No trip to St. Joseph would be complete without a visit to the Pony Express Museum, which commemorates the legendary mail service that connected the eastern United States to California in the mid-1800s. Housed in the original stables where the first Pony Express riders set off, the museum is filled with fascinating artifacts, including saddles, letters, and personal items from the riders. Life-sized dioramas and interactive exhibits bring the experience to life, allowing visitors to step into the boots of the brave young men who risked life and limb to deliver mail across 2,000 miles of treacherous terrain.

For those interested in the unique and unusual, the Glore Psychiatric Museum offers a look into the history of mental health treatment. Originally part of the state’s psychiatric hospital, this museum presents a chilling but eye-opening collection of artifacts and exhibits on past psychiatric practices. From early treatment devices to artwork created by former patients, the museum sheds light on the evolution of mental health care and the human stories behind it. It’s a thought-provoking experience that leaves visitors reflecting on how far medical science has come and the lives of those who lived within its walls.

A separate wing on the second floor showcases a variety of smaller displays. Here you will find a doll museum, black archives, and the St. Joseph Historical displays. While not nearly as robust, they do hold lots of informative exhibits. There is an extensive section on the Civil War, with more displays being added.

St. Joseph’s culinary scene has a surprise in store with Boudreaux’s Louisiana Seafood & Steakhouse, a beloved local spot that brings a taste of the South to Missouri. This charming restaurant is known for its authentic Cajun and Creole dishes, such as jambalaya, gumbo, and fried alligator, as well as perfectly cooked steaks and fresh seafood. The atmosphere is lively and inviting, making diners feel like they’ve stepped into a Louisiana bayou bistro. Each meal is prepared with attention to detail, providing a delicious and memorable experience that brings southern flavors to the heart of St. Joseph.

The Patee House Museum is a time capsule of Missouri’s past, located in a historic building that once served as a hotel and headquarters for the Pony Express. Walking through the museum’s halls, visitors find themselves surrounded by artifacts from St. Joseph’s Wild West days, including vintage vehicles, frontier-era clothing, and even a full-sized vintage carousel. The Patee House is steeped in history, once serving as a temporary headquarters during the Civil War and as the site of Jesse James’ last moments. It stands today as a tribute to the city’s storied past, offering visitors an immersive look at the lives, legends, and lore that shaped St. Joseph. Are you ready to take a new look at St. Joseph?

The post Exploring the Past: A Journey Through History in St. Joseph, Missouri appeared first on Our Changing Life.

The Patee House Museum occupies the bottom two floors of the hotel. On the first floor, you will find an area designed like the streets of St. Joe in the mid-1800s. There are a variety of storefronts where you can wander through the exhibits. These showcase some of the items that would have been sold and used in that era.

Visitors will have an opportunity to see what life was like in the mid-1800s through the early 1900s. Displays include commodities and services that residents would have purchased, as well as the fashions of those days.

The Patee House Museum has a wide variety of vehicles from many eras, including a train. A few automobiles sit together in one section, and in another area, you will also see a selection of antique hearses.

A working saloon gives guests a chance to savor cold sarsaparilla while hearing the history of the building from the barkeep. Heading out of this room will deposit you into the large dining area, which could accommodate 400 diners.

The second floor of the Patee House Museum continues the local history, and also includes an overhead view of the train and depot station located on the first floor. Additional Civil War memorabilia will be found here, as well.

In the rear of the museum is a full-size working carousel. An unusual array of creatures are assembled here, including a dinosaur, and hummingbird. For an additional fee, guests can take a ride on the attraction.

Behind the museum, visitors will find the house where Jesse James was shot by Bob Ford. There is an additional charge to visit this site, but it includes artifacts from the grave of Jesse James. Guests can also see the bullet hole from the assassination, just below the sampler that James was supposedly straightening. The Patee House Museum is chocked full of displays and information covering a wide range of topics. This step back in time will help you understand what life was like in the olden days.

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Upon entering, you see that the décor is a mixture of antebellum architecture meets spring break party. All of this tempered with a French flair.

Boudreaux’s Louisiana Seafood attracts a wide variety of clientele. During our lunch visit we saw business people, construction workers, tourists (obviously we fall in that category), and lots of locals. Even though it was fairly busy, service was not lacking. After a short discussion with our server about their specialties, we placed our orders.

We began our meal with side salads, which are made with a mixture of fresh greens. A few assorted vegetables, like mushrooms, cucumbers, and cherry tomatoes will be found as you work your way down. The entire thing is topped with shredded Colby and blue cheese crumbles.

Crystal chose the Chicken Creole, which is accompanied with steamed rice. The tomato based sauce has a slight kick. The addition of onions and peppers compliment the dish.

Since she had chosen a land based entrée, I decided to sample the seafood. My order of Seafood Sauté included shrimp, crawfish, and catfish filets. All of these are sautéed in a white wine and butter reduction, and served with steamed rice. The sauce was light and allowed the seafood flavors to peek through.

The entrees were large enough to be quite filling, so we only finished them partially. We had seen the dessert specials listed on their easel, and had our hearts, and stomachs, set on trying them. First up was the Bourbon Pecan Pie, which has the texture of a dense cake versus the normal pecan pie filling. Drizzled with caramel sauce it was absolutely delicious.

We were sure nothing could compete with that treat, until we tasted the Caramel Apple Pie. Loaded with slices of apple, and drizzled with the same caramel sauce, this dessert is hard to resist. In no time both slices were devoured, and we were completely satisfied with our visit. Boudreaux’s Louisiana Seafood and Steakhouse is certainly a must try for any Cajun food lovers who are in the St. Joe area.

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