Site of General Nicholas Smith's Tavern - Springfield, Missouri
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 37° 12.573 W 093° 17.537
15S E 474065 N 4118158
Marker for historic tavern along early road and stage coach route in Springfield, Missouri.
Waymark Code: WMD1CM
Location: Missouri, United States
Date Posted: 11/05/2011
Views: 12
Text of marker:
Site of Gen. Nicholas Smith's tavern on Boonville Road, earliest outlet of Springfield, also station of Butterfield Stage route carrying firs overland mail from St. Louis to Pacific coast. Government subsidy $600,000, yearly. First mail left St. Louis Sept. 16, 1858, by rail, arriving Tipton after of same day, then by stage, reaching Springfield 3:15 p.m., Sept. 17, and San Francisco 7:30 a.m., Oct. 10, time 23 days, 23 hours from St. Louis, 2765 miles, longest mail state route ever attempted, bi-weekly service Mondays and Thursdays from St. Louis. 141(later 167) stations en route. First eastbound state left San Francisco early Sept. 15, arriving Springfield 3:00 p.m. Oct. 8, where hundreds welcomed its arrival as great event, banquet, speeches, fireworks. Tim eastward trip 24 days, 18 hours, to St. Louis
University Club Marker No. 18, Erected Nov. 1932.