Jesse James Home Museum - Saint Joseph MO - Jesse James Bullet Killed

What people really want to see at the Jesse James Home Museum in Saint Joseph is actually turning out to be something of a false attraction. For years, visitors flocked to the Jesse James house behind the Patee Hotel to see the bullet hole in the wall where James was shot in the head by Robert Ford. The recent movie by Brad Pitt has only continued the home's popularity.

For real fact finders, the famous bullet hole is nothing but a collective delusion. For many, many years guests could even touch the hole, which is now behind glass (and quite large). However, while it is a real bullet hole, it is not from the bullet that shot Jesse James.

The other exhibits in the house tell the story. Some had believed the death of Jesse James was a grand hoax to allow the man to live out his life in peace. Thus, a petition was circulated and exhumation of the body was permitted so that it could be proved that the man in the grave was actually Jesse James. The dead man was, but the bullet hole wasn't. A model of his skull in the house shows no bullet hole.

This had crime analysts all in a twitters. It also had the museum docents quite excited and the exhibits reflect this - a lot of care and attention has been put into presenting the life and death of the man who was famous for his crimes. To find out the true story of the bullet hole, visitors should stop by the museum daily from April - October and weekends October - March. Call ahead in the shoulder seasons to verify if the weekend rule is in effect, and call for group tour rates and options if needed. Also, satisfying curious minds is inexpensive here - adult admission is under $5 with lesser rates for children.