Named for Lexington, Kentucky, as it was settled largely by Kentuckians, Lexington, Missouri is located on the bluffs overlooking the Missouri River. Lexington was platted in 1822, near William Jack's Ferry, which had been established just three years earlier on the south bank of the river. The seat of Lafayette County since 1823 and due to the strategic location on the Missouri River, Lexington grew rapidly in the early 1800's. John Aull opened a mercantile store in 1822. A short time later he was joined by his brothers James and Robert. The Aull Brothers soon had perhaps one of the first frontier chains, operating stores in Liberty, Independence and Westport. Their success drew merchants, farmers and planters as the primary focus was on cattle, tobacco and hemp, used for making rope. As such, steamboat trade became not only a means of transportation for people and goods, it became a hugely profitable investment. Those steamboats required fuel, and more industry was created when the coal mines, some of the state's first, were excavated to provide fuel for river steamers and a means of home heating. With the emphasis on trade and agriculture Lexington and Lafayette County boasted of one of the largest slave populations in the state. Several homes in town have preserved the old slave quarters to the back of the property and they stand today.

Lexington was the most populous and prosperous city west of St. Louis in the 1830's and '40's. It became the primary center for merchants and outfitters as emigrants, traders and trappers prepared their journey westward on the California, Oregon and Santa Fe Trails, as well as Utah's Mormon Trail. In 1843, merchandise sent west from Lexington were estimated to value nearly a half of a million dollars. Lexington became a mecca for business and industry. Early commerce included furniture factories, slaughter houses, foundries and rope making.

By the 1840's, the largest trading firm in the West, Russell, Majors & Waddell, had established it's headquarters on Main Street. By the 1850's, they had as many as 3500 covered wagons carrying goods from Lexington to Denver to all of California. While some consider St. Joseph, Missouri the home of the Pony Express, few people know that the Pony Express had it's roots in Lexington. In their Main Street office in 1860, Russell, Majors & Waddell would found the Pony Express right here.

In 1852, Lexington experienced one of the worst steamboat accidents in Missouri history. A side-wheeler steamship called the Saluda, was en route to Salt Lake City, Utah, via Council Bluffs, Iowa. There were as many as 250 Mormon passengers. The trip had been hampered by a strong current on the Missouri River and for 3 days they found themselves unable to negotiate the big bend in the river at Lexington. Frustrated, the Captain ordered full speed, not realizing the boilers had run dry. One the second turn of the paddle wheel, the boilers exploded, killing the Captain and more than 150 others, including 2 people standing on the banks of the river. Perhaps the saddest of the tragedy were the number of children orphaned. A testament to the character of the people of Lexington, virtually all of the orphans were adopted by townspeople. The unidentified victims are buried in a mass grave at Lexington's Machpelah Cemetery and a memorial at 13th and Franklin Avenue has been erected honoring the memory of those who died.

Lexington was the site of two of the largest battles in the western campaign of the Civil War. The first and most famous, known as the Battle of Lexington is better known as the Battle of the Hemp Bales. On September 12th, 1861, somewhere between six and ten thousand Missouri National Guardsmen were led by Major General Sterling Price. Price began a siege against the Federal military post positioned in the old Masonic College. They were Commanded by Colonel James A. Mulligan. Price's army mounted an assault on September 18th. Some of Price's army used hemp bales as moving breastworks while they moved up the river bluffs and closed in on Mulligan's headquarters. On the third day of the siege, Mulligan's troops surrendered. The combined ed casualties numbered 73 dead and 270 wounded. The battlefield remains today on the bluffs of the river in virtually pristine condition and stands as a state park. In an attempt to crush General Price's headquarters located on Main Street, Mulligan's troops fired cannonballs from the battlefield. One such cannonball missed the mark and became lodged in the leftmost pillar of the Courthouse where it remains to this day. That cannonball has become an iconic symbol for Lexington.

Lexington was known as the headquarters for Quantrill's Raiders during the war. Eight weeks after the declared end of the Civil War, many of these guerrilla fighters, the infamous Jesse James among them, had refused to honor the cease fire but decided to turn themselves in at Lexington. While riding into town, reportedly under a white flag, they fought with Union soldiers and Jesse james was severely wounded. Many believe this was the pivotal event that turned Jesse James into a legendary bank robber. James, with the rest of his gang robbed the Alexander Mitchell bank in Lexington for the second daylight bank robbery in United States history.

As Kansas City became more populated, it eclipsed Lexington and the town faced serious decline. The completion of the transcontinental railroad forever changed the face of river commerce and Lexington was one of the first casualties of that progress.

Lexington was known for a time as the "Athens of the West", as schools and colleges were established here. Lexington was perhaps one of the most progressive communities nationwide when it came to the education of women. The Elizabeth Aull Seminary, Lexington Ladies College and Central College for Women all had a home here. While none survived for long,Wentworth Military Academy, founded in 1880, attracts students from throughout the country and worldwide today. While originally a school for boys, Wentworth expanded enrollment to allow female cadets in 1993, and they comprise approximately 25% of the corps. Currently in their 128th year, Wentworth Military Academy and College is the oldest Military Academy west of the Mississippi River. Their campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Lexington is still noted for its architecture. In the 1850's Greek Revival architecture was the fashion, and many of the public buildings were designed in that style. Most notably is the Lafayette County Courthouse, built from 1847 to 1849, the building is still in use and is the oldest courthouse in continuous use west of the Mississippi. The Gothic Revival Christ Episcopal Church, built in 1848, has an interior finished in walnut and a ceiling ornamented with a Gothic truss arch. Lexington is still home to over 150 homes and public buildings built before the Civil War, and annually holds well-attended tours of its historic homes and buildings.

Lexington is a community rich with Civil War history and architecture. Visitors are treated to an historic river town that has preserved the past while embracing progress and the future.