Lexington

The Saluda blew up on Good Friday morning, April 9, 1852, with about 175 people aboard under Captain Francis Belt, and an estimated 75 were killed, some two dozen of them Latter-day Saint emigrants bound for Utah. Lexington buried 21 of the dead that evening and held a mass funeral the next day, nursed the wounded, raised money for those who had lost everything and adopted three orphans. A memorial park at 13th and Franklin was dedicated on the 150th anniversary.

What the plaque says

Lexington Lexington, on the bluffs above the broad Missouri, grew up around Jack's Ferry, 1819, to become by 1860 one of the great river ports of the State. Prosperous river trade and agricultural richness of the area made the town a commercial center, an outfitting point for emigrants West, and an educational and financial metropolis. Lexington became the seat of Lafayette (then Lillard) Co., 1823. Here were established a U.S. Land Office, 1823; a fifth Branch Bank of the State of Missouri, 1845; and offices of the great freighting firm, Russell, Majors and Waddell, in 1850's. The proud roll of early schools lists the first college founded by Masons in the world, Masonic College, opened 1848; Baptist Female College, chartered 1855; Elizabeth Aull (Presbyterian) Seminary, 1859; and Central (Methodist) College for Women, 1869. Today's noted Wentworth Military Academy was founded, 1880. Many lovely ante-bellum homes reflect Classic-Revival design of the courthouse, built 1847-49. The cannon ball embedded in courthouse column is relic of Confederate victory in the 1861 Battle of Lexington. (See other side) Erected by State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission, 1953 Lexington (Continued from other side) In 1861, Lexington was early regarded as a strategic military prize and was occupied by Union troops to prevent the State Guard forces north and south of Missouri River from uniting. Gen. Sterling Price moved on Lexington to break this Federal control and a bitter three-day battle ensued, Sept. 18-20, 1861, culminating in an attack called the Battle of the Hemp Bales. The Federals under Col. J. A. Mulligan were defeated. Among points of interest are Lexington Battlefield; Anderson House, 1853, site of violent encounters while used as a battle hospital, now a public, historic house museum; replica of Masonic College Hall; Machpelah Cemetery and grave of first settler Gilead Rupe; "Madonna of the Trail" monument by F. C. Hibbard, one of 12 in U.S., erected by D. A. R. to mark National Old Trails Roads; Episcopal Church, a Gothic-Revival chapel, built 1848; and Public Library and Historical Association, housed in former Cumberland Presbyterian Church, built about 1840. Near Lexington Bridge, completed 1925, the side-wheeler Saluda exploded in 1852. Most of the passengers, Mormons, perished.

Where it stands

Worth the stop nearby

• Battle of Lexington State Historic Site — 0.4 mi
  The Anderson House and the Missouri River bluff at Lexington, where the Missouri State Guard rolled river-soaked hemp bales toward the Union lines in September 1861.
• Fort Osage National Historic Landmark — 17 mi
  A reconstructed 1808 fort and government trading house on a Missouri River bluff at Sibley, where Osage leaders signed the treaty that gave up most of present Missouri.
• Watkins Woolen Mill State Historic Site — 25 mi
  A three-story 1860 woolen mill in the Clay County hills that still holds nearly all its original machinery, at the center of the 3,660-acre Watkins farm called Bethany.

More markers nearby

• Richmond — 8.2 mi
• Fort Osage — 17 mi