La Plata

About La Plata

La Plata, in northern Macon County, began as a trading post in 1827, established by Drury Davis. The town was platted in 1855 and incorporated in 1881, gaining its name—Spanish for “silver”—after Louis Gex won a straw-drawing contest against Thomas Saunders, who favored “Charlottesville.” The name was inspired by prairie grasses that shimmered like a “silver river.”

La Plata’s growth was fueled by the railroads. The North Missouri Railroad (later Wabash) arrived in 1867, followed by the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad in the 1880s, which made La Plata a key crossroads for shipping livestock, timber, and grain. The town also became a hub for the pipeline industry and agriculture-based businesses, from poultry hatcheries to a fur trade with global reach.

La Plata’s heritage is preserved through its many historic sites:

• La Plata Square Historic District – 36 historic buildings, listed on the National Register of Historic Places (2008).
• Amtrak Station – Built in 1945, restored, and still an active stop on the Southwest Chief route, complete with Virtual Railfan cameras.
• Olive Gilbreath-McLorn House (1896) and Dent Home – Historic residences on the National Register, the latter celebrating Lester Dent (1904–1959), the La Plata native who created pulp hero Doc Savage.
• Lookout Point Park – A favorite for railfans, with 50–70 trains passing daily.
• Depot Inn & Suites – A railroad-themed hotel filled with memorabilia.

Today, La Plata blends its railroad heritage, historic architecture, and literary legacy with a welcoming small-town atmosphere. Its library is also known for one of the best genealogical collections in northeast Missouri.

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