Downtown in St. Louis, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
KMOX
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 22, 2019
1. KMOX Marker
On December 24, 1925, seventeen local businesses backing The Voice of St. Louis, Inc., launched their new radio station KMOX. Broadcast pioneer William Paley owned the station by 1932 and later nicknamed it "the jewel in the CBS crown."
Young guitarist Les Paul worked at KMOX using the name "Rhubarb Red." Dr. Tom Dooley reported for KMOX from the jungles of Southeast Asia. The first CBS station to air editorials and endorse candidates, KMOX added in 1960 its "At Your Service" show, a forebear of talk radio.
KMOX introduced Bob Costas, Jack Buck, Harry Caray, Joe Buck, Joe Garagiola, Dan Dierdorf, Dan Kelly, Skip Casey and countless others in St. Louis and beyond on its 50,000 "red hot" watts.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications. A significant historical date for this entry is December 24, 1925.
Location. 38° 37.497′ N, 90° 11.286′ W. Marker is in St. Louis, Missouri. It is in Downtown. It is on Market Street just west of Memorial Drive, on the left when traveling west. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the Gateway Tower building at this address, facing the Luther Ely Smith Park.
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Regionally, this marker is in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, in the Corn Belt, and in the Great River Road Region. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, the Louisiana Purchase, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Abraham Lincoln Slept Here (a few steps from this marker); International Fur Exchange (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Sold on the Steps of Justice (within shouting distance of this marker); Dred and Harriet Scott (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Rue des Granges (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Western Reach of the Revolution (about 300 feet away); American Zinc Building (about 300 feet away); The Old Courthouse
Photographed by Jason Voigt, October 22, 2019
2. Gateway Tower building
Marker is on the right next to the main entrance
Other markers no longer nearby. Sold on the Steps of Justice (was within shouting distance of this marker but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Western Reach of the Revolution (was about 300 feet away but has been replaced with another marker now near it); Joseph Pulitzer (was about 300 feet away but has been confirmed missing).
Regarding KMOX. The station was housed in a few other places in St. Louis, including the Merchandise Mart building (where Busch Stadium sits now). It wasn't until 1968 that KMOX would move into the Gateway Tower building, where it would share its headquarters with their sister stations, KMOX-FM (which ended in 1982) and KMOX-TV (now KMOV-TV, a CBS affiliate). In October of 2012, the station's studios and offices moved to its current location at the corner of Tucker and Olive Streets in the Park Pacific building. KMOV operated in the Gateway Tower building until late 2023.
Also see . . .
1. KMOX (official website). It is currently run by Audacy. (Submitted on November 18, 2025, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
2. KMOX on Wikipedia. KMOX-AM continues to be one of the top radio stations in St. Louis, as well as the Midwestern United States. It is considered to be one of the first 24/7 talk radio stations in the United States. Four of St. Louis' major sports teams would be broadcast on KMOX: the St. Louis Cardinals (baseball; still does as of 2025) and formerly the St. Louis Blues (hockey) - as well as the defunct teams, the St. Louis Hawks (NBA) and the St. Louis Cardinals (football). In 2021, an FM signal was added. It is not known the reasoning behind the call letters, but one local legend suggests "Kirkwood Missouri On Xmas", as the station's original transmitter was in Kirkwood. (Submitted on October 24, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 18, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 1,097 times since then and 64 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on October 24, 2019, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
