 Picture courtesy of Jim Kuntz
Louisiana
Louisiana, early Mississippi River port, known for the Delicious apple developed here and grown throughout the world, was settled, 1817,when John Bryson pre-empted land near the confluence of the river and Noix Creek. A year later Samuel Caldwell and Joel Shaw from Kentucky founded the town on land bought from Bryson.
The pioneer Stark cabin was moved here from the nearby hills, restored, and opened as a museum, 1952, to honor Horticulturist James Hart Stark who built the cabin. The orchard he planted, 1816, with grafted scions brought from the family's Kentucky orchard, considered the first of grafted apple trees west of the Alleghenies, has become known under his descendants as one of the oldest and larges commercial nurseries in the world. Here are carried on many of Luther Burbank's experiments. The Stark Nursery obtained first patent granted a fruit, 1934. Settlers were in the general vicinity of Louisiana as early as 1810, and some 2 miles southeast a D.A.R. monument marks the site of Buffalo Fort where 25 families took refuge during the War of 1812.
Prominent supply stop for pioneers to the Salt River Country, the city flourished as a river port until the coming of the railroads. Louisiana early became a trade and industrial center.
Laid out the year Pike Co. was organized, the town served as county seat until 1824. Centrally located Bowling Green succeeded as county seat. The slang term "Pike" or "Piker" derives from this county and came into use to identify natives of the region who joined the '49 Gold Rush. The county is named for Explorer Zebulon M. Pike.
Here lived Lloyd C. Stark, Governor of Missouri, 1937-1941. John B. Henderson (1826-1913), U.S. Senator, promoter of the 13th and 15th Constitutional Amendments, had law offices here. Champ Clark (1850-1921), Speaker of U. S. House of Representatives, had law offices and taught here before making his home in nearby Bowling Green. Scientist R.R. Rowley (1854-1935) taught here.
The third Missouri railroad bridge across the Mississippi opened here, 1873. Champ Clark Highway Bridge was dedicated, 1928.
Erected by State Historical Society of Missouri and State Highway Commission, 1956.
MO-NN & Busi. US-54, Louisiana, Pike County Missouri
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Missouri 
