Kansas City, MO – Happy 200th birthday Missouri! Today marks the day - August 10, 1821 - that Missouri became the nation's 24th state. The second state to be carved out of the Louisiana Purchase.
On Kansas City's Morning News, Marc LaVoie took a look back with Bob Priddy, a past president of the State Historical Society of Missouri, and host of the radio series Across the Wide Missouri.
Missouri residents already have the new car license plates with a Bicentennial design. There have been a few celebrations around the state leading up to the day, with the main Statehood Day events being held in Jefferson City - including the formal recognition of the Missouri Bicentennial, reveal of the Missouri Bicentennial stamp, exhibits in the Capitol, a U.S. Naturalization Ceremony, and an ice cream social at Central Dairy.