What Is the Patee House?
This museum was originally a luxury hotel where the legendary Pony Express got its start!
What Makes It Historical?
In 1858, John Patee built this hotel in St. Joseph, Missouri to pamper would-be pioneers with a hot bath before they set out on their long trek across the Great Plains! And there was plenty of business to be had! Before the Civil War, St. Joseph was where the eastern railroad met the Missouri River and the Wild West! This was the place to load up and wash up, especially as the Pike’s Peak Gold Rush kicked off in July of that year!
The Patee House served as much more than just a hotel. From April 3, 1860 until October of 1861, its first floor was the headquarters of the Pony Express! During the Civil War, the provost marshal (military police) had an office here, and Confederate officers underwent trial in the grand ballroom! From there, it began an 18-year ownership yo-yo between Female Colleges and other hotel operators before shutting down for good in December of 1882. It had been too far from downtown and flooded too often to survive as a hotel.
In 1886, Rufus Lee McDonald gave the Patee House its last hoorah as a clothing factory, an enterprise that lasted about 70 years! When the factory closed, the city condemned the building and scheduled it for demolition, but thanks to the hard work of the Pony Express Historical Association, the building was saved, converted to a museum, and made a National Historic Landmark in 1965!
How Can I #HelpTheHelpers?
- Pay the entrance fee to help maintain trails, signs, structures, and other visitor services!
- Become a member of the Patee House!
- 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?
1202 Penn St
St Joseph, MO 64503
(Take Me There!)
When Should I Visit?
The Patee House Museum is open Monday through Saturday from 9:00 AM until 4:00 PM!
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