Jesse, Frank, Mom come home

Jesse James and brother Frank never seem to get any rest every month or so something new crops up with the boys.

This time, the Jesse James Historic Sites opened a new Frank James Exhibit at the Jesse James Farm & Museum in Kearney. To commemorate the opening of the new exhibit, Jesse and Frank, along with their mother, Zerelda James Samuels, will return to the family homestead from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 25, 2001.

Throughout the day, Frank will be hanging around the museum showing off the new exhibit that features his belongings, while Jesse will be riding around the farm. Zerelda may be near Jesse’s original gravesite or in the farm home.

The new exhibit features letters and artifacts relating to the older James brother. Other areas of the museum contain personal items that belonged to Jesse and other family members, photographs, clothing, and much more. At least 26 robberies were attributed to the James boys and the band of outlaws with whom they rode, including a bank robbery Dec. 7, 1869, in Gallatin, Missouri. The 15-year criminal career of Jesse James came to an end April 3, 1882, in St. Joseph, where he was shot dead by new fellow gang member Bob Ford while planning to rob the Platte City (Missouri) Bank.

For movie buffs, American Outlaws, a new flick about the lives of Jesse and Frank James and the exploits of their outlaw gang, opens in theaters Aug. 17. A ticket stub from the movie is good for a free adult admission with the purchase of another full-price admission at both the Jesse James Farm & Museum and the Jesse James Bank Museum in Liberty.

For hours of operation and more information about the museums, contact the Jesse James Historic Sites at (816) 628-6065.