Chillicothe in Livingston County, Missouri — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
The Home of Sliced Bread
Chillicothe,Missouri
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 7, 2013
1. The Home of Sliced Bread Marker
On July 7, 1928, Chillicothe baker Frank Bench and inventor Otto Rohwedder secured Chillicothe Missouri's Slice of History. On this day their bread slicing machine produced the first loaves of sliced bread and made them available on the shelves of Chillicothe grocery stores.
The machine instantly changed the way consumers bought bread and increased the bakery's sales by 2000 percent in 2 weeks. Until this invention, which has long been synonymous with innovation, bread had to be sliced by hand in home kitchens.
At approximately five feet long and four feet high, the device was the invention of Iowa native O. F. Rohwedder. His machine was turned down by many bakers before being offered to Frank Bench. The original machine used at Chillicothe Baking Company eventually fell apart; however Rohwedder's second machine is part of the permanent collection of the Smithsonian Institute.
This building, located at the corner of First and Elm Streets, is the original home of the bread slicing machine.
Erected by the Home of Sliced Bread Committee.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is July 7, 1928.
Location. 39° 47.287′ N, 93° 33.086′ W. Marker is in Chillicothe
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. The Frank Bench Bakery (a few steps from this marker); Heroes in History (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Webster Street (about 700 feet away); History of the NW Corner of Washington and Clay Streets (approx. 0.3 miles away); Graham's Mill & Bridge (approx. 0.3 miles away); Citizens Bank & Trust (approx. 0.3 miles away); Loomis Building (approx. 0.4 miles away); Bradley's Saloon (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Chillicothe.
Regarding The Home of Sliced Bread. The second bread slicer, mentioned on the marker and part of the Smithsonian permanent collection, was unveiled on temporary exhibit at the Grand River Historical Society Museum on Sunday, July 7, 2013, the 85th anniversary of sliced bread.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.
Also see . . .
1. The Home of Sliced Bread, Chillicothe, Missouri. City website entry (Submitted on July 7, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
2. Bread Slicer Special Delivery from Smithsonian to Chillicothe, Missouri
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 7, 2013
2. Building was home to Frank Bench's Chillicothe Bakery
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 7, 2013
3. Rohwedder Bread Slicing Machine (No. 2)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., July 72013
4. The Business End of Rohwedder's Bread Slicing Machine
Credits. This page was last revised on February 15, 2022. It was originally submitted on July 7, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 1,900 times since then and 106 times this year. It was the Marker of the Week August 18, 2013. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on July 7, 2013, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
