The Patee House Museum

The Patee House Museum is a building that transports its visitors through time. The house has stood near the city of St. Joseph Missouri since 1858. As soon as it was built, it witnessed history. In 1860, it became the headquarters of The Pony Express, during The Civil War it was used as the Provost Marshal’s office, and Confederate leaders were tried here. Later, it was converted into a women’s college- only to be sold again, where it would be turned into a lavish hotel and abandoned. After one more stint of being used as a college and one more as a hotel it was finally abandoned in 1882. It was later bought by R.L McDonald and used as a factory from 1886 to the early 1950s. 

After its abandonment in the 1950s, it was scheduled to be destroyed. However, a group of concerned citizens recognized its historical significance. After a vast city-wide campaign, the group, now known as the Pony Express Historical Association, was able to buy the building. In 1965, the Patee House was finally recognized as a national historic landmark. It has since served as a museum for visitors to take in the immensely important history associated with the building. Here visitors will find artifacts and exhibits from the days of the Pony Express and the Civil War. The Patee House does an excellent service of conveying the historical significance of the St. Joseph area.