It seems that American folklore and Hollywood move suddently from Daniel Boone to the wagon trains heading to Oregon and California. Overlooked is the history of Missouri. Not many people realize that Daniel Boone resided longer in Missouri than anywhere else, and that he much preferred the territory. Few know that his sons would blaze the trails that would soon bring settlers to the Missouri River valley. Few know that William Clark would trust the peace of central Missouri to Nathan Boone.
In a similar way, few know of the early history of the state. The Native Americans who lived in the state would not fit well into the stereotype Indian portrayed in films and novels. Their heritage remains a mystery. Some scholars place the population of the Missouri tribe at around 20,000, scattered in villages along the lower Missouri River. Yet by the time William and Clark journeyed up the Missouri, they had vanished.
The Missouri Chronicles is a long-term project to present to readers the amazing ventures of the white settlers who came to this rich state and the Natives that preceded them.