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 Jesse James Bank Museum - Liberty, Missouri Posted by:  iconions
N 39° 14.814 W 094° 25.152
15S E 377534 N 4345135
This historic two-story red brick building is located on the northeast corner of Water and Franklin Streets in Liberty, Missouri
Waymark Code: WMYA7H
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 05/18/2018
Views: 3
It was a cold and snowy February afternoon when a group of horsemen rode into Liberty, Missouri. After a short time, gunshots broke the winter silence as the men rode off with their loot leaving one young college student dead and the town in shock.
The Jesse James Bank, located on the historic square in Liberty, Missouri, was the site of the nation’s first successful daylight peacetime bank robbery. While the robbers were never caught, the crime as attributed to the infamous James Gang.
Visitors see bank as it was in 1866. Period furnishings fill the room and one become immersed in the story of the robbery as told by the bank teller. As you peer into the original green vault you can imagine the fear felt by the two bank tellers. Among the furnishings, a rare Seth Thomas clock, set for the exact time and date of the robbery, February 13, 1866. Many photographs and other documents are on display for the public to view.
A museum store offers many historical books, period style toys and games, and other fun souvenir keepsakes.
For more information, or to schedule a tour call us at (816)736-8510.
The Jesse James Bank Museum is operated by the Department of Clay County Parks, Recreation, Historic Sites and Tourism.
- Jesse James Bank Museum Site
The Clay County Savings Association Building is located at 104 East Franklin in Liberty, Clay County, Missouri.. The two-story, gable roof, rectangular brick bank was completed in 1859 utilizing Federal architectural design elements on a commercial building. Simple classical detailing distinguishes this building from the commercial structures which would later be constructed on Liberty's square. Prominent is the low-pitched gable roof with pedimented gable end on the south side of the building. The window and door openings on the first floor are recessed within a semi-circular relieving arch, and contain semi-circular fanlights. All windows on the original portion of the bank are double-hung, with multiple panes and louvered shutters. A cross gable, two-story section, formerly forming a "T", is believed to be original. By 1883, though, a two-story addition was added in the northeast corner of the "T". The building was enlarged further to the north between 1906 and 1913 (Sanborn Maps, 1883, 1889, 1894, 1899, 1906, & 1913). Another two-story brick addition was added to the southeast corner of the "T" in 1922. This section has a flat roof. The primary facades, those on the west and east, have remained virtually unchanged, and the new additions are clearly distinguishable from the original structure.
The Clay County Savings Association Building was built on the northeast corner of the square, at the intersection of East Franklin and North Water streets. The original portion of the bank building was constructed in 1858, and is three bays wide on East Franklin, and five bays long on North Water. It sits on a stone foundation, and is two stories tall, with a low-pitched, gable roof with boxed cornice forming a pedimented gable on the south side of the building. A wide band of painted, projecting brick forms a frieze under the roof cornice. On the north side, the cornice forms gable end returns, and there is very little eave overhang. Also on the north side at the ridge line is a brick chimney.
- National Register Entry
The Clay County Savings Association in Liberty, Missouri, was robbed on February 13, 1866, making it one of the earliest documented daylight bank robberies. The robbers escaped with at least $60,000 (equivalent to $1,003,000 in 2017) and killed a bystander outside. The robbery is believed to have been conducted by a group of former Confederate guerrillas, possibly led by Jesse James or Archie Clement, which became known as the James–Younger Gang.
According to accounts of the day:
On the afternoon of February 13, 1866, "some ten or twelve persons rode into town" and milled outside the Clay County Savings Association building.
Two of the riders entered the bank, which was staffed only by the head cashier, Greenup Bird, and his son, William Bird, who was a bank clerk.
After asking to change a $10 bill, the men drew revolvers and demanded money.
William loaded the robbers' feed sack with gold, currency, bonds, and tax stamps.
The two Birds were herded into the bank's vault, and the robbers left the building.
As the robbers mounted to ride away, shots were fired. Accounts differ: problems with mounting a horse caused a "commotion" during which someone opened fire, or perhaps one of the gang fired "without any sort of provocation whatever". George "Jolly" Wymore, a 19-year-old student from William Jewell College who was across the street, was killed by a bullet.
The gang rode away, pursued after a time by a posse of "outraged" townspeople who "could procure arms and horses".
The entire maneuver lasted no more than 15 minutes.
In total, the robbers collected at least $60,000. Reportedly they collected government bonds worth $42,000 to $45,000, $518 in tax stamps, gold, silver coins, and banknotes.
The bank offered a $5,000 reward for recovery of the money. Attempts to track the robbers were hindered by snow that covered their tracks. Articles in local newspapers implicated both former Confederate bushwackers and Kansas Redlegs of the crime. Later, some townspeople admitted to recognizing some of the robbers but withholding the information out of fear. The robbers were never caught, and no money was ever recovered. The Association eventually settled with creditors for 60 cents on the dollar and closed.
The building is located at 104 East Franklin Street, a block northeast of the Clay County Courthouse. It was built in 1859, and is a two-story, Federal style rectangular brick building with a gable roof. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
- Wikipedia Entry for Clay County Savings Association Building
Days and Hours of Operation:
March-December
Mon-Sat: 10am - 4pm
Sunday: closed
January-February: closed
Address:
Water and Franklin Street
Liberty, MO USA
64068
Related Website: [Web Link]
Price of Admission: 6.00 (listed in local currency)
What is in the collection:
Artifacts from the bank at the time of the holdup in 1866, along with the original bank vault. The collection has photos and other documents relating to the holdup.
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Visit Instructions:
Post your own original photo as proof of your visit.
Tell us about your visit. What item in the museum did you like the best? What did you like the least? Would you recommend others visit the museum?
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