What Is Jesse James Historical Site?
On this site, Jesse James and his gang of outlaws staged the world’s first robbery of a moving train!
What Makes It Historical?
Early in July of 1873, the James-Younger gang got word that a shipment of gold, worth $75,000, was on its way east from Cheyenne on the Chicago, Rock Island, & Pacific Railroad! After getting word that the train had reached Omaha and was continuing west, the gang chose a curve in the rails and pried off a fish-plate and the spikes. When the train reached the area on July 21, they yanked the rail, sending the train sailing off the tracks!
The crash killed the engineer and the fireman but not the guard, whom Frank and Jesse James forced to open the safe. Inside, they only found $2,000. The gold shipment had been delayed! Robbing the passengers for an additional $1,000, the gang left the train in a wreck next to tracks that were only a year old!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Become a member of the Iowa Museum Association!
- Donate to the Iowa Museum Association!
- Be a responsible visitor! Please respect the signs and pathways, and treat all structures and artifacts with respect. They’ve endured a lot to survive into the present. They’ll need our help to make it into the future!
How Do I Get There?
1469 State Hwy 925
Adair, IA 50002
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
Whenever the mood strikes you!
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