Since Missouri History is a required course in all of Missouri's fourth grade classrooms, I thought it would be fitting to take a tour of the Missouri State Capitol in Jefferson City. Did you know that before Missouri became a state, government was conducted in several locations in St. Louis? When the first state legislature had to choose a location for the Capitol building, they determined that it should be in the center of the state, and they selected a wilderness location near the confluence of the Missouri and Osage Rivers. Confluence means where the two rivers join. Other cities wanted the Capitol to be located within their boundaries, and there were numerous attempts to have it relocated. The City of Jefferson won out in a vote of the people, though, and the Captiol today overlooks the Missouri River from a beautiful blufftop location.

While the massive building was being constructed, St. Charles (just outside St. Louis) served as the state capital. In fact, you can even tour the First Capitol in St. Charles today.