The infamous James gang stole $60,000 dollars from this bank. Two of the gang entered casually when they knew only a father and son would be working. After asking for change of a $10 bill, the robbers held the teller and his son at gunpoint, forcing them into the safe. After the gang took their fill, they shot wildly into the air in celebration, killing a local college student.

The museum features a back room with photos and sparse memorabilia on the James gang and surrounding events. The main part of the museum is the old bank, with many original features including the tin-pressed ceiling and windows. The looming bank clock is set to the exact time and date of the robbery: February 13th, 1866. No one in the gang was ever arrested for this robbery.

The legend of Jesse James started here, and it still permeates Missouri. He came from a prominent local family; his father, a minister, was one of the founders of private college William Jewell. He was handsome, and the first outlaw documented extensively through printed media.