The Jesse James Hideout on Route 66 | History Traveler Episode 365

Part 4 in the Route 66 Series
As you travel down Route 66, one thing that you can't help but to notice are the barn roofs painted with advertising for Meramec Caverns. This cave has a whole lot of history and has traditionally been a major tourist stop along Route 66. We're taking a break from the heat to explore the history of Meramec Caverns, which has ties to the outlaw Jesse James, before moving down the road to spend the night in a historic motel along the route.
For more on Meramec Caverns, visit: www.americasca...
This episode was produced in partnership with The Gettysburg Museum of History. See how you can support history education & artifact preservation by visiting their website & store at www.gettysburg...
Support the effort to expand history education on PATREON: / historyunderground
Other episodes that you might enjoy:
- Digging Up Lincoln's Body on Route 66!!! | History Traveler Episode 363: • Digging Up Lincoln's B...
- Route 66: From the Wild Origins of Chicago!!! | History Traveler Episode 362: • Route 66: From the Wil...
- D-Day 80: The Ceremony + Reflections of a WWII Normandy Veteran | History Traveler Episode 358: • The Ceremony + Reflect...
- D-Day 80: German Armor & the Normandy Victory Museum | History Traveler Episode 357: • German Armor & the Nor...
- D-Day 80: What You Didn't Know From Angoville au Plain | History Traveler Episode 356: • What You Didn't Know F...

[@k.edwards3138]

Absolutely love all those old cars. One of the reasons I'm convinced I was born on the wrong side of the pond is because of the love and nostalgia I have for vintage america, from the cars to travel, roadside motels and the lifestyle, american homes, interiors and even appliances. Thank you for doing this little slice of history and sharing your journey along the way, I really am envious.

[@Jacked97Ram]

JD we gotta get you on team Mopar! Nothings more American than the chargers and roadrunners of the 60’s and 70s! Great series thus far thank you

[@duanelawrence78]

I Love it when you get side tracked thanks for sharing J.D. God Bless you Brother!!✌️🇺🇲

[@jeffe9842]

I might be dating myself by saying I remember barn roofs painted with Mail Pouch and Meramec Caverns ads; part of my childhood road trips and summer vacations with my family, I suppose, that I've never forgotten.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Love those barn roof ads.

[@TubeYou7]

Pretty wild that they are telling people What they can and can't paint on their barn roofs honestly. I'd rather see painted barn roofs than billboards that we have everywhere. I mean at least with a barn roof you're using something that's going to be there anyway.

[@wendysell3906]

I grew up in the 60’s but never got to experience this, so I’m living vicariously through your journey while the song “See the USA in your Chevrolet” plays in my head. Lovely.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you’re enjoying it!

[@cavecookie1]

You need to be listening to "Get Your Kicks on Rt. 66"!

[@nanetterolph2972]

I love this series! I live in Michigan and am now 64 years old! I remember when traveling the back road was a interesting way to get around! The highways like 75 in Michigan are for getting around in a hurry but when your looking to slow down and enjoy a close look at our great lake state the back roads are the way to go!!!! It's all pure Michigan!!!!!

[@cdd4248]

Michigan is on my Bucket List!

[@dbach1025]

I live in Michigan as well. I- 75 is definitely not a scenic route, unless you are crossing the Straits of Mackinac.

[@marymcguffin9370]

I live in Michigan, we are so fortunate to have all the lakes, it is a beautiful state 😊

[@MapleHillMunitions]

Took a few hundred miles of backroads yesterday. Was extremely relaxing.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@MapleHillMunitions 👍🏻

[@eugenejung4808]

Awesome! I’m almost 60 and my parents took us to Meramec Caverns every summer! Can’t wait to return.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Nice.

[@dbach1025]

I went there when I was 13 or so. I distinctly remember how awesome the cave felt given the temp was above 100 in the beginning of July. Being the child of two parents working for Big 3, we always had to vacation during shut down. Just about everywhere is blazing hot in July. It is a cool place to visit. Need to get my kids there.

[@marylynnmazzocco5367]

My family went to Merrimack Caverns around 1960. Beautiful country.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Yes it is.

[@altonbunnjr]

I know what you mean about old cars, there’s just something about them. I have a 2011 Mustang which is old now too but I’d love to have one from the sixties. The style is just beautiful.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Agreed.

[@user-jp8ox9xi2j]

Seeing these gas pumps brings back memories and the overall places and pictures are amazing. The fate of the six men that were on the Bluebonnet train was truly sad. Thank you for sharing.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks.

[@charlesfritz7131]

You will have a great time on your trip on 66. Ive done it before. Tons of history.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Loved it.

[@charlesfritz7131]

@@TheHistoryUnderground did you go to Bigfoot Enterprise while at St. Louis? The home of the Bigfoot Monster truck.

[@scottsuydam3349]

The Mermac Caverns were awesome to see. I’m a trucker and have been by there but never able to stop. The Wagon Wheel stay was very unique for what it was for. Those Gas pumps though were all leaded pumps. They didn’t have unleaded back then. I’m 59 and def filled my 67 Mustang with Regular gas which contained lead.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Heck of a cool place.

[@gaylewilliamson9183]

Some young explorers came to US and they were absolutely amazed at how big some of our vehicles are.Theirs are all small because of very narrow streets.A young man was fascinated with a Lincoln Town Car,he was from Portugal,and really liked our snow ,and how cold it was wonderful seeing what we take for granted through other people's eyes,also something as simple as a recliner chair.🤗👍🇺🇸

[@dragonpullman23]

JD should go to the annual car show in Carlisle, PA and interview Miss Mopar.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@roymiller3018]

Looks like I missed a good car show. The wife and I both worked at Meramec Caverns as our first job, but not at the same time. I actually got meet Lester Dill back in 1972. Great job here Mr. Traveler.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@roymiller3018 nice!

[@dbicht]

Hello from ST CLAIR. PA., on Rt 61. An Interesting show. I love stories of Rt. 66. I traveled some of it when I was 19. I visited Meramec Caverns at that time. I've been following you for several years, thank you, I have learned so much.

[@mikemercer5808]

Really enjoying this road trip JD. Thank you!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad to hear it!

[@jamesholbrook7785]

I am enjoying this series. 👍 We have a cave in Cumberland County that is known as Salt Peter Cave. The first 100 years of Cumberland County has a story of a mummified confederate soldier that was found in the cave. Rumors started circulating about various things that the confederate was doing from the grave, so they dug him up and reinterred him at an undisclosed location.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👀

[@hereticsic4]

Spent many days in that cave in GC

[@barrymcclung9046]

Meramec Cavern. Fascinating place. I've been there twice.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@maxy979]

I’m loving this series 😊

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! Feel free to share it out.

[@MiJacFan1]

I live in Texas County here in Missouri. Not along Rt 66, but we have some murals on some of our buildings. I follow another guy on Facebook, and he and his buddy did the whole Route 66 tour, but from California to Illinois. I love how you went more into depth on more of the history of the cave system. Passed by several times, never had the chance to go, unfortunately 😢. All I ever knew was Jesse James' hideout, never the other history, so thank you for that.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@williamrobinson827]

I'm really enjoying the Route 66 videos. We live in Springfield, IL, and lived for a number of years in Joplin, MO. JD, when you get to Joplin, you'll need to cover the place where Bonnie and Clyde's gang had one of their shootouts with the police.

[@BurtonChristmasLites]

I am really enjoying this series! I hope you do a overview video IN ONE VIDEO so I can show my wife and talk her into doing the exact SAME experience you are doing. She has nixed this idea several times so maybe talk her into watching at least one video to get her excited about this. Keep up the great videos! Robert

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Holy smokes. That’d be a 10 hour video. 😂

[@adammorgan7874]

I can’t wait to travel this stretch of our country’s history on my HD.

[@jared1870]

Great video, JD! A little bit of everything. Thanks!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@teresabrown3305]

I have absolutely loved the last 2 episodes. I used to show my dogs in Gray Summit at Purina Farms, a beautiful place. Many of the contestants and dogs stayed at Budget Lodging now the Pinemark. What a great place to stay. They treated us like family and accommodated us and our dogs with good humor and grace. I am also really liking your trip on route 66. If I were younger and didn't have so many dogs I would do it, too.

[@cdd4248]

We Love The Pups! I take mine everywhere too!

[@bradmiller3367]

This is a great and fun series! Thank you, JD!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you enjoy it! Feel free to share it out!

[@Wreckdiver59]

I love going to visit caverns all over the country, especially when they have an interesting history behind them. I've never been to this one. I'll stop in if I'm ever in the area. Thanks for the video 👍 Edit: The train mural in Cuba was my favorite part of the video 🇺🇸❤️

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! That mural was something else.

[@angela.m3049]

Thank you for sharing with us I'm excited to watch this video!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

My pleasure!

[@katiemyers4174]

Dang. And to think this is just the tip of the iceberg of what's on this Route! Somethings you've shown have inspired me to explore areas near me like the BMW plant in Spartanburg.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Nice!

[@gregmcquade641]

Greetings, J.D. Really digging this Route 66 series. Thank you for your effort and sharing this slice of Americana with us. Safe journeys, my man.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@gregmcquade641 thanks!

[@terryadams1951]

My connection, at least to similarities of today's video if you will, is going in another direction away from Route 66. It was when I was a kid, from Kentucky, in the late 50's and mid 60's. The whole family, in a Chevy station wagon, enroute to Cherokee Lake in Tennessee to do some fishing. The advertising on the barns was really big back then, over there as well, with the most common one being, "SEE ROCK CITY." It was our introduction to billboards, of a sort! Really loving your latest venture, JD!!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Nice!

[@Chris-Nico]

Thank you JD! Such a special treat. I’ve been to the Missouri ozarks… such good people and beautiful country. I’ve got to do this road trip 🇺🇸👍

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@Chris-Nico 👍🏻

[@davidsummer8631]

Regarding the mural to those who went to war and never came back here in the UK we have a small number of villages where everyone from those villages who fought in World War One came back and theses are known as Thankful Villages and within those villages there a very small number known as Doubly Thankful where everyone from those villages who went to fight in World War Two also returned

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Interesting

[@2bytescotty]

i'm enjoying the Route 66 episodes, I grew up in the STL area, and kudos to your research, I always learn something new from each of your episodes, thank you for sharing the knowledge!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Cool, thanks!

[@marie2274]

This is really cool. One question: Has anyone ever got lost exploring the caverns. A few years back, I was in Poland exploring the salt cave, and a few people got lost and joined our group?

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Hmmm….don’t think so.

[@jLutraveling]

The Eremac River was the first river I ever floated on.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Nice

[@chipbleonard3]

Those murals were amazing.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@chipbleonard3 agreed. Pretty dang cool.

[@lisacepluch1152]

Thank you so much for this! The last time I went to Meramec Caverns I made it to the wine room before I had a panic attack and had to be escorted out. It was great to be able to take a tour from my own home this time! Great job!

[@dezmondw7927]

Just went to a Classic car show in Southern Oregon yesterday 🙌🏿

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@montgomeryridgeback1825]

That 49 5 window Advance Design was beautiful! Got myself an original 49 A.D. Not as nice; but an old reliable 216 stovebolt!

[@EGSBiographies-om1wb]

You make friends where ever you go.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

I try.

[@barbaramai7610]

Excellent video! You covered a lot of interesting subjects!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad you liked it!

[@jasonhernandez6274]

JD I'm really surprised you stopped at a car show but I love it and you got to hit the nail on the head with you know with how it's American

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@jjsnappy]

You should take a look at the roadrunner Lodge in Tucumcari New Mexico. It’s pretty amazing. We just got back from that trip. We did the route 66 thing and for my family this place was our favorite.

[@HistoryBridgeProd]

Beautifully shot and a great nod to the history of the area. The Missouri Board of Tourism should be sending you a check. One place to check just outside of Cuba is Fanning's Outpost, which is on Old 66. It has what used to be the largest ticking chair in the world as well as a great selection of craft sodas and funky flavors of popcorn.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

You might like the next episode. 🙂

[@marionjohansson4235]

I would love to get my motorhome over there and do this trip!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Great trip!

[@glennwhittaker197]

🫡🇺🇸 Respect for the WW2 memorial 😢 🫡🇺🇸

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@bethann0808]

I am so loving this series and enjoying every minute that I watch. ❤❤

[@normsweet1710]

Comment # 2, the highlight of your visit was for me the time you spent in Cuba and the Mural of the 6 hero’s who gave their lives after traveling aboard the “Blubonnet” coach to their assignment. I live in S. Tx. and travel through Cuba to go home to Mi. to visit. You can bet your last dollar I’ll be stopping in Cuba Mo. next trip home. BTW , the Blubonnet is the State flower of Tx. 😉, great series thus far, I’m really enjoying it …..

We ran into you recording at Lincoln’s tomb in Springfield! Love your work! Seeing the classic cars in this episode made us think that you would love seeing the Gilmore Car Museum in Michigan (Hickory Corners). And there’s a lot of other beauty in our great state of Michigan! Looking forward to the remaining episodes in this series.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Hey, it was great meeting you all! Definitely need to get up to Michigan at some point.

[@benmulder6487]

I'm in the same boat with you about cars, I don't know much but like older ones because they're so unique

[@robertvirtue]

WONDERFUL JD

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@cyndiebill6631]

The cave was fun but those old cars were awesome. I especially loved the old trucks. This has been such a fin trip. Totally enjoying every mile. 👍😃

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@Scott-rv2ls]

Fantastic JD....!! This is the one of the best history routes in US... Take a peek at the route 6 along northern PA and through New York ... Same era still intact...

[@markrinehart7224]

similarly, across the south on barns all over was See Rock City, and if you visited Rock City or Ruby Falls, you also got the bumper sign tied on your bumper

[@cdd4248]

Your cave guide is the sweetest kid...maybe a JD apprentice? ;)

[@walterburrows2542]

My dad bought a 78 camper special brand new and me and my 3 sisters rode in the campfrom idaho to Atlanta Georgia man those were fun times

[@Realstuffadventures]

You have gotten my attention ! As a kid living just in the shadow of Route 66 in SW Oklahoma, I never really thought that much about to old mother road, it was just as though it was always there. I remember a tv show as a kid and love that old show. I also enjoy Adam 12 but it was only a few years ago that I made the connection that Martin Milner from Adam 12 was also a start in the old TV show Rt 66. Your videos have inspired me now to try to travel at least a portion of that road. Another interesting thing is as a Kid, I loved the logo of the Phillips 66 oil company that we had in town and never really making the connection to the highway itself. Keep up the great work. Love your videos

[@Larry_M6790]

Glad you got to spend some time here in MIssouri. I live in the area.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@oifiismith]

@0:44 I'll take that as an homage to the 2nd I.D.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@oifiismith 👍🏻

[@charlesmullins3238]

Looks identical to mammoth caves headed that way near somerset Ky from my house here in floyd/pike county area eastern Ky…so when you comin down to do Hatfield/mcoy stuff jd..? I work rock throwin distance from dils cemetery where ol Randal rests…used to take dad to walk those steps for excercise …that and a story on our underground miners would be epic…👊🏻🇺🇸matt

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Would love to do some Hatfield/McCoy stuff at some point.

[@user-yn7bj2mt1g]

This is such a cool series

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Glad that you’re enjoying it!

[@naybur74]

been watching these, and skimming through them, this route is highly covered by my other vloggers, but i do enjoy the content from your perspective i have not seen. thank you for your continuing efforts.

[@jeanineking7311]

thanks, loving this series

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks!

[@tracysrocket]

The old hotels in these regions offer a glimpse into the past, serving as living history. My parents and grandparents traveled here in the 40s, 50s, and 60s. Check out your family's old 35mm slides. Bring it on to Oklahoma.

[@kimnorcutt9080]

Absolutely AMAZING!! Thank you so much for sharing! ♥️

[@antonioperez2623]

Fantastic video. I'll need to visit caverns. Thanks, JD.

[@johnblessing2642]

Loving this series. I now know what my next road trip will be (at least the Missouri section).

[@dodgingbullets3503]

🪔Love the caves tku....Good to know about those ' straw' formations and how they grow together and form a colom wow!! tku...

[@ymcavalier3555]

Really like this roadtrip series

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks! I’m having a blast with it.

[@EGSBiographies-om1wb]

Love that Mustang behind ya !!

[@terryeustice5399]

I really am enjoying your trip on Route 66. The Merrimack caverns. We’re neat. Thank you JD taking us along. 💯👊👍

[@thruknobulaxii2020]

Whenever I hear the name Gen. Sterling Price, I’m always reminded of Roster Cogburn’s lazy cat.

[@PJ-bv9tc]

If you ever want to do something like this along the Lincoln Highway, Rt. 30, the coffee is on me when you pass through Bedford County PA. It starts in NYC and heads west from there. The Flight 93 memorial is less than an hour from us. And hey - George Washington slept here! Who wouldn’t want to see that?!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

👍🏻

[@zacharywitt4009]

There are Jesse James hideouts in my county in Illinois just north of STL, Jersey County, which they often used. Jesse James has a history here. I think he had a sister or sister-in-law living here as well. Or at least some sort of family connection. He also apparently played cards with the sheriff here who didn't recognize him at the time, supposedly, while living here for six months.

[@geraldcastellow9398]

I can’t wait to share your Channel with my Channel!thanks!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Awesome! Thank you!

[@JRP9306]

Very cool...I'd love to visit the cave

[@user-sz1dk4tw2o]

Let's not forget the mining of lead, which tended to be kinda important for the Confederates during the Civil War. Big lead mine near Bonne Terre in St. Francois (pronounced Saint "Francis" County) which is seen on the map.

[@mrdubau2718]

When we went to the wine room we was told not too touch the wine table because the oils on your hand can kill it. As soon as we walked in a little kid went running and yelling pass everyone and put both hands on it. The whole group just gasped. Also there is a Meramec cave Barn on Interstate 75 between Piqua and Sidney Ohio.

[@billbertke7778]

Love this! You should do a history of bourbon and cover the The Bourbon Trail in Kentucky!

[@dankorolyk5917]

Awesome trip so far, and very informative

[@historyinyourhand1787]

Great episode - man I loved seeing those old cars 🚗

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Got some more of that in the next episode.

[@lowellwhite1603]

When I was a kid in the late ‘50’s and into the ‘60’s we would travel from our home in Michigan to visit relatives in southwest Missouri every summer. We traveled Route 66 until the expressway was completed and took a half day off our travel time. On one trip we toured Meramec Caverns and on another we visited nearby Ontonaga Cave. I went back to MO in 2003 and stopped by Meramec Caverns but decided not no go through the caverns although I went through the gift shop. I didn’t seem as big as when I was a kid.

[@HAIRBA11]

Nice! My camper is in fact pretty dang cool. Thanks for doing the series!

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Oh dang! Wasn’t expecting this. Congrats on placing in the top 10! 😅

[@lindabrookshier7259]

JD you mentioned that you really like county museums… If you get a chance go to the Ray County Museum in Richmond, Missouri… It is fabulous! It has 54 rooms and was once the county poor farm…

[@TomKD0QKK]

I noticed that picture of the Stanton School in the Caverns. That building still exists, though you'd never know it. It's on the south side of 44 just west of the Stanton exit. Today it's a private residence covered in faded yellow vinyl siding. My family owned the land it sits on for nearly 100 years. I have some class pictures from the early 1900's with my grandma, aunts and uncle in them. We used to take 66 out to the farm all the time when I was a kid. Stanton used to be a town. There isn't much left of it now.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Interesting!

[@bobcalderon2534]

Thanks for the video 😊

[@jason_l5p]

so cool you were 15 min from my hometown

[@vw2112]

Ive done the same route as your doing now JD except most of the time it was in a semi truck running loads out of STL. I made it a point to run as much of the old road as i could until it becomes obscured by sand in some areas. Growing up in st charles we did trips as a kid with my parents in the summers so i did get to see a lot of what your doing now. we had an old 71 Winnebago back then and used it every time both parents had ended school for the year.

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@vw2112 nice! That would be a fun way to travel it.

[@camdodge9891]

Thanks JD what a wonderful video loved it and wow amazing WW2 memorial and keep it up JD 👍

[@wildcolonialman]

Fabulous.

[@Chadlcarroll]

I stayed at the Pinemark back in the early 90’s during a baseball tournament we were playing in Sullivan. I wonder if it was similar back then. I was too young to care. Funny how we don’t geek out over things like history and astronomy sometimes until our hair is turning gray.

[@TheGravelRope000]

Nice

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

Thanks

[@TheGravelRope000]

@@TheHistoryUnderground You are welcome.

[@NDB469]

Little Metallica Nothing Else Matters at the car show! Lol awesome

[@mrpotato4441]

This guy reminds me of Brad Kalvo!! 😂 Edit: this was an interesting episode

[@baldophil1386]

Top ,top,top , très intéressant merci beaucoup in french !

[@1psychofan]

This is very cool! I don’t live far from there!

[@erickstiner1668]

Beautiful murals in Cuba,

[@TheHistoryUnderground]

@@erickstiner1668 very much so.