Jesse James Historical Site

1156 Anita-Adair Road, Adair, Iowa 50002 USA

37
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Free

Free to Visit

Open Now

Thu 12a-11:59p

Independent
Credit Cards
not Accepted
Pet Friendly
Wheelchair
Accessible
No Public
Restrooms

No Longer Maintained

This location is no longer maintained in Roadtrippers. Please confirm location details before visiting.

“By Jesse James and his gang of Outlaws”

Monument to the First Train Robbery in the West. Features a section of track that Jesse James used to derail the train. According to Wikipedia: Famous train robbers include Bill Miner, Jesse James, and Butch Cassidy. Jesse James is mistakenly thought to have completed the first successful train robbery in the American West when on July 21, 1873 the James-Younger Gang took US $3,000 from a Rock Island Railroad train after derailing it southwest of the town of Adair, Iowa. However, the first peacetime train robbery in the United States actually occurred on October 6, 1866, when robbers boarded the Ohio & Mississippi train shortly after it left Seymour, Indiana. They broke into one safe and tipped the other off the train before jumping off. The Pinkerton National Detective Agency later traced the crime to the Reno Gang. There was one earlier train robbery in May 1865, but because it was committed by armed guerrillas and occurred shortly after the end of the Civil War, it is not considered to be the first peacetime train robbery in the United States. Some sources say that the May 1865 robbery took place at a water siding while the train was stopped taking on water."

Reviewed by
dejahrosenberg

1 Review
2 Helpful

March 05, 2020

Rated 5.0

The location is not what Google maps tells you! Turn the OTHER way from what she says to head South (away from the church and the feed store). You will see a sign on the right that says, "historical marked 0.5 miles". It will then be ahead on your right. Go slowly because the turn sneaks up on you! It's super cute, well shaded, has a lot of information on the site and the prairie ecosystem, and even has brochures that you can take with you. There's also a ledge set up for the perfect picture. Definitely worth the stop, you just have to navigate the old fashioned way :)

2 people found this review helpful

Reviewed by
magpie13magpie

1 Review
0 Helpful

August 22, 2021

Turn left at exit 75, not right, like the maps will say. Go about a mile down the road and it is on the left.

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Reviewed by
ariesjeepgirl

17 Reviews
1 Helpful

May 13, 2021

Rated 5.0

This is a really pretty stop right off of I80. Nice place to stretch your legs. It is a simple historical marker with the train track. Great view of the windmills and farm land.
If you are traveling I80 W, turn left at end of ramp. It will be on the left about a mile down the road. Apple Map took us .5 mile to the right from the exit ramp- but not the right way- don’t follow it! Google Map took us right there.

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