable dishes of beans and slaw, they also tossed in some delicious nibbles. A sprinkling of pickled apples & onions had a unique taste that demanded us to revisit. The barbecue pickle was another oddity that just works well.

Little did we know, but they would bring out a side order of their Jalapeno Cheddar Grits for us to sample. It was definitely a flavor combination that had both of us going back for more. As we sat there sampling the BBQ scene in Jefferson City, that satisfied feeling washed over us. Once again, we were reassured that good barbecue can be found all over North America. Not only that, but you can find regional favorites in out of the way places. What is your favorite regional style of BBQ?

The post Sampling The BBQ Scene – Sweet Smoke BBQ appeared first on Our Changing Life.

We want to thank Visit Jefferson City for their hospitality. Rest assured all opinions are our own. 

Lohman’s Landing

What better place to start our storied history lesson than at the oldest structure in Jefferson City. The Lohman Building was originally constructed in 1839, by a man named James Crump, and has served a multitude of purposes. (The name comes from a later sale to Charles Lohman.) Over time, it has been a warehouse, where freight was unloaded from the railroad, before being moved upriver by paddle-boat. Visitors to the growing capital city were housed in the building when it served as a hotel. During this period, the lower floor was used as a grocery store, tavern, and telegraph office. Commonly referred to as ‘ The Landing’, it was a popular destination for legislators to gather for refreshments.

Securing the Capital

With so many citizens looking to move the capital, something had to be done to secure its present location. In 1832, the current governor suggested the city construct a state penitentiary in Jefferson City. This was completed in 1836, and it settled the issue of moving the capital. Tragedy struck the following year, as the Capitol building burned to the ground. It would take five years to rebuild. As we toured Lohman’s Landing, we tried to imagine life two decades before the Civil War. These simpler times certainly had their own set of trials and tribulations.

Changing Landscape

By 1840, Jefferson City had grown to over 1,000 residents. James Crump had constructed his building by the river just one year earlier. This impressive stone structure was the first that many saw when stepping off the boats in Jefferson City. Local industries were booming, as an influx of German immigrants flooded the nearby farmlands. These new citizens would push the development of distilleries, tanneries and flour mills. When a ship loaded with cholera infected Mormons arrived in 1849, it would have a paralyzing affect on local business that would last for a couple of years.

Railroad Arrives

It took until 1855 for the Pacific Railroad to connect Jefferson City to St. Louis. The inaugural trip would once again bring disaster to Jefferson City. The locals had gathered on a pier, to await the arrival of dignitaries. When the structure collapsed onto a bridge spanning the Gasconade River, 28 people were killed and as many more injured. Eventually, a regular railroad service would be established by 1856. The storied history of the capital city was proving to be filled with many epic moments.

A Country at War

Civil War struck deeply in the center of the country. Missouri was struggling to determine its stance on slavery, even though the legislature had voted to remain in the Union. When a request for Union troops was issued, the governor instead rallied 50,000 troops to join Confederate forces. Union troops took control of the capital city and resisted any attempts of Confederate control. The closest fighting involved exchanged cannon fire with troops being led by former Missouri Governor Sterling Price. The effects of the Civil War in Missouri would leave a feeling of resentment on both sides. (More Missouri Civil War history can be found here.)

In Jefferson City, the stone structure that Charles Crump had constructed was being used as a hotel. A business associate, who had leased the upper floors, received plenty of business from travelers along the river. This lodging option started as the Missouri Hotel but would see a name change to the Union Hotel, in reference to the owners Civil War sentiments.

Bringing Peace Back to Capital City

It took until 1875 for the legislature to revise the Missouri constitution. Once this was completed, it allowed the citizens to move past the economically stifling war. New industries would blossom, including shoe manufacturing and printing. The influx of settlers passing into the west would provide much-needed revenue for local businesses. The heyday of river travel was coming to an end, as more people began traveling by rail. The Lohman building closed up shop to retail customers and was turned into a warehouse.

Just as things seemed to be returning to a state of normalcy, the idea of moving the state capital once again rose its ugly head. In 1896, the city of Sedalia attempted to win this favor but was voted down by the citizens of Missouri. After the turn of the century, the business of state government became the dominating tone of Jefferson City. The storied history of Jefferson Landing would see the Lohman warehouse converted into the Tweedie Shoe Company.

Storied History

It would take until the 1960s before the state would acquire the property. Sitting nearby the capital, this historic structure had been an important piece of the storied history of the surrounding area. Our tour of this FREE attraction, allowed us a look back at life in a simpler time. We can imagine stepping off of a riverboat, and stopping in the store for supplies, before heading off to wherever our travels would lead us. On the day of our visit, we noticed a surprisingly large number of people at the site. We would learn that the local Amtrak stop is located across the street from Lohman’s Landing. This is certainly something to keep in mind for future visits. With shopping and dining, as well as the capitol building, so close by, it would make a perfect train day trip. Have you ever taken an Amtrak trip?

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