Discover Steele: Local History and Highway 61 Arch

Steele is a destination for anyone who wants to get to know a place not only through its recreational activities, but also through its history that has developed over time. Regionally, it is located in Pemiscot County in the far southeastern corner of Missouri on the Mississippi River, in a region commonly known as the Bootheel. Interstate 55, which runs through the region from north to south, and Interstate 155, which runs eastward to Tennessee, are also important reference points for navigating a trip.

A Distinctive Landmark on Highway 61

One of the region's prominent sights is the Highway 61 Arch. It spans U.S. Highway 61 at the border between Arkansas and Missouri, between Blytheville, Arkansas, and Steele, Missouri. The inscriptions “Entering Arkansas” and “Entering Missouri” appear on opposite sides. The arch was erected in 1924 after the highway was paved. For families, this clear connection to the place and the border can provide an engaging topic of conversation, especially when you want to connect historic roads and regional development during your journey.

Local History with Many Different Traces

Steele's history is reflected in various buildings and former uses. The New Commercial Hotel occupied the upper floor of a building, while a retail store was located on the ground floor. The building was sold to Fannie Green in 1924. Another building in Steele formerly housed the newspaper Steele Enterprise. The former shoe factory also represents a clearly defined period: during World War II, it was used by a business that manufactured wooden crates. This business remained in Steele for eight years; afterward, it was decided to merge the operations in Steele and Caruthersville.

Other names make the town's development tangible. The McCollum Cafe was operated by Mr. and Mrs. A. J. McCollum on Main Street from 1926 to 1929. The Hotel-Main was operated in Steele by Mr. and Mrs. A. D. Prince until 1929. Workman's Drug Store on Main Street was formerly known as People's Drug Store. A photograph of Main Street dates from between 1926 and 1929. Those traveling with children can use these different points of reference to develop a shared picture of the town's history from individual names, buildings, and dates.

Choose a Holiday Apartment to Suit Your Travel Interests

When looking for a holiday apartment in Steele, you can first determine which focus should shape your trip. If you want to combine historic townscapes with regional transportation history, include the Highway 61 Arch and the major transportation routes in your plans. If you are more interested in the town's development, the New Commercial Hotel, the former newspaper, the shoe factory, the McCollum Cafe, the Hotel-Main, and the former name of the drug store offer various points of connection. Joe A. Saliba Park is also listed as an LWCF project of the City of Steele. This allows you to choose your accommodation according to the type of discoveries you want to pursue during your stay.

In addition, you can open the pages for Caruthersville and Hayti separately and check which other destinations could complement your plans.

For the higher-level travel overview: Pemiscot.