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Columbia in Boone County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
 

Aureomycin Originated Here

 
 
Aureomycin Originated Here Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 25, 2024
1. Aureomycin Originated Here Marker
Inscription.
The bacterium, Streptomyces aureofaciens strain A377, was isolated by Dr. B.W. Duggar from soil collected in 1945 from Sanborn Field, Plot 23, planted to continuous timothy grass without soil amendment since establishment in 1888.

The sample was one of a dozen sent to Lederle Labratories in Pearl River, New York, by Dr. W.A. Albrecht, University of Missouri soil microbiologist. The bacterium cultured in 1948 from Plot 23 was made the "type species" based on the original description and became the ancestral parent of all improved strains used by the American Cynamid Company in production of aureomycin. For decades aureomycin, the first of the tetracycline class of antibiotics, was widely used globally for the treatment of many human diseases and for therapeutic use in livestock production.

A reference soil sample from plot 23 was displayed in the Smithsonian Institute, Washington, D.C., as part of an exhibit "Antibiotics: the Wonder Drugs" on the 10th anniversary of the announcement of aureomycin's discovery, October 15, 1958.
 
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture
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Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is October 15, 1958.
 
Location. 38° 56.533′ N, 92° 19.309′ W. Marker is in Columbia, Missouri, in Boone County. It is at the intersection of Rollins Street and South College Avenue (Missouri Route 763), on the left when traveling east on Rollins Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1301 Rollins St, Columbia MO 65201, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Little Dixie and in the Missouri River Corridor. It is also in the American Midwest, in the Lewis & Clark Corridor, and in the Corn Belt. 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: Historic Sanborn Field (here, next to this marker); Sanborn Field and Soil Erosion Plot (a few steps from this marker); Memorial Union Tower (approx. Ό mile away); Kuhlman Court (approx. Ό mile away);
Aureomycin Originated Here Marker image. Click for full size.
Photographed by Jason Voigt, June 25, 2024
2. Aureomycin Originated Here Marker
Marker is on the far right, looking east
The F.L. Duley - M.E. Miller Erosion Plots (approx. 0.4 miles away); The Mel Carnahan Quadrangle (approx. 0.4 miles away); Beetle Bailey (approx. 0.4 miles away); Site of Columbia College (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Columbia.
 
Also see . . .  Chlortetracycline on Wikipedia. (Submitted on June 29, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois.)
 
 
Credits. This page was last revised on June 19, 2025. It was originally submitted on June 29, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. This page has been viewed 374 times since then and 33 times this year. Last updated on June 18, 2025, by John D Grabenstein of Easton, Maryland. Photos:   1, 2. submitted on June 29, 2024, by Jason Voigt of Glen Carbon, Illinois. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.
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Jul. 15, 2026