Jesse James Home Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Jesse James House
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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 Location in Missouri
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| Location | 12th St. and Mitchell Ave., St. Joseph, MO |
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| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1880 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 80002319 |
| Added to NRHP | September 4, 1980 |
The Jesse James Home Museum is a famous house in St. Joseph, Missouri. It's known as the place where the famous outlaw Jesse James was killed on April 3, 1882. He was shot by Robert Ford. This house is a one-story building built in the Greek Revival style. It's an important historical site that helps people learn about a well-known part of American history.
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Discovering the Jesse James Home
The Jesse James Home is a special museum. It shows visitors what life was like in the late 1800s. The house itself is a simple, one-story building. It measures about 24 feet wide and 30 feet deep. This style of building is called Greek Revival. It was a popular way to build homes back then.
A Historic House's Journey
When Jesse James lived there, the house was at 1318 Lafayette Street in St. Joseph. Over the years, it moved a few times. In 1939, it was moved to a busier road called Belt Highway. Then, in 1977, it moved again. This time, it went to a spot right behind the Patee House. This new location is very close to where it first stood. Moving it helped the house feel more connected to its original history.
The Patee House also played a part in the story. The investigation into Jesse James's death happened there. His wife, children, and mother stayed at the Patee House for two nights after he was killed.
The Bullet Hole Mystery
Inside the Jesse James Home, you can see a large hole on the north wall. This is where the bullet that killed Jesse James hit. Originally, the hole was much smaller. But over many years, people who visited the house wanted a piece of history. They carved off small bits of wood from the hole. This made the hole much bigger than it was at first.
Uncovering Jesse James's Past
The museum has many items that belonged to Jesse James and his family. These items help tell their story. In 1995, a top scientist named Professor James E. Starrs worked on a special project. He led a team to dig up Jesse James's grave. This was done to confirm if the body was truly Jesse James. Some people had doubted it for a long time.
In 1996, the results were announced. DNA tests were done on the remains. They were compared to DNA from Jesse James's known relatives. The tests showed a 99.7% chance that the body was indeed Jesse James. The museum now has new exhibits about this discovery. You can see things like coffin handles and bits of wood from the grave. There's also a pin Jesse James wore in his death photo. Many photos from the exhumation are also on display.
A Protected Piece of History
The Jesse James Home is a very important historical place. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 4, 1980. This means it is recognized as a significant part of American history. It is also part of the Patee Town Historic District. This helps protect the house and its surroundings for future generations.
